Wisconsin Attorney's Desk Reference

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Published by: State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE
ISBN: 978-1-57862-771-4 1366+ pp.; 2026 Updated Annually
Wisconsin Attorney's Desk Reference

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For 40 years, Wisconsin Attorney's Desk Reference has been the resource Wisconsin attorneys reach for when a matter falls outside their everyday practice. Updated annually and spanning 11 major subject areas, 36 chapters, and more than 40 substantive legal topics, it gets you oriented quickly, lays out the procedural requirements you need to know before you act, and points you to the key statutes, cases, and authorities that matter. Its coverage spans the breadth of Wisconsin legal practice, with a practical, procedure-focused approach designed for the way attorneys actually work.

The 2026 edition includes a number of changes such as:

  • Wis. Stat. § 814.66 was amended to update the inventory filing fee and the threshold amount for charging 0.2% of the value of the inventory property
  • In 2025, U.S. District Courts in California and Texas disagreed about whether aliens who enter without inspection are eligible for bond and whether immigration courts have jurisdiction to hear bond requests
  • In January 2026, administration of Wisconsin’s worker’s compensation adjudication system transferred to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development from the Wisconsin Department of Administration’s Divison of Hearings and Appeals
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals decided criminal cases in 2025 that discussed topics such as pleas, joinder, and the right to a speedy trial
  • The treatment of sales and exchanges of qualified small business stock by I.R.C. § 1202 now differs depending on the date of issuance: either after or before July 4, 2025
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court reversed a court of appeals’ ruling that a statute granting immunity from civil liability to health-care providers during the COVID-19 emergency was unconstitutional
  • 2025 Wis. Act 40 provides for divorce or legal separation to be granted based on an affidavit
  • The 22nd edition of The Bluebook added rules regarding citation of Tribal Nation legal materials

The supplement also reflects the latest developments in the following practice areas:

  • Fair Employment Act
  • Unemployment Insurance
  • Worker’s Compensation
  • Family or Medical Leave Act
  • Immigration Law
  • Appellate Procedure
  • Buying and Selling a Business
  • Organizing a Business
  • Litigation References and Resources
  • Costs Upon Frivolous Claims
  • Notice of Claim/Limitation of Liability
  • Settlement/Subrogation
  • Statutes of Limitation
  • Lemon Law Litigation
  • Bankruptcy
  • Creditor/Debtor Relations
  • Criminal Procedure
  • Probating an Estate
  • Guardianship
  • Medicaid Divestment
  • Independent Adoption
  • Divorce and Actions Affecting the Family
  • Termination of Parental Rights
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Copyright
  • Patent Law
  • Trade Secrets
  • Trademark Law
  • Construction Lien Law
  • Foreclosing a Land Contract
  • Foreclosing a Mortgage on Real Estate
  • Landlord/Tenant Law
  • Purchase and Sale of Real Property
  • Mental Health Act
  • Animal Law

For an in depth view of the Table of Conents, please click to view Table of Contents.

State Bar of Wisconsin PINNACLE® is the premier publisher of practice guides and handbooks for Wisconsin's attorneys, written by Wisconsin's attorneys. PINNACLE relies on the expertise and contributions of volunteers from within the State Bar of Wisconsin membership to help develop and deliver timely, relevant information to assist Wisconsin's attorneys provide the highest-quality representation and service.

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