Wis. Stat. » CHAPTER 48 — CHILDREN’S CODE
Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2026)

Who may be adopted

✓ current as of July 2026
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48.8148.81 Who may be adopted. Any child who is present in this state at the time the petition for adoption is filed may be adopted if any of the following criteria are met:
48.81(1)(1) Both of the child’s parents are deceased.
48.81(2)(2) The parental rights of both of the child’s parents with respect to the child have been terminated under subch. VIII or in another state or a foreign jurisdiction.
48.81(3)(3) The parental rights of one of the child’s parents with respect to the child have been terminated under subch. VIII or in another state or a foreign jurisdiction and the child’s other parent is deceased.
48.81(4)(4) The person filing the petition for adoption is the spouse of the child’s parent with whom the child and the child’s parent reside and either of the following applies:
48.81(4)(a)(a) The child’s other parent is deceased.
48.81(4)(b)(b) The parental rights of the child’s other parent with respect to the child have been terminated under subch. VIII or in another state or a foreign jurisdiction.
48.81(5)(5) Section 48.839 (3) (b) applies.
48.81(6)(6) The child is being adopted under s. 48.97 (3).
48.81 HistoryHistory: 1987 a. 383; 1989 a. 161; 1997 a. 104; 2015 a. 380.
48.81 NoteNOTE: 1997 Wis. Act 104, which affected this section, contains explanatory notes.
48.81 AnnotationUnder this section, the nonmarital partner of a child’s biological parent is not eligible to adopt the child because the nonmarital partner is not the biological parent’s spouse. That legislative limit on eligibility to adopt a child does not violate the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment to the U.S. Constitution. A.M.B. v. Circuit Court, 2024 WI 18, 411 Wis. 2d 389, 5 N.W.3d 238, 22-1334.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1994–2024 · leading case: In Interest of Angel Lace M., 516 N.W.2d 678 (Wis. 1994).
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In Interest of Angel Lace M., 516 N.W.2d 678 (Wis. 1994). · cites it 18× “Ostensibly, a complete stranger could petition to adopt a minor who is a member of this stable family; and, at least pursuant to sec. 48.81, Stats., the proposed adoption would be permissible.”
David J. Rosecky v. Monica M. Schissel, 2013 WI 66 (Wis. 2013). · cites it 3× “§ 48.81 . Parental rights can be terminated voluntarily, see Wis.”
A. M. B. v. Circuit Court for Ashland Cnty., 2024 WI 18 (Wis. 2024). · cites it 37× “Under Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2021-22),2 a child who is present in the 1The Honorable Kelly J.”
A. M. B. v. Circuit Court for Ashland Cnty., 2024 WI 18 (Wis. 2024). · cites it 37× “Under Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2021-22),2 a child who is present in the 1The Honorable Kelly J.”
In Re the Adoption of Baby Z., 700 A.2d 1065 (Conn. Super. Ct. 1996). “” Wis. Stat. Ann. § 48.81 (West 1989). Additionally, § 48.”
D. T. S. v. B. E. C. (Wis. Ct. App. 2023). “§ 48.81(4)(b) (the “spouse of the child’s parent” may seek to adopt a child if “[t]he parental rights of the child’s other parent with respect to the child have been terminated”).”
Jefferson Cnty. DHS v. C. T. S. (Wis. Ct. App. 2023). “§ 48.81(2) (a child may be adopted if “[t]he parental rights of both of the child’s parents with respect to the child have been terminated”).”
Columbia Cnty. DH&HS v. S. A. J. (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “§ 48.81 (a child generally cannot be adopted until parental rights are terminated).”
Dane Cnty. DHS v. J. K. (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “§ 48.81(2) (a child may be adopted if “[t]he parental rights of both of the child’s parents with respect to the child have been terminated”).”
Dane Cnty. v. J. B. (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “concedes that the circuit court considered the required best interest factors, but argues that the “weighing was erroneous.”
— Wis. Stat. § 48.81(1) — 3 cases
In Interest of Angel Lace M., 516 N.W.2d 678 (Wis. 1994). “Ostensibly, a complete stranger could petition to adopt a minor who is a member of this stable family; and, at least pursuant to sec. 48.81, Stats., the proposed adoption would be permissible.”
A. M. B. v. Circuit Court for Ashland Cnty., 2024 WI 18 (Wis. 2024). “Under Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2021-22),2 a child who is present in the 1The Honorable Kelly J.”
A. M. B. v. Circuit Court for Ashland Cnty., 2024 WI 18 (Wis. 2024). “Under Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2021-22),2 a child who is present in the 1The Honorable Kelly J.”
— Wis. Stat. § 48.81(2) — 4 cases
A. M. B. v. Circuit Court for Ashland Cnty., 2024 WI 18 (Wis. 2024). “Under Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2021-22),2 a child who is present in the 1The Honorable Kelly J.”
A. M. B. v. Circuit Court for Ashland Cnty., 2024 WI 18 (Wis. 2024). “Under Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2021-22),2 a child who is present in the 1The Honorable Kelly J.”
Jefferson Cnty. DHS v. C. T. S. (Wis. Ct. App. 2023). “§ 48.81(2) (a child may be adopted if “[t]he parental rights of both of the child’s parents with respect to the child have been terminated”).”
Dane Cnty. DHS v. J. K. (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “§ 48.81(2) (a child may be adopted if “[t]he parental rights of both of the child’s parents with respect to the child have been terminated”).”
— Wis. Stat. § 48.81(3) — 1 case
Dane Cnty. v. J. B. (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “concedes that the circuit court considered the required best interest factors, but argues that the “weighing was erroneous.”
— Wis. Stat. § 48.81(4) — 2 cases
A. M. B. v. Circuit Court for Ashland Cnty., 2024 WI 18 (Wis. 2024). “Under Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2021-22),2 a child who is present in the 1The Honorable Kelly J.”
A. M. B. v. Circuit Court for Ashland Cnty., 2024 WI 18 (Wis. 2024). “Under Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2021-22),2 a child who is present in the 1The Honorable Kelly J.”
— Wis. Stat. § 48.81(4)(a) — 2 cases
A. M. B. v. Circuit Court for Ashland Cnty., 2024 WI 18 (Wis. 2024). “Under Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2021-22),2 a child who is present in the 1The Honorable Kelly J.”
A. M. B. v. Circuit Court for Ashland Cnty., 2024 WI 18 (Wis. 2024). “Under Wis. Stat. § 48.81 (2021-22),2 a child who is present in the 1The Honorable Kelly J.”
— Wis. Stat. § 48.81(4)(b) — 1 case
D. T. S. v. B. E. C. (Wis. Ct. App. 2023). “§ 48.81(4)(b) (the “spouse of the child’s parent” may seek to adopt a child if “[t]he parental rights of the child’s other parent with respect to the child have been terminated”).”
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