Wisconsin Minor Guardianship Forms: Common Forms for § 48.9795

Forms You Need to File

Wisconsin uses standardized circuit court forms for minor guardianship cases under Wis. Stat. § 48.9795. The statewide forms are available free at wicourts.gov. Counties may also require local forms or instructions; the list below covers common statewide forms and when they are used.

Required for Full, Limited, or Temporary Petitions

JN-1501 — Petition for Appointment of Guardian (Full/Limited/Temporary) This is the main petition. Check the box for the type of guardianship you want (full, limited, or temporary). The form asks for the child's information, the parents' details, and the factual basis for guardianship. Revised September 2024.

GF-150 — UCCJEA Declaration Required alongside every petition. This establishes Wisconsin's jurisdiction by documenting where the child has lived for the past five years and whether any custody or guardianship cases exist in other states. If this form is incomplete, the court cannot proceed. Revised September 2024.

JN-1514 — Statement by Proposed Guardian Your sworn background disclosure — criminal charges or convictions, whether you have been determined under § 48.981(3)(c) to have abused or neglected a child, and your financial circumstances. For full, limited, or temporary guardianships, it must be filed at least 96 hours before the initial hearing. Missing this deadline delays your case. Revised May 2024.

Situational Forms

JN-1510 — Nomination of Guardian by Parent or Child Used when a parent voluntarily supports the guardianship, or when a child age 12 or older wants to nominate their preferred guardian. Not a consent form — the court still evaluates best interests independently. Revised September 2022.

JN-1504 — Petition for Appointment of Emergency Guardian For emergencies only — when a child needs immediate protection and the standard 45-day hearing timeline is too slow. Grants up to 60 days of authority. Revised September 2024.

CV-410A — Petition for Waiver of Fees and Costs If you receive means-tested public assistance, are represented through an indigent legal-services or volunteer-attorney program, or are otherwise unable to pay because of poverty, file this to ask the court to waive fees and costs. For the financial test, the court considers household size, income, expenses, assets, debts, and the federal poverty guidelines. Does not cover GAL deposits. Revised September 2024.

Post-Hearing Forms

JN-1530 — Letters of Guardianship and Dispositional Order The court issues this when your petition is granted. The Letters are your proof of legal authority — schools, hospitals, and agencies require certified copies. Revised October 2025.

JN-1540 — Request to Modify, Extend Limited/Temporary, Reconsider/Modify Emergency, Terminate Guardianship Filed after guardianship is established, when circumstances change. Use it to extend a temporary guardianship, modify the scope of a limited guardianship, or request termination. Revised September 2022.

JN-1550 — Annual Report on the Condition of the Child Full guardians must file this annually, reporting on the child's condition, living situation, education, and health. The court uses this to confirm the guardianship is still appropriate.

Service and Court Process Forms

JD-1825 — Declaration of Service Proof that you served the petition and hearing notice on all interested parties. Filed with the court before the hearing.

JD-1724 — Notice of Hearing (Juvenile) The formal hearing notice that gets served to parents, the child (if 12+), and other interested parties.

JD-1798A — Order Appointing Guardian ad Litem The court issues this to appoint the GAL. You do not fill this out yourself — it is a court-generated order.

Which Forms Apply to Emergency Cases

Emergency guardianship uses a separate set:

Forms That Do Not Apply

Chapter 54 forms (GN- prefix) are for guardianship of the estate — managing a child's property or inheritances. If the child has significant assets and you need financial management authority, that is a separate petition. Form JN-1516 can consolidate both a Chapter 48 person guardianship and a Chapter 54 estate guardianship into one proceeding.

Form GF-223 (Power of Attorney Delegating Parental Power) is not a guardianship form. A parent with legal custody may use it to delegate parental powers; both parents must sign if they share joint legal custody. Court involvement is required if the child is in a CHIPS, JIPS, or delinquency case, is an Indian child, or a non-relative agent's delegation would last longer than one year. See our post on Wisconsin guardianship vs power of attorney for the comparison.

Tips for Self-Represented Filers

• Download fresh copies from wicourts.gov each time — forms are periodically revised and courts reject outdated versions
• Self-represented individuals may file on paper. E-filing is mandatory for attorneys and filing agents who submit 10 or more actions in a county each year.
• Keep a copy of every form you file, stamped with the filing date
• Call the office handling minor guardianships in your county — such as the juvenile court or Register in Probate — before filing to confirm local requirements

Our Wisconsin Guardianship and Custody Court Process Guide organizes every form into a step-by-step filing sequence with a tracking log so nothing falls through the cracks.

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