My teenager wants to be adopted — how do we handle their consent in Wisconsin?

In Wisconsin, your teenager's consent is not legally required for a stepparent adoption, but a child who is 14 or older attends the hearing unless the court orders otherwise. So your teen's enthusiasm matters a great deal, but it doesn't take the form of a consent signature.

What your teen's role looks like:

• Wisconsin does not require the child's consent, so there is no consent form for your teen to sign.
• If your teen is 14 or older, plan for them to be at the Circuit Court hearing. The court can order otherwise, so confirm the details with the clerk in your county.
• Younger teens are not covered by that attendance rule. Ask the Circuit Court clerk how your judge handles a younger child's presence at the hearing.

Making the hearing meaningful:

• Talk with your teen beforehand about what adoption means and what the day will involve.
• Let them help plan the day, whether that is who comes, photos, or a small celebration afterward.
• If your teen has thoughts about their name, bring those up early. The Circuit Court clerk can tell you how a name change is handled in your county.

Other things that shape the process in Wisconsin:

• Court: Your petition goes to the Circuit Court in your county.
• Residency: Wisconsin sets no minimum residency period for the stepparent adoption itself. The eligible adopters described in Wis. Stat. § 48.82 are Wisconsin residents, including a spouse whose partner is the child's parent.
• Home study: It is waived in stepparent adoptions under Wis. Stat. § 48.88.
• Timeline: Stepparent adoptions in Wisconsin typically take 3-6 months.
• Court fees: These are set locally, so the clerk in your county can give you the current amount.

If the other parent is in the picture: Your teen's wishes don't answer the question of the other legal parent's rights. Wisconsin lists a 6-month period in Wis. Stat. § 48.415 in connection with abandonment, but whether it applies depends on your facts. If the other parent is absent, unknown, or likely to object, speak with the Circuit Court clerk or an attorney about your situation.

If your teen is 18 or older: An adult adoption follows a different path, under Wis. Stat. § 882.01 through Wis. Stat. § 882.04.

• The adult being adopted gives written consent (Wis. Stat. § 882.02).
• The adopting adult must be a Wisconsin resident, and the petition is filed in the county where they live (Wis