Chapter 54

54.26(1)(a)4. 4. Best practices for a guardian to solicit and understand the wishes and preferences of a ward, involving a ward in decision making, and taking a ward’s wishes and preferences into account in decisions made by the guardian.

54.26(1)(a)5. 5. Restoration of a ward’s rights and the process for removal of guardianship.

54.26(1)(a)6. 6. Future planning and identification of a potential standby or successor guardian.

54.26(1)(a)7. 7. Resources and technical support for guardians.

54.26(1)(b) (b) Every guardian of the estate shall complete training on all of the following topics:

54.26(1)(b)1. 1. The duties and required responsibilities of a guardian under the law and limits of a guardian’s decision-making authority.

54.26(1)(b)2. 2. Inventory and accounting requirements.

54.26(2) (2) Initial training requirements.

54.26(2)(a) (a) Before the final hearing for a permanent guardianship, any person nominated for appointment or seeking appointment as a guardian of the person is required to receive the training required under sub. (1) (a).

54.26(2)(b) (b) Before the final hearing for permanent guardianship, any person nominated for appointment or seeking appointment as a guardian of the estate is required to receive at least the training required under sub. (1) (b).

54.26(2)(c) (c) A guardian under s. 54.15 (7) who is regulated by the department is exempt from pars. (a) and (b).

54.26(2)(d) (d) A volunteer guardian who has completed the training requirements under sub. (1) is exempt from pars. (a) and (b) with regard to subsequent wards.

54.26(2)(e) (e) A guardian of a minor under s. 48.9795, 48.831, 48.977, 48.978, or 54.10 (1) is exempt from pars. (a) and (b).

54.26 History History: 2021 a. 97.

subch. IV of ch. 54 SUBCHAPTER IV

PROCEDURES

54.30 54.30 Jurisdiction and venue.

54.30(1) (1) Jurisdiction. Except as provided in s. 54.38 (1), the circuit court has subject matter jurisdiction over all petitions for guardianship. A guardianship of the estate of any individual, once granted, shall extend to all of the ward’s income and assets in this state and shall exclude the jurisdiction of every other circuit court, except as provided in ch. 786. Jurisdiction under this subsection also extends to the petition by a foreign guardian for the receipt and acceptance of a foreign guardianship, except as provided in ch. 53 and, if the petition is granted, to the accepted guardianship. Personal jurisdiction is subject to ch. 53.

54.30(2) (2) Venue. All petitions for guardianship of residents of the state shall be directed to the circuit court of the county of residence of the proposed ward or of the county in which the proposed ward is physically present. A petition for guardianship of the person or estate of a nonresident may be directed to the circuit court of any county in which the nonresident or any assets of the nonresident may be found or of the county in which the petitioner proposes that the proposed ward resides. A petition for receipt and acceptance of a foreign guardianship shall be directed to the circuit court of the county in which the foreign ward resides or intends to reside.

54.30(3) (3) Change of venue.

54.30(3)(a) (a) Original proceeding. The court in which a petition is first filed shall determine venue. The court shall direct that proper notice be given to any potentially responsible or affected county. Proper notice is given to a potentially responsible or affected county if written notice of the proceeding is sent by certified mail to the county’s clerk and corporation counsel. After all potentially responsible or affected counties and parties have been given an opportunity to be heard, the court shall determine that venue lies in the county in which the petition is filed under sub. (2) or in another county, as appropriate. If the court determines that venue lies in another county, the court shall order the entire record certified to the proper court. A court in which a subsequent petition is filed shall, if it is satisfied that an earlier filing took place in another court, summarily dismiss the petition. If any potentially responsible or affected county or party objects to the court’s finding of venue, the court may refer the issue to the department for a determination of the county of residence under s. 51.40 (2) (g) and may suspend ruling on the motion for change of venue until the determination under s. 51.40 (2) (g) is final.

54.30(3)(b) (b) Change of residence of ward. If a ward changes residence from one county to another county within the state, venue may be transferred to the ward’s new county of residence under the following procedure:

54.30(3)(b)1. 1. An interested person shall file a petition for change of venue in the county in which venue for the guardianship currently lies.

54.30(3)(b)2. 2. The person filing the petition under subd. 1. shall give notice to the corporation counsel of the county in which venue for the guardianship currently lies and to the register in probate and corporation counsel for the county to which change of venue is sought.

54.30(3)(b)3. 3. If no objection to the change of venue is made within 15 days after the date on which notice is given under subd. 2., the circuit court of the county in which venue for the guardianship currently lies may enter an order changing venue. If objection to the change of venue is made within 15 days after the date on which notice is given under subd. 2., the circuit court of the county in which venue for the guardianship currently lies shall set a date for a hearing within 7 days after the objection is made and shall give notice of the hearing to the corporation counsel of that county and to the corporation counsel and register in probate of the county to which change of venue is sought.

54.30(4) (4) Conflicts of jurisdiction or venue. Before making a determination of jurisdiction or venue under this section, the circuit court shall first make any applicable determination of jurisdiction or venue under ch. 53. If any determination of jurisdiction or venue made under this section conflicts with a determination made under ch. 53, the court shall apply the determination made under ch. 53.

54.30 History History: 2005 a. 387 ss. 100, 306, 313 to 316; 2017 a. 187.

54.30 Annotation Setting out standards for courts to follow when confronted with the transfer of interstate guardianships based on principles of comity and the orderly administration of justice. Grant County Department of Social Services v. Unified Board, 2005 WI 106, 283 Wis. 2d 258, 700 N.W.2d 863, 03-0634.

54.30 Note NOTE: The above annotation relates to guardianships under former ch. 880, 2003 stats., prior to the revision of and renumbering of that chapter to this chapter by 2005 Wis. Act 387.

54.34 54.34 Petition for guardianship or for receipt and acceptance of a foreign guardianship.

54.34(1) (1) Subject to ch. 53, any person may petition for the appointment of a guardian for an individual. The petition shall state all of the following, if known to the petitioner:

54.34(1)(a) (a) The name, date of birth, residence, and post-office address of the proposed ward and, if the proposed ward is a minor, whether the minor has been adopted.

54.34(1)(b) (b) The specific nature of the proposed ward’s alleged incapacity or spendthrift habits.

54.34(1)(c) (c) The approximate value of the proposed ward’s property and a general description of its nature.

54.34(1)(d) (d) Any assets of the proposed ward previously derived from or benefits of the proposed ward now due and payable from the U.S. department of veterans affairs.

54.34(1)(e) (e) Any other claim, income, compensation, pension, insurance or allowance to which the proposed ward may be entitled.

54.34(1)(f) (f) Whether the proposed ward has any guardian presently.

54.34(1)(g) (g) The name and post-office address of any person nominated as guardian by the petitioner.

54.34(1)(h) (h) The names and post-office addresses of all interested parties.

54.34(1)(i) (i) The name and post-office address of the person or institution, if any, that has care and custody of the proposed ward or the facility, if any, that is providing care to the proposed ward.

54.34(1)(j) (j) The interest of the petitioner, and, if a public official is the petitioner, the authority of the petitioner to act.

54.34(1)(k) (k) Whether the proposed ward is a recipient of a public benefit, including medical assistance.

54.34(1)(L) (L) The agent under any current, valid power of attorney for health care or durable power of attorney that the proposed ward has executed.

54.34(1)(m) (m) Whether the petitioner is requesting a full or limited guardianship and, if limited, the specific authority sought by the petitioner for the guardian or the specific rights of the individual that the petitioner seeks to have removed or transferred.

54.34(1)(n) (n) Whether the proposed ward, if married, has children who are not children of the current marriage.

54.34(1)(p) (p) Whether the petitioner is aware of any guardianship or conservatorship or related pending or ordered proceeding involving the proposed ward in another state or county and, if so, the details of the guardianship, conservationship, or related processings.

54.34(2) (2) A petition for guardianship may include an application for protective placement or protective services or both under ch. 55.

54.34(2m) (2m) Whenever a petition for guardianship on the ground of incompetency is filed with respect to an individual who resides in a facility licensed for 16 or more beds, a petition for protective placement of the individual shall also be filed.

54.34(3) (3) A petition for the receipt and acceptance by this state of a foreign guardianship of a foreign ward who resides in or intends to move to this state may include other petitions related to the foreign guardianship, such as a petition to modify the terms of the foreign guardianship.

54.34 History History: 1971 c. 41 s. 8; Stats. 1971 s. 880.07; 1973 c. 284; 1977 c. 394; 1979 c. 32, 110, 355; 1981 c. 317; 1987 a. 366; 1989 a. 56; 1993 a. 316, 486; 2005 a. 264; 2005 a. 387 ss. 100, 317 to 328, 330; 2007 a. 97 s. 232; 2015 a. 381; 2017 a. 187; 2019 a. 9.

54.34 Annotation Failure of a petitioner for a guardianship to name persons who obviously have an interest does not cancel the jurisdiction of the court, and, when the interested persons have actual knowledge of the hearing and contest it, the court could appoint a guardian. Marak v. Marak, 59 Wis. 2d 139, 207 N.W.2d 648 (1973).

54.34 Annotation Sub. (1) (e) is broad enough to include a claim for support. By providing that a guardianship petition include such a potential claim, it follows that the legislature envisioned that the circuit court has the authority to adjudicate such a claim. As ch. 880 does not otherwise address support nor provide guidelines as to how to determine support, a circuit court conducting a ch. 880 proceeding may look to ch. 767 for guidance. Amy Z. v. Jon T., 2004 WI App 73, 272 Wis. 2d 662, 679 N.W.2d 903, 03-0606.

54.34 Note NOTE: The above annotations relate to guardianships under former ch. 880, 2003 stats., prior to the revision of and renumbering of that chapter to this chapter by 2005 Wis. Act 387.

54.34 Annotation Someone’s Afoot: Wisconsin’s Foreign Guardianship Transfer Law. Simatic. 95 MLR 1083 (2012).

54.36 54.36 Examination of proposed ward.

54.36(1) (1) Whenever it is proposed to appoint a guardian on the ground that a proposed ward allegedly has incompetency or is a spendthrift, a physician or psychologist, or both, shall examine the proposed ward and furnish a written report stating the physician’s or psychologist’s professional opinion regarding the presence and likely duration of any medical or other condition causing the proposed ward to have incapacity or to be a spendthrift. The privilege under s. 905.04 does not apply to the report. The petitioner shall provide a copy of the report to the proposed ward or his or her counsel, the guardian ad litem, and the petitioner’s attorney, if any. Prior to the examination on which the report is based, the guardian ad litem, physician, or psychologist shall inform the proposed ward that statements made by the proposed ward may be used as a basis for a finding of incompetency or a finding that he or she is a spendthrift, that he or she has a right to refuse to participate in the examination, absent a court order, or speak to the physician or psychologist, and that the physician or psychologist is required to report to the court even if the proposed ward does not speak to the physician or psychologist. The issuance of such a warning to the proposed ward prior to each examination establishes a presumption that the proposed ward understands that he or she need not speak to the physician or psychologist. Nothing in this section prohibits the use of a report by a physician or psychologist that is based on an examination of the proposed ward by the physician or psychologist before filing the petition for appointment of a guardian, but the court will consider the recency of the report in determining whether the report sufficiently describes the proposed ward’s current state and in determining the weight to be given to the report.

54.36(2) (2) A petitioner or guardian ad litem may petition the court for an order requiring the proposed ward to submit to an examination by a licensed physician or psychologist pursuant to s. 804.10 (1).

54.36(3) (3) A physician or psychologist who examines a proposed ward under a court order requiring the examination may, without the informed consent of the proposed ward, obtain access to the patient health care records and treatment records of the proposed ward.

54.36 History History: 2005 a. 264 s. 202; 2005 a. 387 ss. 100, 459; 2007 a. 45.

54.36 Annotation The written report of a physician or psychologist under sub. (1) is hearsay and not admissible in a contested hearing without in-court testimony of the preparing expert. R.S. v. Milwaukee County, 162 Wis. 2d 197, 470 N.W.2d 260 (1991).

54.36 Annotation A proposed ward’s rightful refusal to participate in a court-ordered evaluation will not obstruct a guardianship and protective placement proceeding. Due process requires that the examining professional, when confronted with an uncooperative individual, engage in an independent review of all records that are available. Due process prevents the examining professional from regurgitating the opinions of other physicians and psychologists, without independently confirming the facts those opinions are based upon. Walworth County v. Therese B., 2003 WI App 223, 267 Wis. 2d 310, 671 N.W.2d 377, 03-0967.

54.36 Note NOTE: The above annotations relate to guardianships under former ch. 880, 2003 stats., prior to the revision of and renumbering of that chapter to this chapter by 2005 Wis. Act 387.

54.38 54.38 Notice.

54.38(1) (1) Form and delivery of notice. A notice shall be in writing. A copy of the petition, motion, or other required document shall be attached to the notice. Unless otherwise provided, notice may be delivered in person, by certified mail with return receipt requested, or by facsimile transmission. Notice is considered to be given by proof of personal delivery or by proof that the notice was mailed to the last-known address of the recipient or was sent by facsimile transmission to the last-known facsimile transmission number of the recipient. Failure of the petitioner to provide notice to all interested persons shall deprive the court of jurisdiction unless receipt of notice is waived by the interested person or under sub. (2) (b) 4.

54.38(2) (2) Notice of hearing, service, and delivery. Upon the filing of a petition for guardianship of the person or of the estate, including appointment or change of a guardian, if the court is satisfied as to compliance with s. 54.34, the court shall, except as provided in sub. (3), order the petitioner to serve notice on the proposed ward and guardian, if any, and to deliver notice to interested persons of the time and place of the hearing, as follows:

54.38(2)(a) (a) On the proposed ward or ward by personal service and an existing guardian, if any, by personal service or by registered or certified mail at least 10 days before the time set for hearing. If the proposed ward or ward is in custody or confinement, the petitioner shall have notice served by registered or certified mail on the proposed ward’s or ward’s custodian, who shall immediately serve it on the proposed ward or ward. The process server or custodian shall inform the proposed ward or ward of the complete contents of the notice and petition, motion, or other required document; certify on the notice that the process server or custodian served and informed the proposed ward or ward; and return the certificate and notice to the court.

54.38(2)(b) (b) Personally or by mail at least 10 days before the time set for hearing, to all of the following:

54.38(2)(b)1. 1. The proposed ward’s counsel, if any.

54.38(2)(b)2. 2. The proposed ward’s guardian ad litem.

54.38(2)(b)3. 3. Any presumptive adult heirs, as specified in s. 851.09, of the proposed ward.

54.38(2)(b)4. 4. Any other interested persons, unless specifically waived by the court.

54.38(2)(b)5. 5. The agent under any durable power of attorney or power of attorney for health care of the ward.

54.38(2)(b)6. 6. Any person who has legal or physical custody of the proposed ward.

54.38(2)(b)7. 7. Any public or private agency, charity, or foundation from which the proposed ward is receiving aid or assistance.

54.38(2)(b)8. 8. The proposed guardian for the proposed ward.

54.38(2)(b)9. 9. Any other person that the court requires.

54.38(3) (3) Notice of hearing for appointment of guardian for a minor. If the proposed ward is a minor, the court shall order delivery of notice by the petitioner of the time and place of the hearing to all of the following:

54.38(3)(a) (a) The proposed ward’s spouse, if any.

54.38(3)(b) (b) The proposed ward’s parent, unless the parent’s parental rights have been judicially terminated.

54.38(3)(c) (c) The proposed ward, if the proposed ward is over 14 years of age.

54.38(3)(d) (d) Any other person that has the legal or physical custody of the minor.

54.38(4) (4) Rehearings. Notice of a rehearing to determine if a ward is a proper subject to continue under guardianship shall be given as required under subs. (1), (2), and (3).

54.38(5) (5) Notice of appointment of guardian of a minor ward. If for any reason the court fails to appoint as guardian the nominee of the minor, the guardian who qualifies shall give notice of the guardian’s appointment to the minor by certified mail addressed to the minor’s last-known post-office address and shall file an affidavit of the mailing with the court within 10 days after the notice is given.

54.38(6) (6) Notice of petition and hearing for temporary guardianship. The petitioner for appointment of a temporary guardian shall give notice of the petition to the proposed ward. The notice shall be served before or at the time the petition is filed or as soon thereafter as possible and shall include notice of the right to counsel and of the right to petition for reconsideration or modification of the temporary guardianship at any time under s. 54.50 (3) (d) The petitioner shall serve notice of the order for hearing on the proposed ward before the hearing or not later than 3 calendar days after the hearing. If the petitioner serves notice after the hearing is conducted and the court has entered an order, the petitioner shall include the court’s order with the notice of the order for hearing.

54.38 History History: 2005 a. 264 s. 199; 2005 a. 387 ss. 100, 334, 336, 339 to 343, 345, 357, 370; 2007 a. 45; 2017 a. 187.

54.40 54.40 Guardian ad litem; appointment; duties; termination.

54.40(1) (1) Appointment. The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem when a petition for appointment of a guardian is brought under s. 54.34 (1), when a petition for receipt and acceptance of a foreign guardianship is brought under s. 54.34 (3), to review the scope of a guardianship, to provide protective placement to an individual or order protective services under ch. 55, to review any protective placement under s. 55.18, to terminate a protective placement under s. 55.17, to expand an order of guardianship under s. 54.63, to review incompetency and terminate a guardianship under s. 54.64, to review the conduct of a guardian under s. 54.68, or at any other time that the court determines it is necessary.

54.40(2) (2) Qualifications. The guardian ad litem shall be an attorney admitted to practice in this state and in compliance with SCR chapter 36. No one who is an interested person in a proceeding, appears as counsel in a proceeding on behalf of any party, or is a relative or representative of an interested person may be appointed guardian ad litem in that proceeding or in any other proceeding that involves the same proposed ward or ward.

54.40(3) (3) Responsibilities. The guardian ad litem shall be an advocate for the best interests of the proposed ward or ward as to guardianship, protective placement, and protective services. The guardian ad litem shall function independently, in the same manner as an attorney for a party to the action, and shall consider, but is not bound by, the wishes of the proposed ward or ward or the positions of others as to the best interests of the proposed ward or ward. The guardian ad litem has none of the rights or duties of a guardian.