Wis. Stat. § 48.255

Wisconsin Statutes

Social Services

Chapter 48. Children's Code

Subchapter V. Procedure

§ 48.255. Petition; form and content

(1) A petition initiating proceedings under this chapter, other than a petition under s. 48.133, shall be entitled, "In the interest of (child's name), a person under the age of 18" and shall set forth with specificity:

(a) The name, birth date and address of the child.

(b) The names and addresses of the child's parent, guardian, legal custodian or spouse, if any; or if no such person can be identified, the name and address of the nearest relative.

(c) Whether the child is in custody, and, if so, the place where the child is being held and the time he or she was taken into custody unless there is reasonable cause to believe that such disclosure would result in imminent danger to the child or physical custodian.

(cm) Whether the child may be subject to the federal Indian child welfare act, 25 USC 1911 to 1963.

(e) If the child is alleged to come within the provisions of s. 48.13 or 48.14, reliable and credible information which forms the basis of the allegations necessary to invoke the jurisdiction of the court and to provide reasonable notice of the conduct or circumstances to be considered by the court together with a statement that the child is in need of supervision, services, care or rehabilitation.

(f) If the child is being held in custody outside of his or her home, reliable and credible information showing that continued placement of the child in his or her home would be contrary to the welfare of the child and, unless any of the circumstances specified in s. 48.355(2d)(b)1. to 5. applies, reliable and credible information showing that the person who took the child into custody and the intake worker have made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child from the home, while assuring that the child's health and safety are the paramount concerns, and to make it possible for the child to return safely home.

(1m) A petition initiating proceedings under s. 48.133 shall be entitled "In the interest of (J. Doe), an unborn child, and (expectant mother's name), the unborn child's expectant mother" and shall set forth with specificity:

(a) The estimated gestational age of the unborn child.

(b) The name, birth date and address of the expectant mother.

(bm) The names and addresses of the parent, guardian, legal custodian or spouse, if any, of the expectant mother, if the expectant mother is a child, the name and address of the spouse, if any, of the expectant mother, if the expectant mother is an adult, or, if no such person can be identified, the name and address of the nearest relative of the expectant mother.

(c) Whether the expectant mother is in custody and, if so, the place where the expectant mother is being held and the time when the expectant mother was taken into custody unless there is reasonable cause to believe that disclosure of that information would result in imminent danger to the unborn child, expectant mother or physical custodian.

(d) Whether the unborn child, when born, may be subject to the federal Indian Child Welfare Act, 25 USC 1911 to 1963.

(e) Reliable and credible information which forms the basis of the allegations necessary to invoke the jurisdiction of the court under s. 48.133 and to provide reasonable notice of the conduct or circumstances to be considered by the court, together with a statement that the unborn child is in need of protection or care and that the expectant mother is in need of supervision, services, care or rehabilitation.

(f) If the expectant mother is a child and the child expectant mother is being held in custody outside of her home, reliable and credible information showing that continued placement of the child expectant mother in her home would be contrary to the welfare of the child expectant mother and, unless any of the circumstances specified in s. 48.355(2d)(b)1. to 5. applies, reliable and credible information showing that the person who took the child expectant mother into custody and the intake worker have made reasonable efforts to prevent the removal of the child expectant mother from the home, while assuring that the child expectant mother's health and safety are the paramount concerns, and to make it possible for the child expectant mother to return safely home.

(2) If any of the facts required under sub. (1)(a) to (cm) and (f) or (1m)(a) to (d) and (f) are not known or cannot be ascertained by the petitioner, the petition shall so state.

(3) If the information required under sub. (1) (e) or (1m) (e) is not stated, the petition shall be dismissed or amended under s. 48.263 (2).

(4) A copy of a petition under sub. (1) shall be given to the child if the child is 12 years of age or over and to the parents, guardian, legal custodian and physical custodian. A copy of a petition under sub. (1m) shall be given to the child expectant mother, if 12 years of age or over, her parents, guardian, legal custodian and physical custodian and the unborn child by the unborn child's guardian ad litem or to the adult expectant mother, the unborn child through the unborn child's guardian ad litem and the physical custodian of the expectant mother, if any. A copy of a petition under sub. (1) or (1m) shall also be given to the tribe or band with which the child is affiliated or with which the unborn child may be eligible for affiliation when born, if the child is an Indian child or the unborn child may be an Indian child when born.

(5) Subsections (1) to (4) do not apply to petitions to initiate a proceeding under s. 48.375(7).