Wisconsin

Keep your home address private

Wisconsin's Safe at Home program, run by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, gives participants a legal substitute address (called an assigned address) for both public and private use. It forwards mail from that address to the participant at no cost.¹

• State and local government agencies may not refuse to use the assigned address, with some exceptions set by law. A person or business that has received a notice from a participant may not refuse to use it either.²
• It is for Wisconsin residents who are victims of abuse, parents or guardians of a victim, people who live with a victim, or people who fear for their physical safety. They must live at an address the person they fear does not know, and agree not to share it with that person.¹
• Before you apply, you do safety planning with an Application Assistant. Application Assistants are victim service providers, advocates, and other professionals chosen by the program.¹

Go to Safe at Home (wisdoj.gov)

Help for victims of crime

The Wisconsin Department of Justice runs the Crime Victim Compensation Program. It helps eligible victims of violent crime, and family or household members of victims who died, pay certain costs caused by the crime. The program decides who qualifies.³

Go to Crime Victim Compensation (wisdoj.gov)

Find a lawyer

This site does not give legal advice. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed Wisconsin lawyer.

• The State Bar of Wisconsin runs a Lawyer Referral and Information Service. It refers people to lawyers and to groups that can help. If you are referred to a lawyer, the first half-hour meeting has a small fee.⁴
• If you have a low income, you may be able to get free legal help. The Wisconsin courts point people to a list of legal service programs for civil cases. Some help people with any income, and some have income limits.⁴

Find a lawyer referral service (wisbar.org)

Find free legal aid (wicourts.gov)