128.21 Voluntary proceedings by wage earners for amortization of debts.

(1) Any person whose principal source of income consists of wages or salary may file a verified petition with the circuit court in the county of his or her residence stating that the person is unable to meet current debts as they mature, but is able to make regular future payments on account sufficient to amortize the debts over a period of not more than 3 years, and that he or she desires the aid of the court to effectuate the amortization. The petition shall also set forth the names and addresses of any creditors who have levied any executions, attachments or garnishments, and of any garnishees, and the court shall forthwith, by order, require that proceedings for the enforcement of the executions, attachments or garnishments be stayed during the pendency of proceedings under this section. The petition shall be accompanied by the fee prescribed in s. 814.62 (2).

(2) After the filing of a petition under this section and until the dismissal of the proceedings, no execution, attachment or garnishment may be levied or enforced by any creditor seeking the collection of any claim which arose prior to the proceedings, unless such claim is not included by the debtor in the claims to be amortized pursuant to sub. (3r). With respect to the claims to be amortized the time between the filing of the petition and the dismissal of the proceedings shall not be counted as a part of the period of any statute of limitation.

(3) On the filing of the petition the court shall appoint a disinterested trustee. The trustee shall forthwith meet with the debtor; make a list of the debtor's creditors, with their addresses and the amounts owing to each, which the debtor shall sign and verify; and send notices to each of the amount claimed to be due that creditor, and of a meeting to be held in the trustee's office not less than 5 nor more than 10 days thereafter, for the purpose of considering an amortization plan and of determining the claims to be covered by the plan. Upon conclusion of the meeting the trustee shall do either of the following:

(a) Report to the court that no equitable plan of amortization is feasible or needed in which case the court may forthwith dismiss the proceedings.

(b) Recommend to the court a plan of amortization calculated by weekly or monthly payments, to discharge in full the claims of the creditors listed in the plan within a period of not exceeding 3 years.

(3g) The trustee shall attach to a plan recommended under sub. (3) (b) the written consents and objections, if any, of the creditors present or represented at the meeting, and an analysis, with the trustee's recommendations regarding the disposition, of any claim whose amount is in dispute or appears to be uncertain.

(3r) The court shall forthwith enter an order approving the plan recommended under sub. (3) (b) and determining, for the purposes of the plan, the amounts of the claims, unless in any such written objection included under sub. (3g) a creditor asks for a hearing respecting the plan or the amount of the creditor's claim, or the person to be trustee, in which case the court shall set a date for a hearing as soon as may be, on notice of the debtor, the trustee and creditors. At the hearing the court shall enter an order either approving the plan, if satisfied that it is feasible and equitable, and determining, for the purposes of the plan, the amounts of the claims, or dismissing the proceedings, or modifying and approving the plan as the court considers just; and the court may appoint a different trustee if the one appointed is objected to.

(4) If the plan recommended under sub. (3) (b) or a modification of the plan is approved under sub. (3r), the debtor shall make the periodic payments provided for in the plan to the trustee, and may make additional payments from time to time to the trustee, and the trustee shall distribute the payments proportionally among the creditors listed in the plan, less all of the following:

(a) A deduction for the trustee's compensation to be fixed by the court at the time of approving the plan in an amount not exceeding 7 percent of each distribution, if the payments are made through an assignment to the trustee of a portion of the debtor's wages or salary, and not exceeding 10 percent if no such assignment is made.

(b) A deduction equal to the amount of the postage necessary for the mailing of payments and of the notices of the meeting provided for in sub. (3), and of any correspondence with creditors.

(4m) If any payment under sub. (4) is so small as to make its immediate distribution impractical or needlessly expensive, the trustee shall deposit it in a special trustee account, and may make additional deposits until the amount is large enough for distribution, but no payments shall remain undistributed for longer than 90 days.

(5) If the debtor defaults in any payment provided for under the plan for a period of more than 30 days the trustee shall, and before the end of the 30-day period may, report the matter to the court with the trustee's recommendations. The court shall either dismiss the proceedings or, if satisfied from the trustee's report that the debtor is in good faith and should be able to make good the default, extend the period of grace for not to exceed 30 days. At the end of the grace period, the trustee shall again report to the court and if all defaults have not then been cured the court shall immediately dismiss the proceedings. If the debtor makes preferential payments to creditors during the pendency of the proceedings, or appears for any reason to be abusing the privileges of this section, the trustee shall promptly report the matter to the court and the court may dismiss the proceedings. If the claims of all creditors as listed in the plan are satisfied in full, the trustee shall, upon completion of the final distribution, report to the court and the court shall dismiss the proceedings.

(7) Neither the determination of the amount of any claim for the purposes of the plan, nor the acceptance of payments under the plan, shall affect the right of any creditor to litigate the creditor's claim and obtain judgment on the claim, or the right of the debtor to dispute the claim. The amount of any judgment shall be substituted by the trustee for the amount fixed in the plan.

(8) Any secured creditor who wishes to realize on his or her security shall give the trustee at least 5 days' notice in writing of the time, place and manner of the proposed realization, and shall notify the trustee of the amount realized, by which amount the creditor's claim as listed under the plan shall be reduced.

(10) The supreme court may from time to time promulgate rules and forms, not inconsistent with this section, to carry out the intent of this section and to promote its effectiveness, and may cause forms of petitions to be printed and distributed to the clerks of the circuit courts who shall, upon request, and without charge, assist debtors in the preparation of their petitions.

(11) The court in its discretion upon application, may amend or modify the plan of amortization and may make such other orders relating to the proceedings or the plan of amortization as are required.

History: 1979 c. 110 s. 60 (12); 1981 c. 317; 1993 a. 492; 1997 a. 253.

Personal Receivership: An alternative to Bankruptcy. Johnson. Wis. Law. Sept. 1990.