(1) In an action for enforcement of a mortgage lien, and upon motion of the plaintiff or the city, town, village, or county where the mortgaged premises are located, if the court makes an affirmative finding upon proper evidence being submitted that the mortgaged premises have been abandoned by the mortgagor and the mortgagor’s assigns, judgment shall be entered as provided in sub. (3). In this section, “abandoned” means the relinquishment of possession or control of the mortgaged premises whether or not the mortgagor or the mortgagor’s assigns have relinquished equity and title. (2) In addition to the parties to the action to enforce a mortgage lien, a representative of the city, town, village, or county where the mortgaged premises are located may provide testimony or evidence to the court under sub. (1) relating to whether the premises have been abandoned by the mortgagor. In determining whether the mortgaged premises have been abandoned, the court shall consider the totality of the circumstances, including the following: (a) Boarded, closed, or damaged windows or doors to the premises. (b) Missing, unhinged, or continuously unlocked doors to the premises. (c) Terminated utility accounts for the premises. (d) Accumulation of trash or debris on the premises. (e) At least 2 reports to law enforcement officials of trespassing, vandalism, or other illegal acts being committed on the premises. (f) Conditions that make the premises unsafe or unsanitary or that make the premises in imminent danger of becoming unsafe or unsanitary. (3) (a) If the court finds that the mortgaged premises have been abandoned under sub. (1), judgment shall be entered as provided in s. 846.10, except that the plaintiff shall, no later than 12 months from the date when the judgment is entered, do one of the following: 1. Hold a sale of the mortgaged premises and have the sale confirmed under s. 846.16 (2m) . Any sale of the mortgaged premises may be held at any time after the expiration of 5 weeks from the date when the judgment is entered. Notice of the time and place of sale shall be given under s. 846.16 (1) and may be given at any time within the 12-month period. 2. Release or satisfy the mortgage lien and vacate the judgment of foreclosure. If the plaintiff presents evidence that the mortgage lien has been released or satisfied and requests that the judgment of foreclosure be vacated, the court shall vacate the judgment of foreclosure with prejudice. (b) If, 12 months after the date when the judgment is entered, the plaintiff has not completed an action under par. (a) 1. or 2., any party to the action or the city, town, village, or county where the mortgaged premises are located may petition the court for an order compelling a sale of the mortgaged premises. Foreclosures in Limbo: Zombie Properties. Payne & Decker. Wis. Law. Oct. 2015.
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