48.15 Jurisdiction of other courts to determine legal custody. Except as provided in s. ss. 48.028 (3) and 48.9795 (2) (b) 2., nothing in this chapter deprives another court of the right to determine the legal custody of a child by habeas corpus or to determine the legal custody or guardianship of a child if the legal custody or guardianship is incidental to the determination of an action pending in that court. Except as provided in s. 48.028 (3), the jurisdiction of the court assigned to exercise jurisdiction under this chapter and ch. 938 is paramount in all cases involving children alleged to come within the provisions of ss. 48.13 and 48.14 and unborn children and their expectant mothers alleged to come within the provisions of ss. 48.133 and 48.14 (5).

48.235 (1) (c) The court shall appoint a guardian ad litem for any child who is the subject of a proceeding to terminate parental rights, whether voluntary or involuntary, for a child who is the subject of a contested adoption proceeding, and for a child who is the subject of a proceeding under s. 48.977 or, 48.978 , or 48.9795.

48.255 (1) (intro.) A petition initiating proceedings under this chapter, other than a petition under s. 48.133 or 48.9795, shall be entitled, “In the interest of (child's name), a person under the age of 18'' and shall set forth with specificity:

48.293 (2) All records relating to a child, or to an unborn child and the unborn child's expectant mother, that are relevant to the subject matter of a proceeding under this chapter shall be open to inspection by a guardian ad litem or counsel for any party and to inspection by the court-appointed special advocate for the child, upon demand and upon presentation of releases when necessary, at least 48 hours before the proceeding. Persons entitled to inspect the records may obtain copies of the records with the permission of the custodian of the records or with permission of the court. The court may instruct counsel, a guardian ad litem, or a court-appointed special advocate not to disclose specified items in the materials to the child or the parent, or to the expectant mother, if the court reasonably believes that the disclosure would be harmful to the interests of the child or the unborn child. This subsection does not apply to a guardianship proceeding under s. 48.9795.

48.299 (4) (a) Chapters 901 to 911 shall govern the presentation of evidence at the fact-finding hearings under ss. 48.31, 48.42, 48.977 (4) (d) and, 48.978 (2) (e) and (3) (f) 2., and 48.9795.

48.299 (4) (b) Except as provided in s. 901.05, neither common law nor statutory rules of evidence are binding at a hearing for a child held in custody under s. 48.21, a hearing for an adult expectant mother held in custody under s. 48.213, a runaway home hearing under s. 48.227 (4), a dispositional hearing, or a hearing about changes in placement, trial reunifications, revision of dispositional orders, extension of dispositional orders, or termination of guardianship orders entered under s. 48.977 (4) (h) 2. or (6) or, 48.978 (2) (j) 2. or (3) (g), or 48.9795. At those hearings, the court shall admit all testimony having reasonable probative value, but shall exclude immaterial, irrelevant, or unduly repetitious testimony or evidence that is inadmissible under s. 901.05. Hearsay evidence may be admitted if it has demonstrable circumstantial guarantees of trustworthiness. The court shall give effect to the rules of privilege recognized by law. The court shall apply the basic principles of relevancy, materiality, and probative value to proof of all questions of fact. Objections to evidentiary offers and offers of proof of evidence not admitted may be made and shall be noted in the record.

48.299 (6) (intro.) If a man who has been given notice under s. 48.27 (3) (b) 1., 48.977 (4) (c) 1., 48.978 (2) (c) 1., or 48.9795 (4) (c) 1. appears at any hearing for which he received the notice, alleges that he is the father of the child, and states that he wishes to establish the paternity of the child, all of the following apply:

48.299 (6) (d) The court may stay the proceedings under this chapter pending the outcome of the paternity proceedings under subch. IX of ch. 767 if the court determines that the paternity proceedings will not unduly delay the proceedings under this chapter and the determination of paternity is necessary to the court's disposition of the child if the child is found to be in need of protection or services proceedings or if the court determines or has reason to know that the paternity proceedings may result in a finding that the child is an Indian child and in a petition by the child's parent, Indian custodian, or tribe for transfer of the proceeding proceedings to the jurisdiction of the tribe.

48.299 (7) If a man who has been given notice under s. 48.27 (3) (b) 1., 48.977 (4) (c) 1., 48.978 (2) (c) 1., or 48.9795 (4) (c) 1. appears at any hearing for which he received the notice but does not allege that he is the father of the child and state that he wishes to establish the paternity of the child or if no man to whom such notice was given appears at a hearing, the court may refer the matter to the state or to the attorney responsible for support enforcement under s. 59.53 (6) (a) for a determination, under s. 767.80, of whether an action should be brought for the purpose of determining the paternity of the child.

48.368 (1) If a petition for termination of parental rights is filed under s. 48.41 or 48.415 or an appeal from a judgment terminating or denying termination of parental rights is filed during the year in which a dispositional order under s. 48.355, an extension order under s. 48.365, a voluntary agreement for placement of the child under s. 48.63, or a guardianship order under ch. 54, 2017 stats., or ch. 880, 2003 stats., or s. 48.977 or ch. 54 48.9795 is in effect, the dispositional or extension order, voluntary agreement, or guardianship order shall remain in effect until all proceedings related to the filing of the petition or an appeal are concluded.

48.465 (3) Exceptions. This section does not apply to a termination of parental rights case under s. 48.43 or, to a parental consent to abortion case under s. 48.375 (7), or to a guardianship proceeding under s. 48.9795.

48.57 (3m) (am) 1. The kinship care relative applies to the county department or department for payments under this subsection and, if the child is placed in the home of the kinship care relative under a court order, other than a court order under s. 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., for a license to operate a foster home.

48.57 (3n) (am) 1. The long-term kinship care relative applies to the county department or department for payments under this subsection, provides proof that he or she has been appointed as the guardian of the child, and, if the child is placed in the home of the long-term kinship care relative under a court order, other than a court order under s. 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., applies to the county department or department for a license to operate a foster home.

48.62 (2) A relative, a guardian of a child, or a person delegated care and custody of a child under s. 48.979 who provides care and maintenance for the child is not required to obtain the license specified in this section. The department, county department, or licensed child welfare agency as provided in s. 48.75 may issue a license to operate a foster home to a relative who has no duty of support under s. 49.90 (1) (a) and who requests a license to operate a foster home for a specific child who is either placed by court order or who is the subject of a voluntary placement agreement under s. 48.63. The department, a county department, or a licensed child welfare agency may, at the request of a guardian appointed under s. 48.977 or, 48.978, or 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., or ch. 880, 2003 stats., license the guardian's home as a foster home for the guardian's minor ward who is living in the home and who is placed in the home by court order. Relatives with no duty of support and guardians appointed under s. 48.977 or, 48.978, or 48.9795 or ch. 54, 2017 stats., or ch. 880, 2003 stats., who are licensed to operate foster homes are subject to the department's licensing rules.