Chapter 48

48.839(1) (1) Bond required.

48.839(1)(a) (a) Any resident of this state who has been appointed by a court of a foreign jurisdiction as guardian of a child who is a citizen of that jurisdiction, before bringing the child into this state for the purpose of adopting the child, shall file with the department a $1,000 noncancelable bond in favor of this state, furnished by a surety company licensed to do business in this state. The condition of the bond shall be that the child will not become dependent on public funds for his or her primary support before he or she is adopted.

48.839(1)(b) (b) By filing the bond required under par. (a), the child’s guardian and the surety submit to the jurisdiction of the court in the county in which the guardian resides for purposes of liability on the bond, and appoint the clerk of the court as their agent upon whom any papers affecting their bond liability may be served. Their liability on the bond may be enforced without the commencement of an independent action.

48.839(1)(c) (c) If upon affidavit of the department it appears to the court that the condition of the bond has been violated, the court shall order the guardian and the surety to show cause why judgment on the bond should not be entered for the department. If neither the guardian nor the surety appear for the hearing on the order to show cause, or if the court concludes after the hearing that the condition of the bond has been violated, the court shall enter judgment on the bond for the department against the guardian and the surety.

48.839(1)(d) (d) If custody of the child is transferred under sub. (4) (b) to a county department or child welfare agency before the child is adopted, the department shall periodically bill the guardian and the surety under s. 49.32 (1) (b) or 49.345 for the cost of care and maintenance of the child until the child is adopted or becomes age 18, whichever is earlier. The guardian and surety shall also be liable under the bond for costs incurred by the department in enforcing the bond against the guardian and surety.

48.839(1)(e) (e) This section does not preclude the department or any other agency given custody of a child under sub. (4) (b) from collecting under s. 49.32 (1) (b) or 49.345 from the former guardian for costs in excess of the amount recovered under the bond incurred in enforcing the bond and providing care and maintenance for the child until he or she reaches age 18 or is adopted.

48.839(1)(f) (f) The department may waive the bond requirement under this subsection.

48.839(2) (2) Evidence of availability for adoption required.

48.839(2)(a) (a) Any resident of this state who has been appointed by a court of a foreign jurisdiction as guardian of a child who is a citizen of that jurisdiction and who intends to bring the child into this state for the purpose of adopting the child shall file with the department a certified copy of the judgment or order of a court of the foreign jurisdiction or other instrument having the effect under the laws of the foreign jurisdiction of freeing the child for adoption. If the instrument is not a judgment or order of a court, the guardian shall also file with the department a copy of the law under which the instrument was issued, unless the department waives this requirement. The guardian shall also file English translations of the court judgment or order or other instrument and of the law. The department shall return the originals to the guardian and keep on file a copy of each document.

48.839(2)(b) (b) If the guardian files a judgment or order of a court under par. (a), the department shall review the judgment or order. If the department determines that the judgment or order has the effect of freeing the child for adoption, if the department has been furnished with a copy of a home study that was conducted as provided in s. 48.88 (2) recommending the guardian as an adoptive parent, if a licensed child welfare agency has been identified to provide the services required under sub. (5), if the guardian has filed the bond required under sub. (1), and if the guardian has completed the preadoption preparation required under s. 48.84 (1) or the department has determined that the guardian is not required to complete that preparation, the department shall certify to the U.S. citizenship and immigration services that all preadoptive requirements of this state that can be met before the child’s arrival in the United States have been met.

48.839(2)(c) (c) If the guardian files an instrument other than a judgment or order of a court under par. (a), the department shall review the instrument. If the department determines that the instrument has the effect under the laws of the foreign jurisdiction of freeing the child for adoption, if the department has been furnished with a copy of a home study recommending the adoptive parents, if a licensed child welfare agency has been identified to provide the services required under sub. (5), if the guardian has filed the bond required under sub. (1), and if the guardian has completed the preadoption preparation required under s. 48.84 (1) or the department has determined that the guardian is not required to complete that preparation, the department shall certify to the U.S. citizenship and immigration services that all preadoptive requirements of this state that can be met prior to the child’s arrival in the United States have been met.

48.839(3) (3) Petition for adoption or termination of parental rights required.

48.839(3)(a) (a) Within 60 days after the arrival of a child brought into this state from a foreign jurisdiction for the purpose of adoption, the individual who is the child’s guardian shall file a petition to adopt the child, a petition to terminate parental rights to the child, or both. If only a petition to terminate parental rights to the child is filed under this paragraph, the individual guardian shall file a petition for adoption within 60 days of the order terminating parental rights. The individual guardian shall file with the court the documents filed with the department under sub. (2) (a).

48.839(3)(b) (b) Except as provided in par. (a) and sub. (4) (a), the termination of a parent’s parental rights to a child who is a citizen of a foreign jurisdiction is not required prior to the child’s adoption by his or her guardian.

48.839(3)(c) (c) If a petition for adoption is filed under par. (a), the individual guardian filing the petition shall file a copy of the petition with the department at the time the petition is filed with the court. If the individual guardian filed an instrument other than a court order or judgment under sub. (2) (a), the department may make a recommendation to the court as to whether the instrument filed has the effect under the laws of the foreign jurisdiction of freeing the child for adoption.

48.839(3)(d) (d) If a petition for adoption is filed under par. (a) and the individual guardian filing the petition filed an instrument other than a court order or judgment under sub. (2) (a), the court shall determine whether the instrument filed has the effect under the laws of the foreign jurisdiction of freeing the child for adoption. The court shall presume that the instrument has that effect unless there are substantial irregularities on the face of the document or unless the department shows good cause for believing that the instrument does not have that effect. If the court determines that the instrument does not have the effect of freeing the child for adoption, the court shall order the petitioner to file a petition to terminate parental rights under s. 48.42 within 10 days.

48.839(3)(e) (e) If a petition for adoption is filed under par. (a) and the individual guardian filing the petition filed a court order or judgment under sub. (2) (a), the court order or judgment shall be legally sufficient evidence that the child is free for adoption.

48.839(4) (4) Transfer of guardianship; forfeiture of bond. If a guardian does not file a petition as required under sub. (3) (a) or (d), or if the petition for adoption under sub. (3) is withdrawn or denied, the court:

48.839(4)(a) (a) Shall transfer guardianship of the child to the department, to a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm) or to a child welfare agency under s. 48.61 (5) and order the guardian to file a petition for termination of parental rights under s. 48.42 within 10 days.

48.839(4)(b) (b) Shall transfer legal custody of the child to the department, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, to a county department or to a child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60.

48.839(4)(c) (c) Shall order the guardian who filed the bond under sub. (1) (a) to show cause why the bond should not be forfeited.

48.839(4)(d) (d) May order that physical custody of the child remain with a suitable individual with whom the child has been living.

48.839(5) (5) Child welfare services required. Any child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.60 that negotiates or arranges the placement of a child for adoption under this section shall provide services to the child and to the proposed adoptive parents until the child’s adoption is final.

48.839 History History: 1981 c. 81; 1985 a. 176; 1997 a. 27; 2005 a. 293; 2007 a. 20; 2015 a. 172, 380.

48.84 48.84 Preadoption preparation for proposed adoptive parents.

48.84(1) (1) Before a child may be placed under s. 48.833 for adoption by a proposed adoptive parent who has not previously adopted a child, before a proposed adoptive parent who has not previously adopted a child may petition for placement of a child for adoption under s. 48.837, and before a proposed adoptive parent who has not previously adopted a child may bring a child into this state for adoption under s. 48.839, the proposed adoptive parent shall complete the preadoption preparation required under this section. The preparation shall be provided by a licensed child welfare agency, a licensed private adoption agency, the state adoption information exchange under s. 48.55, the state adoption center under s. 48.55, a state-funded foster care and adoption resource center, a state-funded postadoption resource center, a technical college district school, or an institution or college campus within the University of Wisconsin System. If the proposed adoptive parent does not reside in this state, he or she may meet this requirement by obtaining equivalent preparation in his or her state of residence. If the proposed adoptive parent resides in this state, but the agency that negotiated or arranged placement of the child is governed by the laws of another state, the proposed adoptive parent may meet this requirement by obtaining equivalent preparation that is provided by that agency and is approved by the department.

48.84(2) (2) The department shall promulgate rules establishing the topics covered under the preadoption preparation required under sub. (1). The preparation shall include training on issues that may confront adoptive parents, in general, and that may confront adoptive parents of special needs children or foreign children. In all cases, the training shall cover the topics of attachment, trauma, neglect, and abuse, including sexual abuse.

48.84(2g) (2g) A proposed adoptive parent shall obtain at least 25 hours of the preadoption preparation required under sub. (1), including all of the following:

48.84(2g)(a) (a) At least 6 hours of training that is provided in person or through a live videoconference session, either individually or in a group.

48.84(2g)(b) (b) At least 6 hours of training that is appropriate to the specific needs of the child to be adopted.

48.84(2r) (2r) A person who is providing the preadoption preparation required under sub. (1) shall offer to the adoptive parent at least 6 additional hours of training appropriate to the postadoption needs of the family to be provided after a court issues an order granting the adoption.

48.84(3) (3) A proposed adoptive parent who petitions to adopt a child under s. 48.837 or 48.839 or with whom a child is placed under s. 48.833 (2) shall pay the costs of the preadoption preparation required under sub. (1) and the postadoption training offered under sub. (2r). The department shall pay the costs of the preadoption preparation required under sub. (1) and the postadoption training offered under sub. (2r) for a proposed adoptive parent with whom a child is placed under s. 48.833 (1).

48.84 History History: 2005 a. 293; 2007 a. 20, 186; 2015 a. 379; 2023 a. 118.

48.84 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. DCF 51.10, Wis. adm. code.

48.841 48.841 Persons required to file recommendation as to adoption.

48.841(1) (1) No adoption of a minor may be ordered without the written recommendation, favorable or unfavorable, of the guardian of the minor, if there is one, as set forth in s. 48.85.

48.841(2) (2) If the guardian refuses or neglects to file its recommendation within the time specified in s. 48.85, the court may proceed as though the guardian had filed a favorable recommendation.

48.85 48.85 Recommendation of guardian.

48.85(1) (1) At least 10 days prior to the hearing, the guardian shall file its recommendation with the court. In making a recommendation under this subsection with respect to an Indian child, the guardian shall comply with the order of placement preference under s. 48.028 (7) (a) or, if applicable, s. 48.028 (7) (c).

48.85(2) (2) The guardian’s recommendation shall be presumed to be in the best interests of the child unless the fair preponderance of the credible evidence is to the contrary. If the guardian’s recommendation is in opposition to the granting of the petition, the court shall take testimony as to whether or not the proposed adoption is in the best interests of the child.

48.85(3) (3) At the conclusion of the hearing, the court shall enter its order in accordance with s. 48.91 (3).

48.85 History History: 1973 c. 263; 2009 a. 94.

48.871 48.871 Filing of recommendation by guardian. In the case of a recommendation by a guardian, the guardian shall file with its recommendation satisfactory evidence of its authority to file such recommendation relative to the adoption of the minor. In the case where the parents’ rights have been judicially terminated, this evidence shall be a certified copy of the order terminating their rights and appointing the guardian. In other cases of a guardian appointed by a court, this evidence shall be a certified copy of the order appointing it guardian. In the case of a guardian having the authority to consent or file its recommendation under an instrument other than a court order, valid under the laws of another state, that instrument shall serve as evidence of the authority to consent or file its recommendation.

48.88 48.88 Notice of hearing; investigation.

48.88(1) (1) In this section, unless otherwise qualified, “agency” means any public or private entity except an individual.

48.88(1m) (1m) Upon the filing of a petition for adoption, the court shall schedule a hearing within 90 days of the filing. Notice of the hearing shall be mailed, not later than 3 days from the date of the order for hearing and investigation, to the guardian of the child, if any, to the agency making the investigation under sub. (2), to the department when its recommendation is required by s. 48.89 and to the child if the child is 12 years of age or over.

48.88(2) (2) 

48.88(2)(a) (a) Except as provided under pars. (ag), (c), and (d), when a petition to adopt a child is filed, the court shall order an investigation to determine whether the child is a proper subject for adoption and whether the petitioner’s home is suitable for the child. The court shall order one of the following to conduct or supplement the investigation:

48.88(2)(a)1. 1. If an agency has guardianship of the child, the guardianship agency, unless the agency has already filed its recommendation under s. 48.85 and has filed with the recommendation a report of an investigation as required under this paragraph.

48.88(2)(a)2. 2. If no agency has guardianship of the child and a relative other than a stepparent has filed the petition for adoption, the department, a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm) or a licensed child welfare agency.

48.88(2)(a)4. 4. If the child is a citizen of a foreign jurisdiction and is under the guardianship of an individual, the agency which conducted the home study required under federal law prior to the child’s entry into the United States.

48.88(2)(ag) (ag) If the child is an Indian child, the court may request the tribal child welfare department of the Indian child’s tribe to conduct the investigation. If the tribal child welfare department agrees to conduct the investigation, that investigation may be accepted in lieu of the investigation under par. (a).

48.88(2)(aj) (aj)

48.88(2)(aj)1. 1. In determining whether the petitioner’s home is suitable for the child, the agency or tribal child welfare department making the investigation shall consider whether the petitioner is fit and qualified to care for the child, exercises sound judgment, does not abuse alcohol or drugs, and displays the capacity to successfully nurture the child.

48.88(2)(aj)2. 2. The investigation shall be conducted using an assessment system that is approved by the department. The assessment system shall provide a reliable, comprehensive, and standardized qualitative evaluation of a petitioner’s personal characteristics, civil and criminal history, age, health, financial stability, and ability to responsibly meet all requirements of the department.

48.88(2)(aj)3. 3. If the agency or tribal child welfare department making the investigation has special concern as to the welfare of the child or the suitability of the placement, the investigation may include a clinical assessment of the petitioner’s mental health or alcohol or other drug use by an employee of the agency or tribal child welfare department who is not employed in the unit of the agency or tribal child welfare department that is making the investigation or by a person who is not employed by that agency or tribal child welfare department. A person who provides such an assessment shall be a licensed psychologist, licensed psychiatrist, certified advanced practice social worker, certified independent social worker, licensed clinical social worker, or licensed professional counselor.

48.88(2)(am) (am)

48.88(2)(am)1. 1. If the petitioner was required to obtain an initial license to operate a foster home before placement of the child for adoption or relicensure after a break in licensure, the agency making the investigation shall obtain a criminal history search from the records maintained by the department of justice and request under 42 USC 16962 (b) a fingerprint-based check of the national crime information databases, as defined in 28 USC 534 (f) (3) (A), with respect to the petitioner. The agency may release any information obtained under this subdivision only as permitted under 42 USC 16962 (e). In the case of a child on whose behalf adoption assistance payments will be provided under s. 48.975, if the petitioner has been convicted of any of the offenses specified in s. 48.685 (5) (bm) 1. to 4., the agency may not report that the petitioner’s home is suitable for the child.

48.88(2)(am)2. 2. If the petitioner was required to obtain a license to operate a foster home before placement of the child for adoption, the agency making the investigation shall obtain information maintained by the department regarding any substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect against the petitioner and any other adult residing in the petitioner’s home. If the petitioner or other adult residing in the petitioner’s home is not, or at any time within the 5 years preceding the date of the search has not been, a resident of this state, the agency shall check any child abuse or neglect registry maintained by any state or other U.S. jurisdiction in which the petitioner or other adult is a resident or was a resident within those 5 years for information that is equivalent to the information maintained by the department regarding substantiated reports of child abuse or neglect. The agency may not use any information obtained under this subdivision for any purpose other than a background search under this subdivision.

48.88(2)(b) (b) The agency or tribal child welfare department making the investigation shall file its report with the court at least 10 days before the hearing unless the time is reduced for good cause shown by the petitioner. In reporting on an investigation of the proposed adoptive home of an Indian child, the agency shall comply with the order of placement preference under s. 48.028 (7) (a) or, if applicable, s. 48.028 (7) (c), unless the agency finds good cause, as described in s. 48.028 (7) (e), for departing from that order. The report shall be part of the record of the proceedings.

48.88(2)(c) (c) If a stepparent has filed a petition for adoption and no agency has guardianship of the child, the court shall order the department, in a county having a population of 750,000 or more, or a county department or, with the consent of the department in a county having a population of less than 750,000 or a licensed child welfare agency, order the department or the child welfare agency to conduct a screening, consisting of no more than one interview with the petitioner and a check of the petitioner’s background through public records, including records maintained by the department or any county department under s. 48.981. The department, county department or child welfare agency that conducts the screening shall file a report of the screening with the court within 30 days. After reviewing the report, the court may proceed to act on the petition, may order the department in a county having a population of 750,000 or more or the county department to conduct an investigation as described under par. (a) (intro.) or may order the department in a county having a population of less than 750,000 or a licensed child welfare agency to make the investigation if the department or child welfare agency consents.

48.88(2)(d) (d) An investigation is not required under this subsection if all of the following apply:

48.88(2)(d)1. 1. The petitioner is licensed to operate a foster home and the license is in effect at the time the adoption petition is filed.

48.88(2)(d)2. 2. The petitioner has never had a license to operate a foster home revoked or suspended.

48.88(2)(d)3. 3. An investigation as to the suitability of the petitioner’s home was conducted as provided in par. (aj) for the purpose of licensing the petitioner’s home for foster care and the investigation has been supplemented to evaluate whether the petitioner’s home is suitable for the child who is the subject of the adoption.

48.88(3) (3) If the report of the investigation is unfavorable or if it discloses a situation which, in the opinion of the court, raises a serious question as to the suitability of the proposed adoption, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem for the minor whose adoption is proposed. The guardian ad litem may have witnesses subpoenaed and present proof at the hearing.

48.88 History History: 1975 c. 39, 199, 307; 1977 c. 271; 1981 c. 81, 384; 1983 a. 190; 1985 a. 176; 1997 a. 27; 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28, 94; 2015 a. 172, 378.

48.89 48.89 Recommendation of the department.

48.89(1) (1) The recommendation of the department is required for the adoption of a child if the child is not under the guardianship of a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm) or a child welfare agency under s. 48.61 (5). In making a recommendation under this subsection with respect to an Indian child, the department shall comply with the order of placement preference under s. 48.028 (7) (a) or, if applicable, s. 48.028 (7) (c), unless the department finds good cause, as described in s. 48.028 (7) (e), for departing from that order.

48.89(2) (2) The department shall make its recommendation to the court at least 10 days before the hearing unless the time is extended by the court. The recommendation shall be part of the record of the proceedings.

48.89(3) (3) The recommendation of the department shall not be required if the recommendation of the department, a licensed child welfare agency or a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm) is required by s. 48.841, if a report of an investigation by the department, a county department under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm) or a licensed child welfare agency is required by s. 48.88 (2) (a) 2. or if one of the petitioners is a relative of the child.

48.89 History History: 1973 c. 263; 1977 c. 271; 1981 c. 81; 1983 a. 447; 1985 a. 176; 1995 a. 443; 2009 a. 94.

48.90 48.90 Filing of adoption petition; preadoption residence.

48.90(1) (1) A petition for adoption may be filed at any time if:

48.90(1)(a) (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 relationship to the child is derived through such parents.

48.90(1)(b) (b) The petitioner is the child’s stepparent.

48.90(1)(c) (c) The petition is accompanied by a written approval of the guardian.

48.90(1)(d) (d) The petitioner is the proposed adoptive parent with whom the child has been placed under s. 48.839.

48.90(2) (2) Except as provided under sub. (1), no petition for adoption may be filed unless the child has been in the home of the petitioners for 6 months or more.

48.90(3) (3) No petition for adoption may be filed unless the petitioners have complied with all applicable provisions of this chapter relating to adoptive placements.

48.90 History History: 1973 c. 263; 1977 c. 354; 1977 c. 418 s. 929 (18); 1981 c. 81; 1997 a. 104.

48.90 Annotation Once administrative proceedings to remove a child from an in-home placement have commenced under s. 48.64 and the person with whom the child had been placed is seeking a review of the removal order, a children’s court has no jurisdiction over an adoption petition filed by the person after issuance of the removal order. Styczynski v. DHSS, 65 Wis. 2d 190, 222 N.W.2d 139 (1974).

48.90 Annotation Standing to object to adoption proceedings turns on the right to petition for adoption; grandparents excluded from petitioning under sub. (1) (a) had no standing to object to the adoption of their grandchildren. L.P. v. B.G., 177 Wis. 2d 424, 501 N.W.2d 908 (Ct. App. 1993).

48.91 48.91 Hearing; order.

48.91(1) (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.

48.91(2) (2) In an adoption proceeding for a nonmarital child who is not adopted or whose parents do not subsequently intermarry under s. 767.803, the court shall establish whether the child’s paternity has been conclusively determined from genetic test results under s. 767.804, acknowledged under s. 767.805 or a substantially similar law of another state, or adjudicated in this state or in another jurisdiction. If the child’s paternity has not been conclusively determined from genetic test results, acknowledged, or adjudicated, the court shall attempt to ascertain the paternity of the child and shall determine the rights of any person who may be the father of the child as provided under s. 48.423. The court may not proceed with the hearing on the petition for adoption unless the parental rights of the nonpetitioning parent, whether known or unknown, have been terminated.

48.91(3) (3) If after the hearing and a study of the report required by s. 48.88 and the recommendation required by s. 48.841 or 48.89, the court is satisfied that the necessary consents or recommendations have been filed and that the adoption is in the best interests of the child, the court shall make an order granting the adoption. In determining whether the adoption is in the best interests of an Indian child, the court shall comply with the order of placement preference under s. 48.028 (7) (a) or, if applicable, s. 48.028 (7) (c), unless the court finds good cause, as described in s. 48.028 (7) (e), for departing from that order. The order may change the name of the minor to that requested by petitioners.

48.91 History History: 1973 c. 263; 1979 c. 330; 1981 c. 81; 1983 a. 447; 1987 a. 383; 1995 a. 443; 1997 a. 191; 2005 a. 293; 2005 a. 443 s. 265; 2009 a. 94; 2019 a. 95.

48.91 Annotation Discussing the meaning of “best interests of the child.” Shehow v. Plier, 60 Wis. 2d 540, 210 N.W.2d 865 (1973).