Wisconsin Code § 893.305

Affidavit of interruption; adverse possession and prescriptive use
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(1) DEFINITIONS. In this section:
(a) “Affidavit of interruption” means an affidavit that satisfies
the requirements under sub. (3).
(b) “Neighbor” means a person who holds record title to real
estate abutting the record title holder’s real estate.
(c) “Survey” means a property survey that complies with ch.
A-E 7, Wis. Adm. Code, and that contains a certification by a
professional land surveyor that the survey shows all visible encroachments on the surveyed land.
(2) INTERRUPTION BY AFFIDAVIT. A record title holder may
interrupt adverse possession of real estate under s. 893.25,
893.26, 893.27, or 893.29 and adverse use of real estate under s.
893.28 (1) by doing all of the following:
(a) Recording, in the office of the register of deeds for the
county in which the record title holder’s parcel is located, an affidavit of interruption along with a survey of the record title
holder’s parcel that was certified no earlier than 5 years before the
date of recording.
(b) Providing notice of the recorded affidavit of interruption
in accordance with sub. (4).
(c) Recording proof that notice was provided in accordance
with sub. (4) in the office of the register of deeds for the county in
which the record title holder’s parcel is located.
(d) If notice is provided under sub. (4) (a), recording on the
neighbor’s abutting parcel, within 90 days of the date the neighbor received the notice, a notice of the recorded affidavit of interruption that includes a copy of the recorded affidavit of interruption, including the attached survey. A notice of the recorded affidavit under this paragraph shall include a legal description of the
neighbor’s abutting parcel and of the record title holder’s parcel.
(3) AFFIDAVIT OF INTERRUPTION. A record title holder shall
include in an affidavit to interrupt adverse possession of real estate under s. 893.25, 893.26, 893.27, or 893.29 or adverse use of
real estate under s. 893.28 (1) at least all of the following:
(a) A legal description of the parcel of land that contains the
real estate that is being adversely possessed or adversely used, as
described in par. (c).
(b) A statement that the person executing the affidavit is the
record title holder of the parcel.
(c) A general description of the adverse possession or adverse
use that the record title holder intends to interrupt by recording
the affidavit.
(d) A statement that the adverse possession or adverse use of
real estate described in par. (c) is interrupted and that a new period of adverse possession or adverse use may begin the day after
the affidavit is recorded.
(e) A statement that the record title holder will provide notice
as required under sub. (4).
(4) NOTICE. (a) If the record title holder knows, or has reason to believe, that the person who is adversely possessing or adversely using the record title holder’s real estate is a neighbor, the
record title holder shall provide notice to the neighbor by sending
all of the following by certified mail, return receipt requested, to
the neighbor’s address, as listed on the tax roll:

GOVERNMENT
1. A copy of the recorded affidavit of interruption, including
the attached survey.
2. A notice of the record title holder’s intent to, within 90
days of the date the notice is received, record a notice of the affidavit of interruption on the neighbor’s real estate that abuts the
record title holder’s parcel. Notice under this subdivision shall
include a reference to this section.
(b) If the record title holder knows the identity of the person
who is adversely possessing or adversely using the record title
holder’s real estate and the person is not a neighbor, the record title holder shall provide notice to the person by sending the person
a copy of the recorded affidavit of interruption, including the attached survey, by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the
person’s last-known address. Notice provided under this paragraph shall include a reference to this section.
(c) If the person who is adversely possessing or adversely using the record title holder’s real estate is unknown to the record title holder at the time the affidavit of interruption is recorded, the
record title holder shall provide notice by publishing a class 1 notice under ch. 985 in the official newspaper of the county in
which the record title holder recorded the affidavit of interruption. The published notice shall include all of the following:
1. A statement that the record title holder recorded an affidavit of interruption.
2. The recording information for the recorded affidavit of
interruption.
3. The street or physical address for the parcel on which the
affidavit of interruption was recorded.
4. A reference to this section.
(d) If certified mail sent by a record title holder under par. (a)
or (b) is returned to the record title holder as undeliverable, the
record title holder shall provide notice by publication under par.
(c).
(5) EFFECT OF RECORD. If a record title holder complies with
sub. (2), any period of uninterrupted adverse possession under s.
893.25, 893.26, 893.27, or 893.29 of real estate described in the
affidavit of interruption and any period of continuous adverse use
under s. 893.28 (1) of real estate described in the affidavit of interruption are interrupted on the date on which the affidavit of interruption is recorded on the record title holder’s parcel, as required under sub. (2) (a). A new period of adverse possession or
continuous adverse use may begin after the date on which the affidavit of interruption is recorded on the record title holder’s
parcel.
(6) ENTITLED TO RECORD. The register of deeds shall record
affidavits of interruption, proofs of notice under sub. (2) (c), and
notices of affidavits of interruption under sub. (2) (d) in the index
maintained under s. 59.43 (9).
(7) CONSTRUCTION. (a) An affidavit of interruption
recorded under this section may not be construed as an admission
by the record title holder that the real estate is being possessed adversely, as defined under s. 893.25, 893.26, 893.27, or 893.29, or
is being used adversely under s. 893.28 (1).
(b) An affidavit of interruption under this section is not evidence that a person’s possession or use of the record title holder’s
real estate is adverse to the record title holder.
(8) OTHER PROCEDURES. The procedure for interrupting adverse possession or adverse use set forth in this section is not
exclusive.

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