Wisconsin Statutes
Wis. Stat. § 48.925 (2026)
Visitation rights of certain persons
✓ current as of July 2026
Find cases:
SyfertCases citing this section
WI-LEGdocs.legis.wisconsin.gov
JustiaChapter on Justia
CornellLII Search
CasesGoogle Scholar
48.925(1)(1) Upon petition by a relative who has maintained a relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with a child who has been adopted by a stepparent or relative, the court, subject to subs. (1m) and (2), may grant reasonable visitation rights to that person if the petitioner has maintained such a relationship within 2 years prior to the filing of the petition, if the adoptive parent or parents, or, if a birth parent is the spouse of an adoptive parent, the adoptive parent and birth parent, have notice of the hearing and if the court determines all of the following:
48.925(1)(b)(b) That the petitioner will not undermine the adoptive parent’s or parents’ relationship with the child or, if a birth parent is the spouse of an adoptive parent, the adoptive parent’s and birth parent’s relationship with the child.
48.925(1)(c)(c) That the petitioner will not act in a manner that is contrary to parenting decisions that are related to the child’s physical, emotional, educational or spiritual welfare and that are made by the adoptive parent or parents or, if a birth parent is the spouse of an adoptive parent, by the adoptive parent and birth parent.
48.925(1m)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), the court may not grant visitation rights under sub. (1) to a relative who has maintained a relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with a child if the relative has been convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated.
48.925(1m)(am)(am) Except as provided in par. (b), if a relative who is granted visitation rights with a child under sub. (1) is convicted under s. 940.01 of the first-degree intentional homicide, or under s. 940.05 of the 2nd-degree intentional homicide, of a parent of the child, and the conviction has not been reversed, set aside or vacated, the court shall issue an order prohibiting the relative from having visitation with the child on petition of the child or the parent, guardian or legal custodian of the child, or on the court’s own motion, and on notice to the relative.
48.925(1m)(b)(b) Paragraphs (a) and (am) do not apply if the court determines by clear and convincing evidence that the visitation would be in the best interests of the child. The court shall consider the wishes of the child in making that determination.
48.925(2)(2) Whenever possible, in making a determination under sub. (1), the court shall consider the wishes of the adopted child.
48.925(3)(3) This section applies to every child in this state who has been adopted, by a stepparent or relative, regardless of the date of the adoption.
48.925(4)(4) Any person who interferes with visitation rights granted under sub. (1) may be proceeded against for contempt of court under ch. 785, except that a court may impose only the remedial sanctions specified in s. 785.04 (1) (a) and (c) against that person.
48.925 AnnotationGrandparents’ Visitation Rights Following Adoption: Expanding Traditional Boundaries in Wisconsin. Hintz. 1994 WLR 483.
48.925 AnnotationGrandparent Visitation Rights. Rothstein. Wis. Law. Nov. 1992.
48.925 AnnotationThe Effect of C.G.F. and Section 48.925 on Grandparental Visitation Petitions. Hughes. Wis. Law. Nov. 1992.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 10
cases, 1992–2019 · leading case: Michels v. Lyons (In Re Visitation of A. A. L.), 927 N.W.2d 486 (Wis. 2019).
Michels v. Lyons (In Re Visitation of A. A. L.), 927 N.W.2d 486 (Wis. 2019). “925 , which allows a relative who has maintained a relationship with a child similar to a parent-child relationship to seek visitation after a child has been adopted by a stepparent or relative;9 (2) Wis. Stat. § 54.”
In Re Custody of HSHK, 533 N.W.2d 419 (Wis. 1995). “) In 1991, the legislature reviewed the law of visitation and enacted sec. 48.925, Stats., which authorizes courts to grant reasonable visitation privileges to relatives who have maintained a relationship similar to a parent-child relationship with a child who has recently been…”
Holtmann v. Knott, 533 N.W.2d 419 (Wis. 1995). “Sections 48.925 (visitation on adoption), 767.”
In Re Interest of Brandon SS, 507 N.W.2d 94 (Wis. 1993). “[31] Sections 48.925 and 767.245, Wis. Stats. 1991-92, grant visitation rights to a grandparent under certain circumstances.”
David S. v. Laura S., 507 N.W.2d 94 (Wis. 1993). “Sections 48.925 and 767.245, Wis. Stats. 1991-92, grant visitation rights to a grandparent under certain circumstances.”
In Re Adoption of JCG, 501 N.W.2d 908 (Wis. Ct. App. 1993). “" Section 48.925, Stats., created visitation rights in certain persons.”
In Re Marriage of Cox v. Williams, 490 N.W.2d 774 (Wis. Ct. App. 1992). “and 1991 Wis. Act 191 do not undermine the precedential weight of Soergel as applied to petitions for visitation under sec.”
L.P. v. B.G., 501 N.W.2d 908 (Wis. Ct. App. 1993). “" Section 48.925, Stats., created visitation rights in certain persons.”
In Re Custody of Noonan, 492 N.W.2d 172 (Wis. Ct. App. 1992). “3 In 1992, the legislature enacted sec. 48.925, Stats. Section 2, 1991 Wis. Act 191.”
In re Adoption K.B.M., 30 Va. Cir. 343 (Radford Cir. Ct. 1993). “§ 30-3-5 (stating “[i]n determining visitation rights of parents, grandparents, and other relatives, the court shall consider the welfare of the child); Wis. Stat. Ann. § 48.925 (allowing visitation petition by “relative who has maintained a relationship similar to a…”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the
Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and
treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.