Step-Parent/Relative Adoption

Wisconsin statutes allow a parent who has custody of a child to place the child for adoption in the home of a relative of the child. "Relative" means a parent, grandparent, stepparent, brother, sister, first cousin, nephew, niece, uncle or aunt, who is related to the child by either birth or in most situations by marriage.

The process of adopting a child who is a relative usually will involve four steps: termination of parental rights, petition to adopt and order for investigation, the agency investigation, and the hearing on the adoption. This matter is handled in the Juvenile Court and is filed at the Juvenile Center at 521 Riverview Avenue, Waukesha.