Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in Wisconsin
The Wisconsin lemon law for new cars, the rules for used cars, where to file a complaint, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in Wisconsin: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Wisconsin SCR 20:1.5(c), a contingent fee agreement must be in a writing signed by the client stating how the fee is determined, including the percentage(s) for settlement, trial or appeal; litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery; and whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated, and clearly notifying the client of expenses owed whether or not the client prevails. At the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the remittance and how it was determined. SCR 20:1.5(d) bars contingent fees in any action affecting the family (including divorce, legal separation, annulment, paternity, support and maintenance, custody and placement, property division, termination of parental rights and adoption), except to collect past-due support, maintenance or property division, and for representing a defendant in a criminal case or any proceeding that could result in deprivation of liberty. Source: Wis. SCR 20:1.5(c)-(d) |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The State Bar of Wisconsin's Fee Arbitration Program may be available when you and your lawyer disagree about the amount charged for legal representation, including costs or expenses. The panel's decision is final and binding, subject only to appeal rights under Chapter 788 of the Wisconsin Statutes; having a lawyer at the hearing is optional. A nonrefundable application fee of $35 to $150 per party applies. Contact feearb@wisbar.org; the Office of Lawyer Regulation does not handle fee disputes. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The Wisconsin Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection, administered through the State Bar of Wisconsin, may reimburse clients who suffered financial loss due to the dishonest conduct of their attorney, up to the Fund's maximum amount. The committee meets three times a year and sets application deadlines for each meeting. File through the State Bar's File a Claim page; an informational brochure is available in English, Spanish and Hmong. Contact WLFCP@wisbar.org. |
Wisconsin rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | Wisconsin's lemon law covers new motor vehicles that must be registered in Wisconsin (including demonstrators and executive vehicles, but not mopeds or trailers), bought or leased in the state. If a defect that substantially impairs use, value or safety is reported and the vehicle is made available for repair before the warranty expires or one year after delivery, whichever is sooner, it must be repaired. A "reasonable attempt to repair" means, within that same period, the same defect has been subject to repair at least four times and continues, or the vehicle has been out of service at least 30 days because of warranty defects. If it is not fixed after a reasonable attempt and the consumer gives the manufacturer the required form, the manufacturer must, at the consumer's direction, replace the vehicle with a comparable new one and refund collateral costs, or take it back and refund the full purchase price plus sales tax, finance charges, amounts paid at sale and collateral costs, minus a use allowance (based on miles before the first report). Refunds are due within 30 days after the consumer offers to transfer title. Source: Wis. Stat. § 218.0171 |
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| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Report the problem to the manufacturer, the lessor or any authorized dealer and make the vehicle available for repair before the warranty expires or within one year after first delivery, whichever is sooner. 2) Written election form: if the defect is not fixed after a reasonable attempt, the consumer gives the manufacturer the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's form electing either a refund or a comparable new vehicle (the forms are on the Department's website). For a refund, the manufacturer must pay within 30 days after the consumer offers to transfer title. For a replacement, the manufacturer must agree in writing within 30 days and provide the vehicle or a refund by the 45th day after receiving the form (120 days for heavy-duty vehicles). If the form is incomplete, the manufacturer may ask for more information within 30 days, and these time periods do not start until it is provided. 3) Arbitration: if a dispute settlement program certified by the Department of Transportation is available to the consumer, the consumer must use it before filing a lawsuit. The statute does not create a state-run arbitration program or set a consumer fee. 4) Deadline to sue: a lawsuit must be filed within 36 months after first delivery of the vehicle to a consumer. A consumer who wins is awarded pecuniary loss, costs, disbursements and reasonable attorney fees. Stats., published 10-1-26) and https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/218.0171. The Department of Transportation publishes an annual report on which programs are certified (§ 218.0171(4)(b)). A court may extend deadlines or reduce awards if a party fails to reasonably cooperate (§ 218.0171(7)(b)). |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | The Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is Wisconsin's primary consumer protection agency. Consumers should first try to resolve the problem with the business, then file a complaint online or by mail using the form for the right category (for example, home improvement, motor vehicle repairs, door-to-door sales, landlord-tenant, telemarketing, or a general complaint). Staff typically review a complaint within about a week and then contact the business; DATCP cannot force a business to resolve a complaint, but this contact often leads to a solution. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Wisconsin's Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) connects the public with a trained legal assistant (not legal advice) who assesses your situation and points you to the most appropriate resource; if you need an attorney, LRS refers you to one in your area interested in your type of legal issue. Referred attorneys agree to charge no more than $20 for the first 30-minute consultation; regular fees apply after that. Phone: (800) 362-9082. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Wisconsin Court System's Lawyer Status and History site lets the public search Wisconsin lawyers by name, State Bar number, law firm, city, state, law school or graduation year; the Office of Lawyer Regulation lists it for lawyer status and history. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Grievances against Wisconsin lawyers go to the Supreme Court's Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR). File by phone at (608) 267-7274 or (877) 315-6941, option 1 (not available to incarcerated persons); by mailing a letter or the LR-004 grievance form to Office of Lawyer Regulation, P.O. Box 1648, Madison, WI 53701-1648; or by emailing the form and documents to olr.intake@wicourts.gov. Grievances are against individual attorneys, not firms. OLR's preliminary evaluation may forward the matter, resolve a minor dispute, close it, or refer it for investigation, diversion or a consent reprimand; investigated matters can go to the Preliminary Review Committee, which can authorize a complaint in the Supreme Court. Some cases take 30 to 90 days, complex ones one to two years. You generally cannot learn whether grievances were filed, but OLR will disclose public discipline and formal complaints filed with the Supreme Court. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Legal Action of Wisconsin provides free civil legal help to people who qualify. Apply online or call (855) 947-2529 (about 20 minutes); intake asks about income, assets, household size and the legal issue, applying does not guarantee services, and people who are not accepted get referrals to other resources. The Wisconsin courts' Self-Help Law Center offers forms and information for people representing themselves (not legal advice). LSC lists Legal Action of Wisconsin as its Wisconsin grantee. Self-Help Law Center: https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/index.htm; LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Wisconsin · Background guide
Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.