Wisconsin Adoption
Wisconsin permits the following types of adoptions in addition to public adoptions:
Adoption Type |
Yes/No |
Private Agency |
Yes |
Independent |
Yes |
Adoption Statute-Non-Agency; Independent; Private Adoptions:
48.837 Wis. Stats.
Independent Adoptions - Permitted; however, we will NOT accept birth parent as the sender. MUST have an agency or attorney involved.
**For Independent adoption WI will NOT accept the 100A with the bio parents as "sending agency" and being financially responsible and responsible for planning. An agency or an attorney must also be on the 100A and sign the 100A.
Public
Public Adoptive Placement-Requirements:
-All resources must be foster licensed.
-Public adoption ICPC packet must include TPR Order
-WI will also accept Foster/Adopt requests. WI will complete foster licensing while simultaneously completing the adoption home study.
-Required in ICPC packet for Foster/Adopt: TPR Order, and/OR Perm Plan with Adoption as the PRIMARY goal, and TPR petition
Adoption Assistance
Adoption assistance payments begin:
- At the time the child is placed
Sending State Adoption Subsidy Payments (Guidelines):
Special Needs
Wisconsin definition of "Special Needs":
Child age 10 or older; member of a sibling group of 3 or more to be placed together, child of minority race, child with behavioral, emotional or medical needs assessed at a moderate level or higher; a child at significant risk for developing special needs.
Finalization
Adoption may be finalized in another state:
Before finalization can occur in Wisconsin, child must be in adoptive placement:
6 months is the requirement to finalize in WI. In order to finalize in Wisconsin, resource MUST be a Wisconsin resident.
Statutory code/cite for Adoption Petition:
Court Jurisdiction for Adoption Cases:
Home Study (Adoptions)
Statutory code/cite for the Adoptive Home Studies: