Service of process on nonresident
Wis. Stat. § 345.09
in effect(1) The use and operation of a motor vehicle over the highways of this state by a nonresident is considered an irrevocable appointment by the nonresident of the secretary to be the true and lawful attorney upon whom may be served all legal process in any action or proceeding against the nonresident or the nonresident’s personal representative, growing out of the use or operation of the motor vehicle in this state and resulting in damage or loss to person or property, whether the damage or loss occurs on a highway or on abutting public or private property. The appointment of the secretary as attorney for service of process is binding upon the nonresident’s personal representative. The use or operation of a motor vehicle over the highways of this state by the nonresident is a signification of the nonresident’s agreement that any legal process or notice against the nonresident or the nonresident’s personal representative that is so served shall be of the same legal force and validity as if served on them personally.
(2) The secretary as attorney upon whom processes and notices may be served under this section shall, upon being served with such process or notice, forthwith mail by registered mail a copy thereof to such nonresident at the out-of-state nonresident address given in the papers so served. It is the duty of the party or the party’s attorney to certify in the papers so served that the address given therein is the last-known out-of-state nonresident address of the party to be served. In all cases of service under this section there shall be served 2 authenticated copies for the secretary and such additional number of authenticated copies as there are defendants so served in the action. One of the secretary’s copies shall be retained for the secretary’s record of service and the other copy shall be returned with proper certificate of service attached for filing in court as proof of service of the copies by having mailed them by registered mail to the defendants named therein. The service fee shall be $25 for each defendant so served. The secretary shall keep a record of all such processes and notices, which record shall show the day and hour of service.
(3) This section applies to a nonresident defendant who was a resident of this state at the time of the accident or occurrence which gave rise to the cause of action sued on.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/345.09Fetched: 10/7/2026