What do I bring to the adoption finalization hearing in Wisconsin?

You bring photo ID, your copy of the filed petition and court paperwork, and the key family records to your Wisconsin finalization hearing at the Circuit Court. The exact list can vary, so check with the Circuit Court clerk in your county (Wisconsin has 72 counties) when you receive your hearing notice.

Bring these documents:

• Photo ID for you and your spouse.
• The hearing notice and any other papers the court sent you.
• Your copy of the filed petition and every document filed with it.
• The child's birth certificate and your marriage certificate. Courts often like to see these, and the clerk can tell you whether your judge wants originals or copies.
• Any signed consent paperwork or a death certificate for the other parent, if either applies to your case.

Skip the home study paperwork: Wisconsin waives the home study for stepparent adoptions (Wis. Stat. § 48.88), so you are not expected to bring a home study report.

Who should come:

• You and your spouse. Plan on both attending.
• The child. Wisconsin does not require the child's consent, but a child 14 or older attends the hearing unless the court orders otherwise. Younger children are welcome to ask the clerk about, since it's a happy day for them too.
• Family and friends. Ask the clerk whether your courtroom has any limits on guests.

Nice extras:

• A phone or camera. Ask the judge before taking photos.
• A notebook and pen for any instructions from the clerk.
• A plan to ask the clerk how many certified copies of the adoption order you'll want and how to request them.

If the other parent's rights are still in question: Wisconsin's law on abandonment is in Wis. Stat. § 48.415, which sets a 6-month period. Whether it applies to you depends on your facts. If the other parent is contesting, can't be located, or the situation is unclear, talk to the clerk about procedure and an attorney about your specific case before the hearing.

After the hearing:

• Ask the clerk for certified copies of the signed order.
• Apply to the Wisconsin Vital Records Office for the child's new birth certificate. The office can tell you the steps and fees.
• Update school, medical, insurance and other records with your certified copies.

Most Wisconsin stepparent adoptions take about 3-6 months from start to finish, and the finalization hearing is the last step. Having your paperwork in order helps the day go smoothly.

How we help: StepParent Adoption 360 is a document preparation service, not a law firm. You answer questions online, and we prepare the complete court document package for your Wisconsin county. You file it yourself without an attorney. The price is $349 for the first child, plus $99 for each additional child. Your court-ready documents arrive within 24-48 hours after you finish the questions, and we back them with a 100% court acceptance guarantee. We've helped 385 Wisconsin families and more than 34,000 families nationally since 2001.