Definitions of Domestic Violence - Wisconsin

Defined in Domestic Violence Civil Laws

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 813.12

'Domestic abuse' means any of the following engaged in by an adult family member or adult household member against another adult family member or adult household member, by an adult caregiver against an adult who is under the caregiver's care, by an adult against his or her adult former spouse, by an adult against an adult with whom the individual has or had a dating relationship, or by an adult against an adult with whom the person has a child in common:

• Intentional infliction of physical pain, physical injury, or illness
• Intentional impairment of physical condition
• A violation of § 940.225 (sexual assault)
• A violation of § 940.32 (stalking)
• A violation of § 943.01 (damage to property) involving property that belongs to the individual
• A threat to engage in the conduct described above

Defined in Child Abuse Reporting and Child Protection Laws

This issue is not addressed in the statutes reviewed.

Defined in Criminal Laws

Citation: Ann. Stat. § 968.075

'Domestic abuse' means any of the following engaged in by any person listed below:

• Intentional infliction of physical pain, physical injury, or illness
• Intentional impairment of physical condition
• A violation of § 940.225 (sexual assault)
• A physical act that may cause the other person reasonably to fear imminent engagement in the conduct described above

Persons Included in the Definition

Citation: Ann. Stat. §§ 813.12; 968.075

In civil law: Domestic abuse may be engaged in any of the following:

• By an adult family or household member against another adult family or household member
• By an adult caregiver against an adult who is under the caregiver's care
• By an adult against his or her adult former spouse
• By an adult against an adult with whom the individual has or had a dating relationship
• By an adult against an adult with whom the person has a child in common

'Caregiver' means an individual who is a provider of in-home or community care to an individual through regular and direct contact. 'Family member' means a spouse, a parent, a child, or a person related by blood or adoption to another person. 'Household member' means a person currently or formerly residing in a place of abode with another person.

'Dating relationship' means a romantic or intimate social relationship between two adult individuals. It does not include a casual relationship or an ordinary fraternization between two individuals in a business or social context. A court shall determine if a dating relationship existed by considering the length of the relationship, the type of the relationship, and the frequency of the interaction between the adult individuals involved in the relationship.

In criminal law: An adult person can engage in domestic abuse against his or her spouse or former spouse, against an adult with whom the person resides or formerly resided, or against an adult with whom the person has a child in common.