Home study
Waived
Wisconsin waives the home study in stepparent adoptions, so no social worker visits your home.
Wis. Stat. § 48.88
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$349
Complete Wisconsin package
385 Wisconsin families helped since 2001
Make Your Wisconsin Family Official.Wisconsin stepparent and adult adoption, done for you: court-ready documents for the Circuit Court in 24-48 hours.
We prepare every form for your Wisconsin Circuit Court case and stay beside you, step by step, until the judge signs your adoption decree.
$349 complete Wisconsin package · documents in 24–48 hours
100% court acceptance, money-back guarantee · Unlimited revisions · No account needed to start
Residency wait
None required
There is no minimum waiting period before you file. The adopting stepparent must be a Wisconsin resident.
Wis. Stat. § 48.82Child's consent
Not required
A child 14 or older attends the hearing unless the court orders otherwise, but does not have to consent.
Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 48Abandonment period
6 months
When the other parent has abandoned the child, Wisconsin sets a 6-month abandonment period.
Wis. Stat. § 48.415
100%Court acceptance
money-back guarantee
money-back guarantee
Why Wisconsin families choose us
We make your Wisconsin adoption simple, fast and affordable.
SimpleA 15-minute questionnaire. We do the rest and send your packet ready to sign and file.
Court approvedPrepared for your Wisconsin Circuit Court and backed by our 100% court acceptance guarantee.
385 Wisconsin families helpedOver 34,000 families nationwide since 2001. We have seen every situation Wisconsin courts see.
Save thousands$349 for the complete package, without attorney fees.
- A Wisconsin adoption specialist handles your case.
- We stay with you from filing to the new birth certificate.
- Unlimited revisions and real people on the phone, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST.
Start Your Wisconsin AdoptionNo account needed to start
Four stages. One court. About 3-6 months.
Wisconsin stepparent adoptions are filed in the Circuit Court and typically take 3-6 months from filing to decree.
Day one · A short online questionnaireTell us about your family
Day one · A short online questionnaire
Tell us about your family
Answer our simple online questions about you, your spouse, your stepchild and the other parent. We turn your answers into Wisconsin-specific documents within 24-48 hours.
Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 48Right after · FilingFile with your Circuit Court clerk
Right after · Filing
File with your Circuit Court clerk
You file your petition with the Circuit Court clerk in your Wisconsin county. Wisconsin has 72 counties, and our packet is built for the Circuit Court. You must be a Wisconsin resident, and there is no waiting period before you file.
Wis. Stat. § 48.82While the case is open · Other parentThe other parent signs or the court decides
While the case is open · Other parent
The other parent signs or the court decides
If the other parent agrees, they sign a consent. If not, we prepare the notice and the abandonment grounds papers. Termination is handled inside the same case, not as a separate lawsuit.
Wis. Stat. § 48.415Final stage · HearingHearing, decree and new birth certificate
Final stage · Hearing
Hearing, decree and new birth certificate
You attend a short hearing, and a child 14 or older attends too unless the court orders otherwise. The home study is waived. After the decree, we help you request the new birth certificate from the Wisconsin Vital Records Office.
Wisconsin Vital Records OfficeDoes the other parent have to agree?
No. Courts want a two-parent home, and most families we help finish without the other parent's consent. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. If the other parent does sign, it is simply the faster route.
They agree
When the other parent agrees, they sign a written consent and your case moves quickly. We prepare the consent form so it is ready for them to sign.
- We draft the consent for your Circuit Court
- The other parent signs and returns it
- Your hearing can be set sooner
They won't sign, or can't be found
If the other parent will not sign, the court can still approve the adoption when that parent has abandoned the child for 6 months under Wis. Stat. § 48.415.
- Abandonment is a recognized ground for ending a parent's rights in Wisconsin.
- Wisconsin sets the abandonment period at 6 months.
- The court can act on those grounds without the other parent's signature.
Notice to the other parent is a routine step, and we prepare it for you. In Wisconsin, termination is not a separate case. It is part of the same adoption case.
Wis. Stat. § 48.415In Wisconsin, your stepparent adoption can go forward without the other parent's signature when that parent has abandoned the child for 6 months under Wis. Stat. § 48.415. We have helped 385 Wisconsin families.
One flat fee. No surprise bills.
A Wisconsin family pays $349 for the complete document package, plus $99 for each additional child, and the clerk's filing fee goes to the court.
The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
Start for $349The same decree, the same court, without attorney fees.
What Wisconsin families tell us
★★★★★
I just came back from my hearing. The adoption is final!!! Your service was great.
★★★★★
Just wanted to let you know that I saved over $2000 from what I was quoted by an attorney. Thanks for your service. You provide a valuable service to us who can't afford an attorney. Sorry I had so many questions, but thanks for always being patient and helping me through the process. Thanks.
★★★★★
We are officially a family! After waiting years to afford an attorney, we found your service and decided to take the leap. I’m so glad we did! The paperwork was detailed and well-organized, and the court accepted everything without any issues. Thank you for making this dream a reality for us.
What arrives in 24–48 hours
Your Wisconsin packet, in filing order, with instructions for your clerk.
See all 6 documents
- Petition for Adoption prepared for the Wisconsin Circuit Court in your county
- Consent of the other parent, or the abandonment and termination papers under Wis. Stat. § 48.415 filed in the same case
- Notice to the other parent
- No home study paperwork needed, because Wisconsin waives the home study for stepparents under Wis. Stat. § 48.88
- Hearing documents and a step-by-step guide for your Circuit Court hearing
- Final adoption decree and request for the new birth certificate from the Wisconsin Vital Records Office
Adopting an adult
Adopting an adult stepchild in Wisconsin
Any adult can be adopted by another adult who is a Wisconsin resident. No relationship or age-gap condition is stated. The adult being adopted must give written consent, and so must the petitioner's spouse if that spouse has not joined the petition. You file in the Circuit Court in the county where you live, and a hearing is required. It may be held in chambers, and the court grants the adoption if it serves the best interests of the people involved.
Who qualifiesAny adult, no relationship rule
ConsentAdult adoptee's written consent
Home studyNot mandatory
Where to fileYour home county's Circuit Court
Three steps. That's the whole thing.
Our detailed Wisconsin instructions make the process simple, and we are a phone call away at every step.
1
AnswerTell us about your family in our 15-minute questionnaire. Save and come back any time.2
Review & signYour complete packet arrives in 24–48 hours with step-by-step filing instructions.3
FileFile with your clerk. We stay with you through the hearing, the decree and the new birth certificate.
Talk to a Wisconsin adoption specialist first.
Not sure which route fits your family? Call us. Real people, no pressure, and we will tell you what Wisconsin courts will want to see.
(855) 924-0450Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST
All 72 counties
Filed in your Wisconsin county Circuit Court
Wisconsin has 72 counties, and each one has its own Circuit Court clerk. Whether you live near Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha or Racine, our documents are prepared for your court.
MilwaukeeMadisonGreen BayKenoshaRacine+ every county
Adoption AI Assistant
Wisconsin stepparent and adult adoption
Have questions about adopting your stepchild? Our AI assistant draws on experience from over 34,000 completed adoptions to give you accurate, helpful answers. Ask anything — it's free and confidential.
Free & confidential · Not legal advice · Powered by AI
What Wisconsin families ask us
How do I adopt my stepchild in Wisconsin?
You file a petition in your county's Circuit Court under Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 48. You must be a Wisconsin resident married to the child's parent, and Wis. Stat. § 48.82 sets no waiting period. We prepare all your documents in 24-48 hours, and most cases finish in 3-6 months.
Can I adopt my adult stepchild in Wisconsin?
Yes. An adult may be adopted by another adult who is a Wisconsin resident under Wis. Stat. § 882.01. The adult stepchild gives written consent, and no relationship or age-gap condition is stated. Adult adoptions often finish in 4-8 weeks.
How much does a stepparent adoption cost in Wisconsin?
Our complete package is $349, plus $99 for each additional child. The county Circuit Court clerk sets the court filing fee, so call the clerk to confirm it. Because Wisconsin waives the home study, you pay nothing extra for one.
What if the other parent refuses to sign or can't be found in Wisconsin?
Your adoption can still go forward. In our experience, about 80% of the stepparent adoptions we have completed went forward without the other parent's consent. Wisconsin recognizes abandonment, with a 6-month period, under Wis. Stat. § 48.415. We prepare the notice, and termination is handled in the same case.
Is a home study required for a stepparent adoption in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin waives the home study for stepparent adoptions under Wis. Stat. § 48.88. No social worker has to visit your home. We prepare your documents for the Circuit Court so the file is complete.
Does my child have to agree to the adoption in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin does not require the child's consent. A child 14 or older attends the hearing unless the court orders otherwise.
Does child support stop after a stepparent adoption in Wisconsin?
Yes, the other parent's duty to pay support going forward ends when the adoption is final. Support that was already past due depends on Wisconsin law. We explain how this works for your family when we prepare your papers.
Will my stepchild get a new birth certificate in Wisconsin?
Yes. After the Circuit Court signs the decree, you request an amended birth certificate from the Wisconsin Vital Records Office. We prepare that request as part of your packet.
Go deeper on Wisconsin adoption
Every guide is written from Wisconsin law.
How do I adopt an adult in Wisconsin?How do I adopt my stepson or stepdaughter in Wisconsin?How old do you have to be to adopt in Wisconsin?How much does adult adoption cost in Wisconsin?
All Wisconsin adoption guides → · Compare requirements in every state →
Ready to make it official in Wisconsin?
Join the 385 Wisconsin families we have helped, and call (855) 924-0450 to start your adoption today.
Start Your Wisconsin Adoption · $349Prefer to talk first? (855) 924-0450, Mon–Fri 8am–5pm MST