Small Claims Answer - Preparation Worksheet - Wisconsin

WISCONSIN SMALL-CLAIMS ANSWER PREPARATION WORKSHEET

Do not file this worksheet as though it were an official form.

The Wisconsin Court System currently lists SC-5200V, Answer and Counterclaim (Small Claims) as a voluntary form. The form states that it may not be modified, although it may be supplemented with additional material. Transfer the relevant information from this worksheet to the current official form or use another response method permitted by the summons, Chapter 799, and the county's rules.

1. Case Information

Court: State of Wisconsin, Circuit Court, [________________________________] County

Case number: [________________________________]

Plaintiff(s): [________________________________]

Defendant(s): [________________________________]

Return date, time, and location shown on summons: [________________________________]

Date summons and complaint received: [__/__/____]

Plaintiff's attorney, if any: [________________________________]

Clerk's filing address, email, portal, or other approved method: [________________________________]

2. Confirm How and When to Respond

Wis. Stat. § 799.20(1) permits a defendant to answer, move to dismiss under Wis. Stat. § 802.06(2), or otherwise respond on the summons return date or an adjourned return date.

Wis. Stat. § 799.06(1) provides that pleadings other than the initial complaint may be oral, but a circuit court may require written pleadings by rule and a judge or circuit court commissioner may require them in a particular case. Wis. Stat. § 799.22(4) also addresses county rules that permit some defendants to join issue without appearing on the return date by answering by mail or telephone.

Before relying on a written, mailed, telephonic, electronic, or in-person answer, confirm the method stated in:

☐ The summons and complaint

☐ The county's small-claims instructions or local rule

☐ Instructions from the clerk of circuit court

Approved response method: [________________________________]

Response deadline: [________________________________]

Do not assume that mailing or filing this worksheet excuses an appearance. Under Wis. Stat. § 799.22(2), failure to appear on the return date or trial date may result in judgment for the plaintiff upon due proof.

3. Answer Selection

The current SC-5200V form offers two basic answer choices. Select the one that accurately reflects the defendant's position.

☐ Not contested. I agree with the plaintiff's claim. Judgment may be taken as requested in the complaint, plus costs and interest as allowed by law.

☐ Contested. I do not agree with all or part of the plaintiff's claim. The matter should be scheduled so the parties may present evidence.

Amount admitted, if any: $[________________________________]

Amount disputed: $[________________________________]

4. Reasons the Claim Is Contested

State the facts briefly and specifically. Attach additional pages to the official form if needed.

Response to Plaintiff's Main Allegations

1. [________________________________]

2. [________________________________]

3. [________________________________]

Payments, Credits, or Setoffs

Payment date, amount, and method: [________________________________]

Credit, return, repair, deposit, or other adjustment not reflected in the complaint: [________________________________]

Supporting receipt, statement, message, or other record: [________________________________]

Agreement or Transaction Dispute

Term or obligation the plaintiff states incorrectly: [________________________________]

What the parties actually agreed or did: [________________________________]

Relevant contract, invoice, notice, photograph, message, or witness: [________________________________]

Other Defense Facts

Use this section to identify facts supporting any potentially applicable defense. Do not assert a defense without a factual and legal basis.

☐ Plaintiff has not stated facts supporting the requested relief

☐ Payment, satisfaction, release, settlement, or accord and satisfaction

☐ Statute of limitations

☐ Lack of an enforceable agreement or required writing

☐ Failure of a condition that had to occur before payment or suit

☐ Misrepresentation, fraud, waiver, estoppel, or other conduct affecting the claim

☐ Improper service, venue, party, or assignment

☐ Other: [________________________________]

Facts supporting the selected defense(s):

[________________________________]

5. Requested Result on Plaintiff's Claim

Defendant asks the court to:

☐ Dismiss the complaint

☐ Reduce the amount claimed to $[________________________________]

☐ Credit payments or setoffs totaling $[________________________________]

☐ Award costs or other relief allowed by law

☐ Grant other relief: [________________________________]

6. Counterclaim or Demand Against Plaintiff

☐ I do not have a counterclaim or demand against the plaintiff.

☐ I have a counterclaim or demand and request judgment against the plaintiff.

Amount requested: $[________________________________]

Date and place of events: [________________________________]

What the plaintiff did or failed to do: [________________________________]

How that conduct caused loss or injury: [________________________________]

How the amount was calculated: [________________________________]

Supporting documents and witnesses: [________________________________]

Counterclaim Procedure and Limits

For claims filed through December 31, 2026, Wis. Stat. § 799.01(1)(d) generally places qualifying non-tort money claims of $10,000 or less in small claims, while § 799.01(1)(cr) places third-party complaints, personal-injury claims, and tort claims of $5,000 or less there. Under 2025 Wisconsin Act 105, the § 799.01(1)(d) amount increases to $15,000 on January 1, 2027; the $5,000 amount in § 799.01(1)(cr) remains unchanged.

An over-limit counterclaim is not always barred. Under Wis. Stat. § 799.02:

• an over-limit counterclaim arising from the same transaction or occurrence can cause the entire matter to proceed under Chapters 801–847 after the required fee and notice steps;
• an over-limit counterclaim not arising from the same transaction or occurrence must be dismissed while the small-claims case proceeds; and
• the party filing an over-limit counterclaim must give the statutory notice described in § 799.02(3).

The current SC-5200V instructs a defendant with an over-limit counterclaim to pay a filing fee and send SC-5250V, Notice of Counterclaim, to the plaintiff on the same day the counterclaim is filed. Confirm the current forms, fee, service, and scheduling consequences with the clerk before filing.

7. Jury-Trial Decision

Wis. Stat. § 799.21(1) provides for trial to the court when no jury is demanded. Under § 799.21(3), any party may file a written jury demand and pay the prescribed fees.

☐ I do not presently request a jury trial.

☐ I want legal advice immediately about making a jury demand.

For a non-eviction action, § 799.21(3)(a) generally requires the demand within 20 days after joinder of issue. In a county where a circuit court commissioner assists in small-claims matters, § 799.21(3)(b) ties the jury request to the demand-for-trial procedure and includes a separate 15-day route for another party. Confirm the applicable county procedure and do not rely on this worksheet alone to calculate the deadline.

8. Signature and Service Information

Defendant's name: [________________________________]

Address: [________________________________]

Email: [________________________________]

Telephone: [________________________________]

Signature: [________________________________]

Date: [__/__/____]

Attorney name and State Bar number, if any: [________________________________]

The current SC-5200V states that the defendant's signature does not need notarization. It also includes a certification that a copy of the answer and counterclaim has been or will be mailed to the plaintiff or the plaintiff's attorney, if any.

Plaintiff or attorney served: [________________________________]

Address used: [________________________________]

Date and method of service: [________________________________]

9. Filing and Hearing Checklist

☐ Download a fresh copy of SC-5200V from the Wisconsin Court System.

☐ Copy the case caption and number exactly from the summons.

☐ Confirm whether the county permits or requires a written answer.

☐ Confirm whether filing an answer excuses attendance at the return date.

☐ Complete the answer and, if applicable, counterclaim portions.

☐ Attach concise supporting pages without modifying the official form.

☐ Complete any required fee-waiver request.

☐ File by the method and deadline specified by the summons, local rule, or clerk.

☐ Mail or otherwise serve the plaintiff or plaintiff's attorney as required.

☐ Keep the filed copy, attachments, receipt, and proof of service.

☐ Bring organized exhibits and witnesses to each required appearance or trial.

Official Sources

• Wisconsin Legislature — certified Chapter 799 PDF (published July 1, 2026; updated through 2025 Wisconsin Act 247 and orders effective July 1, 2026)
• Wisconsin Court System — small-claims forms
• Wisconsin Court System — SC-5200V, Answer and Counterclaim

This worksheet does not replace the summons, the current official form, local court rules, or legal advice.