766.59 Unilateral statement; income from nonmarital property.

(1) A spouse may unilaterally execute a written statement which classifies the income attributable to all or certain of that spouse's property other than marital property as individual property.

(2)

(a) The statement is executed when signed by the executing spouse and acknowledged by a notary. If executed before January 1, 1986, the statement is effective on January 1, 1986, or at a later time if provided otherwise in the statement. If executed on or after January 1, 1986, the statement is effective when executed or at a later time if provided otherwise in the statement.

(b) Within 5 days after the statement is signed, the executing spouse shall notify the other spouse of the statement's contents by personally delivering a copy to the other spouse or by sending a copy by certified mail to the other spouse's last-known address. Failure to give notice is a breach of the duty of good faith imposed by s. 766.15.

(c) The executing spouse may record the statement in the county register of deeds office under s. 59.43 (1c) (r).

(3) Any income of the property designated in the statement which accrues on or after the date the statement becomes effective and before a revocation under sub. (4) is individual property. However, a statement only affects income accrued during the marriage during which the statement was executed.

(4) A statement may be revoked in writing by the executing spouse. The revoking spouse shall notify the other spouse of the revocation by personally delivering a copy to the other spouse or by sending a copy by certified mail to the other spouse's last-known address. The revoking spouse may record the revocation in the county register of deeds office under s. 59.43 (1c) (r).

(5) With respect to its effect on 3rd parties, a statement or a revocation shall be treated as if it were a marital property agreement.

(6) A person intending to marry may execute a statement under this section as if married. A statement executed by a person intending to marry is effective upon the marriage or at a later time if so provided in the statement. Within 5 days after the statement is executed, the person executing the statement shall notify the person whom he or she intends to marry or has married of the statement's contents by personally delivering a copy of the statement to that person or by sending a copy by certified mail to that person's address. Failure to give notice is a breach of the duty of good faith imposed by s. 766.15.

History: 1985 a. 37; 1991 a. 301; 1995 a. 201; 2015 a. 196.