Find Help in Wisconsin
125 government-validated organizations serving Wisconsin — housing counselors, credit counselors, debtor education providers, and legal aid offices.
Why Wisconsin Residents Need Help
Wisconsin's distress metrics fall below national averages across the board, but financial hardship is individual — not statistical. The 125 organizations below serve Wisconsin residents dealing with mortgage trouble, debt collection, or bankruptcy regardless of statewide trends.
17 of Wisconsin's 26 HUD-approved housing counselors offer foreclosure and default counseling. 13 agencies serve in Spanish, with 6 non-English languages available across all agencies. 4 offer reverse mortgage counseling.
18 of the 45 DOJ-approved credit counselors serving Wisconsin offer in-person sessions, and 39 offer online counseling. For the post-filing debtor education course, 12 of 53 providers offer in-person classes.
Housing Counselors (26)
HUD-approved agencies providing free foreclosure prevention counseling, mortgage assistance, and financial guidance.
Credit Counselors (45)
Agencies approved by the U.S. Department of Justice provide the required pre-filing credit counseling for bankruptcy, plus general debt management plans.
Debtor Education (53)
U.S. Department of Justice-approved providers offer the required post-filing debtor education course in bankruptcy proceedings.
Legal Aid (1)
Federally funded legal aid organizations providing free civil legal assistance to low-income individuals facing foreclosure, debt, and housing issues.
Foreclosure in Wisconsin
Read the full Wisconsin foreclosure law guide — timeline, protections, redemption rights, and anti-deficiency rules.
Most-Complained-About Mortgage Servicer in Wisconsin
Wells Fargo & Company leads with 491 mortgage complaints recorded by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Wisconsin (out of 4,160 total across all servicers). If you're having issues with your servicer, a HUD-approved counselor can help you navigate the complaint process.
File a CFPB complaint · View full Wells Fargo & Company complaint profile
Wisconsin Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verified help providers are in Wisconsin?
There are 125 government-validated organizations serving Wisconsin: 26 HUD-approved housing counselors, 45 DOJ-approved credit counselors, 53 debtor education providers, and 1 LSC-funded legal aid offices. Of the 26 counselors, 17 offer foreclosure prevention services and 13 serve in Spanish.
Are housing counselors in Wisconsin free?
Yes. HUD-approved housing counseling agencies provide foreclosure prevention counseling free of charge, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage servicer and understand any options it has offered. Wisconsin uses judicial foreclosure. The earlier you contact a counselor, the more options you'll have. HUD's referral line is 1-800-569-4287.
What is the difference between credit counseling and debtor education in Wisconsin?
Credit counseling is required before filing for bankruptcy — a counselor reviews your finances and discusses alternatives. Debtor education is required after filing — a course that covers budgeting, money management, and using credit wisely. Both are provided by U.S. Department of Justice-approved agencies. Wisconsin had 10,171 bankruptcy filings last year (#21 nationally per capita). 65% were Chapter 7 liquidations and 35% were Chapter 13 repayment plans.
How do I qualify for free legal aid in Wisconsin?
LSC-funded legal aid is available to low-income individuals, typically those earning below 125% of the federal poverty level. Each organization has its own intake process — call and ask about eligibility. Many can help with foreclosure defense, debt collection harassment, and housing disputes. Wisconsin has 1 LSC-funded legal aid office — Legal Action of Wisconsin, Inc. is the primary provider.
How current is this directory data?
Provider listings are pulled from federal government databases: the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Housing Counselor API, the U.S. Department of Justice U.S. Trustee Program approved-agency feeds, and the Legal Services Corporation grantee database. Data is refreshed periodically from these official sources.
What type of foreclosure does Wisconsin use?
Wisconsin uses judicial foreclosure. Court oversight means the process can take longer but provides more procedural protections. See our full Wisconsin foreclosure law guide for details on protections, redemption rights, and homestead exemptions.
What are the top mortgage complaints in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has 4,160 mortgage complaints on record from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau across the mortgage servicers we track. The most-complained-about servicer is WELLS FARGO & COMPANY with 491 complaints. If you're having issues with your servicer, a HUD-approved counselor can help you navigate the complaint process, or you can file a CFPB complaint directly. See WELLS FARGO & COMPANY's full complaint profile.