Wis. Stat. » CHAPTER 301 — CORRECTIONS
Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 301.47 (2026)

Sex offender name changes prohibited

✓ current as of July 2026
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301.47301.47 Sex offender name changes prohibited.
301.47(1)(1) In this section, “sex offender” means a person who is subject to s. 301.45 (1g) but does not include a person who, as a result of a proceeding under s. 301.45 (1m), is not required to comply with the reporting requirements of s. 301.45.
301.47(2)(2) A sex offender may not do any of the following before he or she is released, under s. 301.45 (5) or (5m), from the reporting requirements of s. 301.45:
301.47(2)(a)(a) Change his or her name.
301.47(2)(b)(b) Identify himself or herself by a name unless the name is one by which the person is identified with the department.
301.47(3)(3) Whoever intentionally violates sub. (2) is subject to the following penalties:
301.47(3)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), the person is guilty of a Class H felony.
301.47(3)(b)(b) The person may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than 9 months or both if all of the following apply:
301.47(3)(b)1.1. The person was ordered under s. 51.20 (13) (ct) 1m., 938.34 (15m) (am), 938.345 (3), 971.17 (1m) (b) 1m., or 973.048 (1m) to comply with the reporting requirements under s. 301.45 based on a finding that he or she committed or solicited, conspired, or attempted to commit a misdemeanor.
301.47(3)(b)2.2. The person was not convicted of another offense under this section before committing the present violation.
301.47(4)(4) The department shall make a reasonable attempt to notify each person required to comply with the reporting requirements under s. 301.45 of the prohibition in sub. (2), but neither the department’s failure to make such an attempt nor the department’s failure to notify a person of that prohibition is a defense to a prosecution under this section.
301.47 HistoryHistory: 2003 a. 52, 320.
301.47 AnnotationThe name change prohibition in sub. (2) (a) does not implicate the right to free speech by infringing expressive conduct. The 1st amendment right to free speech does not encompass the power to compel the state to facilitate a change of a legal name. Producing one’s legal name is properly understood as conduct subject to government regulation, not speech. State v. C.G., 2022 WI 60, 403 Wis. 2d 229, 976 N.W.2d 318, 18-2205.
301.47 AnnotationThe common law right to use an alias is distinguishable from the common law rule that continuous and consistent use of an alias effectuates a legal name change. The plain text of sub. (2) abrogates the latter rule but not the former right. In other words, a registered sex offender can use an alias, but, even if the use of that alias would otherwise be sufficiently continuous and consistent to effectuate a legal name change if the offender was not a registered sex offender, by operation of law, the offender’s legal name would remain unchanged. State v. C.G., 2022 WI 60, 403 Wis. 2d 229, 976 N.W.2d 318, 18-2205.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 2012–2026 · leading case: State v. C. G., 2022 WI 60 (Wis. 2022).
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State v. C. G., 2022 WI 60 (Wis. 2022). · cites it 31× “The court rejected this argument because Ella is prohibited by Wis. Stat. § 301.47 (2)(a) from changing her legal name.”
State v. DeAnthony K. Muldrow, 912 N.W.2d 74 (Wis. 2018). · cites it 7× “19 The district court concluded that enforcing Wis. Stat. § 301.47 against a sex offender convicted before its passage did not violate the ex post facto clause because § 301.”
State v. C. G., 2021 WI App 11 (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). · cites it 10× “§ 301.47 violates Ella’s First Amendment rights, we must first determine whether the name-change ban regulates speech or expressive conduct.”
State v. C. G., 2022 WI 60 (Wis. 2022). · cites it 31× “The court rejected this argument because Ella is prohibited by Wis. Stat. § 301.47 (2)(a) from changing her legal name.”
Doe v. Raemisch, 895 F. Supp. 2d 897 (E.D. Wis. 2012). · cites it 4× “Wis. Stat. § 301.47 . A person who has been convicted of a serious child sex offense may not engage in an occupation or participate in a volunteer position that requires him to work or interact primarily and directly with children under 16 years of age.”
Tobin Mueller v. Rick Raemisch, 740 F.3d 1128 (7th Cir. 2014). “The answer may depend on (a) whether Wisconsin requires non-residents who lack a current connection with the state to register with its system; (b) whether Wisconsin’s criminal provisions governing registered sex offenders, including Wis. Stat. § 301.47 (prohibiting registered…”
Murphy v. Rychlowski, 169 F. Supp. 3d 911 (W.D. Wis. 2016). · cites it 2× “14 (2)(a)); limits on changing one’s name or using a name other than the one registered with the DOC ( Wis. Stat. § 301.47 (2)); local ordinance restrictions regarding where registered offenders may live; and requirements to notify the state of any change of address, and any…”
State v. Muldrow, 2017 WI App 47 (Wis. Ct. App. 2017). “§ 301.47 prohibits registered sex offenders from changing their names.”
Krebs v. Graveley (E.D. Wis. 2020). · cites it 4× “In 2003, Wisconsin enacted Wis. Stat. § 301.47 , which prohibits sex offenders from changing their names (the “Name- Change Statute”).”
Murphy v. Rychlowski, 164 F. Supp. 3d 1086 (W.D. Wis. 2016). · cites it 2× “14 (2)(a)); limits on changing one’s name or using a name other than the one registered with the DOC ( Wis. Stat. § 301.47 (2)); local ordinance restrictions regarding where registered offenders may live; and requirements to notify the state of any change of address, and any…”
Kristopher Paul Torgerson v. Circuit Court for Dodge Cnty. (Wis. Ct. App. 2026). · cites it 2× “§ 301.47 for name changes for incarcerated persons.”
Karen Krebs v. Michael Graveley (7th Cir. 2021). “Krebs, born “Kenneth,” is a person who is transgender and has gone by the name “Karen” for more than twenty years. Because she is a convicted sex offender, she is required to register with the State of Wisconsin for the rest of her life.”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— Wis. Stat. § 301.47(2) — 4 cases
State v. C. G., 2022 WI 60 (Wis. 2022). “The court rejected this argument because Ella is prohibited by Wis. Stat. § 301.47 (2)(a) from changing her legal name.”
State v. C. G., 2021 WI App 11 (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 301.47 violates Ella’s First Amendment rights, we must first determine whether the name-change ban regulates speech or expressive conduct.”
State v. C. G., 2022 WI 60 (Wis. 2022). “The court rejected this argument because Ella is prohibited by Wis. Stat. § 301.47 (2)(a) from changing her legal name.”
Caldwell (E.D. Wis. 2026).
— Wis. Stat. § 301.47(2)(a) — 3 cases
State v. C. G., 2021 WI App 11 (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 301.47 violates Ella’s First Amendment rights, we must first determine whether the name-change ban regulates speech or expressive conduct.”
State v. C. G., 2022 WI 60 (Wis. 2022). “The court rejected this argument because Ella is prohibited by Wis. Stat. § 301.47 (2)(a) from changing her legal name.”
State v. C. G., 2022 WI 60 (Wis. 2022). “The court rejected this argument because Ella is prohibited by Wis. Stat. § 301.47 (2)(a) from changing her legal name.”
— Wis. Stat. § 301.47(2)(b) — 1 case
State v. C. G., 2021 WI App 11 (Wis. Ct. App. 2021). “§ 301.47 violates Ella’s First Amendment rights, we must first determine whether the name-change ban regulates speech or expressive conduct.”
— Wis. Stat. § 301.47(2)(c) — 1 case
Kristopher Paul Torgerson v. Circuit Court for Dodge Cnty. (Wis. Ct. App. 2026). “§ 301.47 for name changes for incarcerated persons.”
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