Chapter 48, CHILDREN’S CODE

48.90 Filing of adoption petition; preadoption residence. (1) A petition for adoption may be filed at any time if: (a) One of the petitioners is a relative of the child by blood or by adoption, excluding parents whose parental rights have been terminated and persons whose relatio…

48.91 Hearing; order. (1) The hearing may be in chambers unless an interested person objects. The petitioner and the minor to be adopted, if 14 or older, shall attend unless the court orders otherwise. (2) In an adoption proceeding for a nonmarital child who is not adopted or who…

48.913 Payments by adoptive or proposed adoptive parents to a birth parent or child or on behalf of a birth parent or child. (1) PAYMENTS ALLOWED. The proposed adoptive parents of a child, or a person acting on behalf of the proposed adoptive parents, may pay the actual cost of a…

48.915 Adoption appeals given preference. An appeal from a judgment granting or denying an adoption shall be given preference. History: 1987 a. 383; 1993 a. 395 s. 30; Stats. 1993 s. 48.915.

48.92 Effect of adoption. (1) After the order of adoption is entered the relation of parent and child and all the rights, duties and other legal consequences of the natural relation of child and parent thereafter exists between the adopted person and the adoptive parents. (2) Aft…

48.925 Visitation rights of certain persons. (1) Upon petition by a relative who has maintained a relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with a child who has been adopted by a stepparent or relative, the court, subject to subs. (1m) and (2), may grant reasonable visi…

48.93 Records closed. (1) In this section, “adoptee” has the meaning given in s. 48.432 (1) (a). (1d) All records and papers pertaining to an adoption proceeding shall be kept in a separate locked file and may not be disclosed except under sub. (1g), (1r), (1v), or (1w), s. 48.43…

48.94 New birth record. (1) After entry of the order granting the adoption the clerk of the court shall promptly mail a copy thereof to the state bureau of vital records and furnish any additional data needed for the new birth record. Whenever the parents by adoption, or the adop…

48.95 Withdrawal or denial of petition. Except as provided under s. 48.839 (3) (b), if the petition is withdrawn or denied, the circuit court shall order the case transferred to the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 938 for appropriate action, exc…

48.96 Subsequent adoption. The adoption of an adopted person is authorized and, in that case, the references to parent and birth parent are to adoptive parent. History: 1981 c. 359 s. 16.

48.97 Adoption and guardianship orders of other jurisdictions. (1) EFFECT AND RECOGNITION OF ADOPTION DECREES OF OTHER STATES. When the relationship of parent and child has been created by an order of adoption of a court of any other state, the rights and obligations of the parti…

48.975 Adoption assistance. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “adoption assistance” means payments by the department to the adoptive or proposed adoptive parents of a child which are designed to assist in the cost of care of that child after an agreement under sub. (4) has been si…

48.977 Appointment of guardians for certain children in need of protection or services. (2) TYPE OF GUARDIANSHIP. This section may be used for the appointment of a guardian of the person for a child if the court finds all of the following: (a) That the child has been adjudged to …

48.978 Appointment or designation of standby guardian of a child. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Attending physician” means a physician licensed under ch. 448 who has primary responsibility for the treatment and care of a parent who has filed a petition under sub. (2) (a)…

48.979 Delegation of power by parent. (1) (a) A parent who has legal custody of a child, by a power of attorney that is properly executed by all parents who have legal custody of the child, may delegate to an agent, as provided in par. (am), any of his or her powers regarding the…

48.9795 Appointment of guardian of the person for a child. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Interested person” means any of the following: 1. For purposes of a petition for guardianship of a child, any of the following: a. The child, if he or she has attained 12 years of ag…

48.98 Interstate placement of children. (1) No person may bring a child into this state or send a child out of this state for the purpose of placing the child in foster care or for the purpose of adoption without a certificate from the department that the home is suitable for the…

48.981 Abused or neglected children and abused unborn children. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (ag) “Agency” means a county department, the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more or a licensed child welfare agency under contract with a county department …

48.982 Child abuse and neglect prevention board. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (b) “Board” means the child abuse and neglect prevention board. (bm) “Cultural competency” means the ability of an individual or organization to understand and act respectfully toward, in a cultura…

48.983 Child abuse and neglect prevention program. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (b) “Case,” other than when used in the term “case management services,” means a family or person who meets all of the following criteria: 1. The family or person is any of the following: a. A fa…

48.986 Child abuse and neglect and unborn child abuse services. (1) From the amounts distributed under s. 48.563 (1) for services for children and families, the department shall distribute funds to eligible counties for services related to child abuse and neglect and to unborn ch…

48.987 Earnings of self-supporting minors. During any time when a parent of a minor neglects or refuses to provide for the minor’s support, or support and education, the earnings of the minor shall be the minor’s sole property as against such parent or any creditor of such parent…

48.9875 Minor consent for housing. (1) In this section, “shelter facility” means a temporary place of lodging for individuals or families. (2) A minor shall be presumed to be qualified and competent to contract for admission to a shelter facility or transitional living program if…

48.988 Interstate compact on the placement of children. The interstate compact on the placement of children is hereby enacted into law and entered into with all other jurisdictions legally joining therein in the form substantially as follows: (1) ARTICLE I — PURPOSE AND POLICY. I…

48.989 Interstate compact on the placement of children: additional procedure. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section and in s. 48.988: (a) “Appropriate authority in the receiving state” means the department. (b) “Appropriate public authorities” means the department, which shall receive…

48.9895 Withdrawal from Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children. Sections 48.988 and 48.989 do not apply to a child from this state who is sent, brought, or caused to be sent or brought into another state under s. 48.988 (3) or who is placed in an institution in another s…

48.99 Interstate Compact for the Placement of Children. (1) ARTICLE I — PURPOSE. The purpose of this compact is to do all of the following: (a) Provide a process through which children who are subject to this compact are placed in safe and suitable homes in a timely manner. (b) F…

48.9985 Interstate adoption agreements. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Adoption assistance agreement” means an agreement under s. 48.975 with a child’s adoptive parents to provide specified benefits, including medical assistance, to the child, or a similar agreement in wr…

48.999 Expediting interstate placements of children. The courts of this state shall do all of the following to expedite the interstate placement of children: (1) Subject to ss. 48.396 (2) and 938.396 (2), cooperate with the courts of other states in the sharing of information. (2…