Unclaimed property, how disposed of
Wis. Stat. § 171.06
in effectWhen any property is not perishable or subject to decay and is not claimed and taken away within one year after it was received, it may be sold as follows: The person in whose custody the property is, or the person’s agent or attorney, may make an affidavit of the facts and present the same to a judge or supplemental court commissioner of the county in which the property is located and such judge or supplemental court commissioner shall immediately issue an order requiring the sheriff or any constable of the county to sell the property at public auction, giving 60 days’ notice of the time and place of the sale to the consignor, the consignee and the custodian of the property. This notice shall be in writing and served personally or by mail upon the persons whose names and residences are known. If the name or residence of any of the persons is unknown and cannot be ascertained with reasonable diligence, the sheriff or constable shall make an affidavit of this fact and shall publish a class 3 notice, under ch. 985, in the county. At the time and place of the sale the sheriff or constable shall sell the property at public auction and shall make a full return of the sheriff’s or constable’s proceedings under the order to the judge or supplemental court commissioner issuing the order, together with proof of service or publication of the notice of the sale, and an inventory of the property sold and the proceeds of the sale after deducting the sheriff’s or constable’s fees. From the proceeds of the sale the judge or supplemental court commissioner shall pay all legal charges that have been incurred in relation to the property, including the charges of the person in whose custody the property was when the proceedings were begun, or a ratable proportion of each charge if the proceeds of the sale are not sufficient to pay all of the charges. The judge or supplemental court commissioner shall immediately pay any balance remaining over to the treasurer of his or her county, with a copy of all proceedings in the matter. The county treasurer shall file the copy in his or her office. The person in whose custody the property is when any proceeding for the sale is commenced shall immediately notify the consignor and consignee of the sale, in writing, and served by leaving a copy thereof with the consignor and consignee, personally or by mail.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/171.06Fetched: 10/7/2026