Adult Guardianship

Adult Guardianships are handled in the Probate Court and are filed in Room JC-103 at the reception desk at 521 Riverview Avenue.

A person (over the age of 17) who is unable to make decisions regarding matters related to every day living as a result of developmental disabilities, mental illness, brain injury, or infirmities of aging like dementia may need another person to assist him or her. A guardian is a person appointed by a court to provide this type of assistance to an individual (called the ward) or make decisions on behalf of the individual.

A guardian of the person would make decisions for the individual related to personal matters such as medical care, housing arrangements, and daily activities. A guardian of the estate would make decisions for the individual related to financial matters.

A guardianship is created by a court, and the guardian only has those powers that state law and the court specifically provide.

As we continue to develop content for this web page, we welcome you to use the following research links to help guide you through the court process. Thank you for your patience.

Local Court Rules and Practices
Local Probate Court Rules	Waukesha County Probate Court rules and established policies and procedures.
Best Practices and Tips	Guide to practices and tips for general Probate Court matters.

Guardianship
Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 54	Direct link to the Wisconsin Statutes that pertain to guardianships.
Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 55	Direct link to the Wisconsin Statutes that pertain to protective placements.
Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 51	Direct link to the Wisconsin Statutes that pertain to Civil Commitments.
Guardianship of Adults: A Decision Making Guide	Information to help decide if adult guardianship is necessary, the application process, and available support services.
Guardianship Guide	A handbook for guardians.
Adult Guardianship	Provides information for anyone who has been appointed to be guardian for a person who is receiving services for mental illness, a developmental disability, or substance abuse in the state of Wisconsin.
GAL's Guide Regarding Adult Placement	A guide for guardians ad litem regarding placing people with developmental disabilities or mental illness in the community.
Guardianship Support Center Newsletter	Provides support and up-to-date information for Wisconsin guardians.
Coalition for Wisconsin's Aging Groups (CWAG)	Provides information on advocacy, legislation, legal rights, benefits, publications, and other information for the aging population.
CWAG Guardianship Related Publications	A list of links to additional guardianship related information and publications.