Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 766.51 (2026)
Management and control of property of spouses
✓ current as of July 2026
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766.51(1)(am)(am) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), marital property held in that spouse’s name alone or not held in the name of either spouse.
766.51(1)(b)(b) Marital property held in the names of both spouses in the alternative, including marital property held in a form designating the holder by the words “(name of one spouse) or (name of other spouse)”.
766.51(1)(d)(d) A policy of insurance if that spouse is designated as the owner on the records of the policy issuer.
766.51(1)(e)(e) Any right of an employee under a deferred employment benefit plan that accrues as a result of that spouse’s employment.
766.51(1m)(a)(a) Notwithstanding any provision in this section except par. (b), for the purpose of obtaining an extension of credit for an obligation described under s. 766.55 (2) (b), a spouse acting alone may manage and control all of the marital property.
766.51(1m)(b)(b) Unless the spouse acting alone may otherwise under this section manage and control the property, the right to manage and control marital property under this subsection does not include the right to manage and control marital property described in s. 766.70 (3) (a) to (d) or the right to assign, create a security interest in, mortgage or otherwise encumber marital property.
766.51(2)(2) Spouses may manage and control marital property held in the names of both spouses other than in the alternative only if they act together.
766.51(3)(3) The right to manage and control marital property transferred to a trust is determined by the terms of the trust.
766.51(4)(4) The right to manage and control marital property permits gifts of that property, subject to remedies under this chapter.
766.51(5)(5) The right to manage and control marital property does not determine the classification of property of the spouses and does not rebut the presumption under s. 766.31 (2).
766.51(6)(6) The enactment of this chapter does not affect the right to manage and control any property of either or both spouses acquired before the determination date.
766.51(7)(7) A court may appoint a conservator or guardian under ch. 54 to exercise a disabled spouse’s right to manage and control marital property.
766.51(9)(9) If an executory contract for the sale of property is entered into by a person having the right of management and control of the property, the rights of all persons then having or thereafter acquiring an interest in the property under this chapter are subject to the terms of the executory contract. This subsection applies to contracts entered into before or after the determination date.
766.51(10)(10) At the death of a spouse if property described under s. 766.70 (3) (a), (aL), (b), or (d) is held by either spouse, but not in the names of both spouses, such property may be subject to the management and control of the holding spouse as provided under s. 857.015.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 8
cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1992–2025 · leading case: In Matter of Est. of Lloyd, 487 N.W.2d 644 (Wis. Ct. App. 1992).
In Matter of Est. of Lloyd, 487 N.W.2d 644 (Wis. Ct. App. 1992). “Section 766.51(5), Stats. Applying the law to the facts, then, Wesley could have caused his nonmarital bank accounts to be reclassified to marital property by mixing them with marital property to the extent that the nonmarital component cannot be traced.”
Katzman v. State of Wisconsin Ethics Bd., 596 N.W.2d 861 (Wis. Ct. App. 1999). “See § 766.51, Stats. Thus, one spouse may generally expend marital funds he or she controls, solely or jointly, as he or she sees fit.”
Kelley v. Dahle-Fenske (In re Dahle-Fenske), 525 B.R. 912 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 2015). “Specifically, under Wis. Stat. § 766.51 (lm), “for the purpose of obtaining an extension of credit for an obligation described under § 766.”
In Re Pfalzgraf, 236 B.R. 390 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 1999). “See Wis.Stat. § 766.51(l)(am). Thus, as Bessie Laude’s claim could be satisfied from community property that comes into Kathleen’s estate, her claim cannot be disallowed under 11 U.”
Jackson v. Employe Trust Funds Bd., 602 N.W.2d 543 (Wis. Ct. App. 1999). “Section 766.51, Stats. Included in that grant is the right to make "gifts" to third parties and to select retirement-plan options, including the naming of a beneficiary.”
Kapila v. Morgan (In Re Morgan), 286 B.R. 678 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 2002). “Wis. Stat. §§ 766.51 (2), 706.02(l)(f). Thus, both spouses’ interests in the real estate, not just the debtor’s one-half interest, are in his bankruptcy estate.”
Liebzeit v. Universal Mortg. Corp. (In Re Larson), 346 B.R. 486 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 2006). “Wis. Stat. § 766.51 (l)(f), (lm)(b). In other words, the savings clause does not confer a right that does not exist under other law dealing with transactions involving property.”
George W. Conway & Ellen Conway (Bankr. W.D. Wis. 2025). “§ 766.51 (5). The title to the Property was originally in the names of both Debtors.”
— Wis. Stat. § 766.51(5) — 1 case
In Matter of Est. of Lloyd, 487 N.W.2d 644 (Wis. Ct. App. 1992). “Section 766.51(5), Stats. Applying the law to the facts, then, Wesley could have caused his nonmarital bank accounts to be reclassified to marital property by mixing them with marital property to the extent that the nonmarital component cannot be traced.”
— Wis. Stat. § 766.51(l)(am) — 1 case
In Re Pfalzgraf, 236 B.R. 390 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 1999). “See Wis.Stat. § 766.51(l)(am). Thus, as Bessie Laude’s claim could be satisfied from community property that comes into Kathleen’s estate, her claim cannot be disallowed under 11 U.”
— Wis. Stat. § 766.51(l)(e) — 1 case
Jackson v. Employe Trust Funds Bd., 602 N.W.2d 543 (Wis. Ct. App. 1999). “Section 766.51, Stats. Included in that grant is the right to make "gifts" to third parties and to select retirement-plan options, including the naming of a beneficiary.”
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