This resource guides readers through the procedures for guardianships of the person for children that took effect as a result of legislation in 2020. The legislation moved private guardianships of the person for children from chapter 54 of the Wisconsin Statutes to chapter 48 (the Children’s Code), in addition to making other significant changes. 

Note the evolving children's court procedures
Since 2020, cases that were formerly handled in probate court are now handled by the children’s court. Attorneys who are unfamiliar with the post-2020 procedures will need a resource that outlines the substantive and procedural changes for everything from filing a petition and preparing for hearings to modifying a guardianship order or handling other post dispositional matters. The second edition of Minor Guardianships also revises discussions throughout the book to reflect insights contributed by more than 100 respondents to a 2023 State Bar of Wisconsin survey about how the minor guardianships statute has been applied in the years since it first took effect.

Navigate the maze different guardianship types
Written by Attorney Henry Plum, who actively participated in the multiyear process to draft the legislation, and coauthored for the second edition by Attorney Deanna Weiss, Minor Guardianships will help you better understand of the history of minor guardianship law in Wisconsin and why there was a need for legislative changes in the first place. With this guide in hand, you’ll learn:

• The four types of guardianships: emergency, full, limited, and temporary
• The definitions and criteria for each category
• The advantages and disadvantages of each type of guardianship
• The streamlined procedure for responding to emergencies while protecting the due-process rights of the parents and the child

You’ll also find the answer to, “What happens after the court appoints a guardian?” The guide describes a guardian ad litem’s duties and defines the procedures for modifying or terminating a guardianship order.

Helpful practice aids for the journey
Detailed flowcharts along the way also help illustrate the various steps of the different processes. You’ll know:

• What timeline to follow
• Which documents to file
• What proof is required

The full text of the minor guardianships statute, as codified in the Wisconsin Children's Code, is reprinted in full in an appendix, along with standard court forms that are to be used in proceedings for a guardianship of the person for a child.
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This resource guides readers through the procedures for guardianships of the person for children that took effect as a result of legislation in 2020. The legislation moved private guardianships of the person for children from chapter 54 of the Wisconsin Statutes to chapter 48 (the Children’s Code), in addition to making other significant changes. Read More ↓