767.76 Account transfers.

(1) Authority of court to require. If the court determines that income withholding under s. 767.75 is inapplicable, ineffective, or insufficient to ensure payment under an order or stipulation specified in s. 767.75 (1), or that income withholding under s. 767.513 (3) is inapplicable, ineffective, or insufficient to ensure payment of a child's health care expenses, including payment of health insurance premiums, ordered under s. 767.513, the court may require the payer to identify or establish a deposit account, owned in whole or in part by the payer, that allows for periodic transfers of funds and to file with the financial institution at which the account is located an authorization for transfer from the account to the department or its designee. The authorization shall be provided on a standard form approved by the court and shall specify the frequency and the amount of transfer, sufficient to meet the payer's obligation under the order or stipulation, as required by the court. The authorization shall include the payer's consent for the financial institution or an officer, employee, or agent of the financial institution to disclose information to the court, county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5), department, or department's designee regarding the account for which the payer has executed the authorization for transfer.

(2) Transfer of funds by financial institutions. A financial institution that receives an authorization for transfer under sub. (1) shall transfer the amounts as specified in the authorization or shall transfer the amount available for transfer if at a time of transfer that amount is less than the amount specified in the authorization. The financial institution may accomplish the transfer by any lawful means, including payment by check, subject to the terms of the account. The financial institution may deduct from the payer's account for each transfer its usual fee for such fund transfers. If the account is closed or if no funds are available at a time of transfer, the financial institution shall notify the county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5) or the department or its designee, whichever is appropriate, within 10 days after the date on which the funds should have been transferred.

(3) Priority of transfer authorization. An authorization for transfer under sub. (1) has priority over any other authorization for transfer and over an assignment, garnishment or similar legal process under state law or the laws of another state.

(4) Revocation of transfer authorization. An authorization for transfer under sub. (1) may not be revoked except by court order.

(5) Authorized disclosure. A financial institution or an officer, employee, or agent of a financial institution may disclose information to the court, county child support agency under s. 59.53 (5), department, or department's designee concerning an account for which a payer has executed an authorization for transfer under sub. (1).

(6) Liability immunity. No financial institution or officer, employee or agent of a financial institution is liable to an account owner for any sum transferred, or for any information disclosed, in compliance with this section.

History: 1993 a. 481; 1995 a. 279; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 38, 61, 105; 2005 a. 443 ss. 120, 238; Stats. 2005 s. 767.76.