Embedded Files
Adoption
Foreign Adoption (adoption held in birth country)
Foreign Adoption (adoption in U.S.)
CHIPS or JIPS
Cases involving children or juveniles under the age of 18 who are in need of protection and services.
Please report concerns to your local child welfare agency. In Adams County, contact the Health & Human Services Department. Their office number is 608-339-4505.
Civil Commitment
Cases involving minors placed into custody for mental, alcohol, or drug civil commitments.
A person who is involuntarily hospitalized will be appointed counsel through the Wisconsin Public Defender Office. Their office number is 715-303-5010.
In Adams County, civil commitments are prosecuted by Corporation Counsel. Their office number is 608-339-4267.
Delinquency
Cases involving juveniles (at least 10 years old but not yet 17) where they are believed to have violated a criminal law. A petition can be initiated by law enforcement, parents, schools and intake workers
In Adams County, delinquency matters are prosecuted by the District Attorney. Their office number is 608-339-4217.
Grandparent or Step-Parent Visitation
If one or both parents of a child are deceased and the child is in the custody of the surviving parent or any other person, a grandparent or stepparent (stepparent means the surviving spouse of a deceased parent of a child, whether or not the surviving spouse has remarried) of the child may petition for visitation privileges with respect to the child, whether or not the person with custody is married.
There is not a juvenile court document for petitioning for grandparent visitation. You may write a letter to the court of the request, or seek an attorney to further assist you.
Guardianship
There are 4 different types of guardianships for a juvenile.
Full Guardianship - Guardianship of a Minor - Person Guidelines
A full guardianship requires the Petitioner to prove facts and circumstances establishing that the child's parents are unfit, unwilling, or unable to provide for the care, custody, and control of the child or other compelling facts and circumstances demonstrating that a full guardianship is necessary. A full guardian's duties and authority include: All of the duties and authority specified in 48.023, Wis. Stats., the duty and authority to make important decisions in matters having a permanent effect on the life and development of the child and the duty to be concerned about the child's general welfare, including but not limited to: The authority to consent to marriage, enlistment in the U.S. armed forces, major medical, psychiatric and surgical treatment, and obtaining a motor vehicle operator's license. The authority to represent the child in legal actions and make other decisions of substantial legal significance concerning the child. Reasonable visitation of the child. The rights and responsibilities of legal custody except when legal custody has been vested in another person or when the child is under the supervision of the department of corrections or a county department. The right to change the residence of the child from Wisconsin to another state. The guardian must immediately notify the court of any change in the address of the guardian or child. The guardian must make an annual report to that court on the condition of the child. The report shall include the location of the child, the health condition of the child, and any recommendations regarding the child. A full guardianship remains until the child is 18 years old unless terminated earlier.
Limited Guardianship - Guardianship of a Minor - Person Guidelines
A limited guardianship requires the Petitioner to prove facts and circumstances establishing that the child's parents need assistance in providing for the care, custody, and control of the child and a statement of the specific duties and authority sought by the petitioner for the proposed guardian and the specific parental rights and duties that the petitioner seeks to have transferred. A limited guardian has limited duties and authority. The court may order: The authority to consent to marriage, enlistment in the U.S. armed forces, major medical, psychiatric and surgical treatment, and obtaining a motor vehicle operator's license. The authority to represent the child in legal actions and make other decisions of substantial legal significance concerning the child. Reasonable visitation of the child. The rights and responsibilities of legal custody except when legal custody has been vested in another person or when the child is under the supervision of the department of corrections or a county department. The right to change the residence of the child from Wisconsin to another state. The guardian must immediately notify the court of any change in the address of the guardian or child. The guardian must make an annual report to that court on the condition of the child. The report shall include the location of the child, the health condition of the child, and any recommendations regarding the child. Additionally, the court may limit the guardian's authority regarding: a parent retains power to make the following decisions within the parent's ability to exercise effectively. The physical custody of a guardian is limited to allow shared physical custody between the guardian and parent since it is in the best interests of the child. The court decides the expiration date of a limited guardianship.
Temporary Guardianship - Guardianship of a Minor - Person Guidelines
A temporary guardianship requires the Petitioner to prove facts and circumstances establishing that the child's particular situation, including the inability of the child's parents to provide for the care, custody, and control of the child for a temporary period of time, requires the appointment of a temporary guardian; the reasons for the appointment of a temporary guardian; and the powers requested for the temporary guardian. A temporary guardian's authority shall be limited to those acts that are reasonably related to the reasons for the appointment that are specified in the petition for temporary guardianship. A temporary guardianship can be ordered up to 180 days. A temporary guardianship can be extended once for up to an additional 180 days.
Emergency Guardianship - Guardianship Guidelines - Minor - Emergency
An emergency guardianship requires the Petitioner to prove facts and circumstances establishing that the welfare of the child requires the immediate appointment of an emergency guardian. An emergency guardian's authority shall be limited to the acts, which are reasonably related to the reasons for the appointment. An emergency guardianship can be ordered up to 60 days. An emergency guardianship cannot be extended.
If you are petitioning to modify or terminate an existing guardianship, please click here.
If you are petitioning for guardianship of the estate, please click here.
Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)
A Petition can be initiated in the Juvenile Court when the Child (person in need of protection) is age 17 years or younger and the Respondent (person from whom protection is sought) is age 17 years or younger or an adult with the alleged victim child under protection and services in the Juvenile Court. If these do not apply, it does not meet the requirements for Juvenile Court. A Petition can be filed with the Clerk of Court’s Office to be held in Civil Court.
Termination of Parental Rights (TPR)
To permanently stop or end all rights, powers, privileges, immunities, duties and obligations (including child support) existing between parent and child. If the other parent does not let you see your child, you may terminate your parental rights, but there must be a step-parent willing to adopt the child and take on all of the obligations for the child. There are options available in Family Court that you can exercise to enforce or request child support or placement orders. If the other parent does not pay child support and does not see the child, you may terminate his/her parental rights, but there must be a step-parent willing to adopt the child and take on all of the obligations for the child. There are options available in Family Court that you can exercise to enforce or request child support or placement orders.
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