48.426(3)(f) (f) Whether the child will be able to enter into a more stable and permanent family relationship as a result of the termination, taking into account the conditions of the child's current placement, the likelihood of future placements and the results of prior placements.
48.426 History History: 1979 c. 330.
48.426 Annotation Where grandparents opposing termination had a substantial relationship with the child and wished to participate in the proceedings, it was error to exclude their testimony in determining the child's best interest. In Interest of Brandon S.S. 179 W (2d) 114, 507 NW (2d) 94 (1993).
48.427 48.427 Dispositions.
48.427(1)(1) Any party may present evidence relevant to the issue of disposition, including expert testimony, and may make alternative dispositional recommendations to the court. After receiving any evidence related to the disposition, the court shall enter one of the dispositions specified under subs. (2) to (4) within 10 days.
48.427(1m) (1m) In addition to any evidence presented under sub. (1), the court shall permit the foster parent, treatment foster parent or other physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2) of the child to make a written or oral statement during the fact-finding or dispositional hearing or to submit a written statement prior to disposition, relevant to the issue of disposition.
48.427(2) (2) The court may dismiss the petition if it finds that the evidence does not warrant the termination of parental rights.
48.427(3) (3) The court may enter an order terminating the parental rights of one or both parents.
48.427(3m) (3m) If the rights of both parents or of the only living parent are terminated under sub. (3) and if a guardian has not been appointed under s. 48.977, the court shall either:
48.427(3m)(a) (a) Transfer guardianship and custody of the child pending adoptive placement to:
48.427(3m)(a)1. 1. A county department authorized to accept guardianship under s. 48.57 (1) (e) or (hm).
48.427(3m)(a)3. 3. A child welfare agency licensed under s. 48.61 (5) to accept guardianship.
48.427(3m)(a)4. 4. The department.
48.427(3m)(a)5. 5. A relative with whom the child resides, if the relative has filed a petition to adopt the child or if the relative is a kinship care relative.
48.427(3m)(a)6. 6. An individual who has been appointed guardian of the child by a court of a foreign jurisdiction.
48.427(3m)(b) (b) Transfer guardianship of the child to one of the agencies specified under par. (a) 1. to 4. and custody of the child to an individual in whose home the child has resided for at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the termination of parental rights or to a relative.
48.427(3p) (3p) If the rights of both parents or of the only living parent are terminated under sub. (3) and if a guardian has been appointed under s. 48.977, the court may enter one of the orders specified in sub. (3m). If the court enters an order under this subsection, the court shall terminate the guardianship under s. 48.977.
48.427(4) (4) If the rights of one or both parents are terminated under sub. (3), the court may enter an order placing the child in sustaining care under s. 48.428.
48.427(6) (6) If an order is entered under sub. (3), the court shall:
48.427(6)(a) (a) Inform each birth parent, as defined under s. 48.432 (1) (am), whose rights have been terminated of the provisions of ss. 48.432 and 48.433.
48.427(6)(b) (b) Forward to the department:
48.427(6)(b)1. 1. The name and date of birth of the child whose birth parent's rights have been terminated.
48.427(6)(b)2. 2. The names and current addresses of the child's birth parents, guardian and legal custodian.
48.427(6)(b)3. 3. The medical and genetic information obtained under s. 48.422 (9) or 48.425 (1) (am) or (2).
48.427(7) (7)
48.427(7)(a)(a) If an order is entered under sub. (3), the court may orally inform the parent or parents who appear in court of the ground for termination of parental rights specified in s. 48.415 (10).
48.427(7)(b) (b) In addition to the notice permitted under par. (a), any written order under sub. (3) may notify the parent or parents of the information specified in par. (a).
48.427 History History: 1979 c. 330; 1981 c. 81, 359; 1985 a. 70, 176; 1995 a. 275, 289.
48.427 Annotation Despite jury findings, court may dismiss termination petition if evidence does not support a finding or unfitness evidence is not so egregious as to warrant termination; whether evidence supports termination is matter of discretion. In Interest of K.D.J., 163 W (2d) 90, 470 NW (2d) 914 (1991).
48.428 48.428 Sustaining care.
48.428(1)(1) A court may place a child in sustaining care if the court has terminated the parental rights of the parent or parents of the child or has appointed a guardian for the child under s. 48.831 and the court finds that the child is unlikely to be adopted or that adoption is not in the best interest of the child.
48.428(2) (2)
48.428(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in par. (b), when a court places a child in sustaining care after an order under s. 48.427 (4), the court shall transfer legal custody of the child to the county department or a licensed child welfare agency, transfer guardianship of the child to an agency listed in s. 48.427 (3m) (a) 1. to 4. and place the child in the home of a licensed foster parent, licensed treatment foster parent or kinship care relative with whom the child has resided for 6 months or longer. Pursuant to such a placement, this licensed foster parent, licensed treatment foster parent or kinship care relative shall be a sustaining parent with the powers and duties specified in sub. (3).
48.428 Note NOTE: Par. (a) is shown as affected by two acts of the 1995 legislature and as merged by the revisor under s. 13.93 (2) (c).
48.428(2)(b) (b) When a court places a child in sustaining care after an order under s. 48.427 (4) with a person who has been appointed as the guardian of the child under s. 48.977 (2), the court may transfer legal custody of the child to the county department or a licensed child welfare agency, transfer guardianship of the child to an agency listed in s. 48.427 (3m) (a) 1. to 4. and place the child in the home of a licensed foster parent or licensed treatment foster parent with whom the child has resided for 6 months or longer. Pursuant to such a placement, that licensed foster parent or licensed treatment foster parent shall be a sustaining parent with the powers and duties specified in sub. (3). If the court transfers guardianship of the child to an agency listed in s. 48.427 (3m) (a) 1. to 4., the court shall terminate the guardianship under s. 48.977.
48.428(3) (3) Subject to the authority of the guardian and legal custodian of the child and to any treatment or dispositional plans for the child established by the court, the sustaining parent has the rights and responsibilities necessary for the day-to-day care of the child, including but not limited to:
48.428(3)(a) (a) The authority to consent to routine and emergency health care for the child.
48.428(3)(b) (b) The authority to sign the child's application for a license under s. 343.15.
48.428(3)(c) (c) The authority to approve the child's participation in school and youth group activities.
48.428(3)(d) (d) The authority to travel out of state with the child and consent to the child's travel out of state.
48.428(3)(e) (e) The authority to act as the child's parent under ss. 115.80, 115.81 and 118.125.
48.428(4) (4) Before a licensed foster parent, licensed treatment foster parent or kinship care relative may be appointed as a sustaining parent, the foster parent, treatment foster parent or kinship care relative shall execute a contract with the agency responsible for providing services to the child, in which the foster parent, treatment foster parent or kinship care relative agrees to provide care for the child until the child's 18th birthday unless the placement order is changed by the court because the court finds that the sustaining parents are no longer able or willing to provide the sustaining care or the court finds that the behavior of the sustaining parents toward the child would constitute grounds for the termination of parental rights if the sustaining parent was the birth parent of the child.
48.428(6) (6) The court may order or prohibit visitation by a birth parent of a child placed in sustaining care.
48.428 History History: 1979 c. 330; 1981 c. 81 s. 33; 1981 c. 359 s. 16; 1985 a. 70; 1985 a. 176; 1989 a. 161; 1993 a. 446; 1995 a. 275, 289; s. 13.93 (2) (c).
48.43 48.43 Court orders; contents and effect; review.
48.43(1)(1) The court shall enter a judgment setting forth its findings and disposition in accordance with s. 48.426 in an order implementing the disposition chosen. If the court dismisses the petition under s. 48.427 (2), the order shall contain the reasons for dismissal. If the disposition is for the termination of parental rights under s. 48.427 (3), the order shall contain all of the following:
48.43(1)(a) (a) The identity of any agency or individual that has received guardianship of the child or will receive guardianship or custody of the child upon termination and the identity of the agency which will be responsible for securing the adoption of the child or establishing the child in a permanent family setting.
48.43(1)(b) (b) If the child will be in need of continued care and treatment after termination, the agencies and persons responsible.
48.43(1)(c) (c) If an agency receives custody of the child under par. (a), the child's permanency plan prepared under s. 48.38 by the agency. If a permanency plan has not been prepared at the time the order is entered, or if the court enters an order that is not consistent with the permanency plan, the agency shall prepare a permanency plan that is consistent with the order or revise the permanency plan to conform to the order and shall file the plan with the court within 60 days from the date of the order.
48.43(2) (2) An order terminating parental rights permanently severs all legal rights and duties between the parent and the child.
48.43(3) (3) If only one parent consents under s. 48.41 or if the grounds specified in s. 48.415 are found to exist as to only one parent, the rights of only that parent may be terminated without affecting the rights of the other parent.
48.43(4) (4) A certified copy of the order terminating parental rights shall be furnished by the court to the agency given guardianship for placement for adoption of the child or to the person or agency given custodianship or guardianship for placement of the child in sustaining care and to the person appointed as the guardian of the child under s. 48.977 (2). The court shall, upon request, furnish a certified copy of the child's birth certificate and a transcript of the testimony in the termination of parental rights hearing to the same person or agency.
48.43(5) (5)
48.43(5)(a)(a) If the custodian specified in sub. (1) (a) is an agency, the agency shall report to the court on the status of the child at least once each year until the child is adopted or reaches 18 years of age, whichever is sooner. The agency shall file an annual report no less than 30 days before the anniversary of the date of the order. An agency may file an additional report at any time if it determines that more frequent reporting is appropriate. A report shall summarize the child's permanency plan and the recommendations of the review panel under s. 48.38 (5), if any, and shall describe any progress that has been made in finding a permanent placement for the child.
48.43(5)(b) (b) The court shall hold a hearing to review the permanency plan within 30 days after receiving a report under par. (a). At least 10 days before the date of the hearing, the court shall provide notice of the time, date and purpose of the hearing to the agency that prepared the report, the child's guardian, the child, if he or she is 12 years of age or over, and the child's foster parent, treatment foster parent, other physical custodian described in s. 48.62 (2) or the operator of the facility in which the child is living.
48.43(5)(c) (c) Following the hearing, the court shall make all of the determinations specified under s. 48.38 (5) (c), except the determinations relating to the child's parents. The court may amend the order under sub. (1) to transfer the child's guardianship and custody to any agency specified under s. 48.427 (3m) (a) 1. to 4. which consents to the transfer, if the court determines that the transfer is in the child's best interest. If an order is amended, the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall revise the plan to conform to the order and shall file a copy of the revised plan with the court. Each plan filed under this paragraph shall be made a part of the court order.
48.43(5m) (5m) Either the court or the agency that prepared the permanency plan shall furnish a copy of the original plan and each revised plan to the child, if he or she is 12 years of age or over, and to the child's foster parent, the child's treatment foster parent or the operator of the facility in which the child is living.
48.43(6) (6) Judgments under this subchapter terminating parental rights are final and are appealable under s. 808.03 (1) according to the procedure specified in s. 809.107.
48.43(7) (7) If the agency specified under sub. (1) (a) is the department and a permanent adoptive placement is not in progress 2 years after entry of the order, the department may petition the court to transfer legal custody of the child to a county department. The court shall transfer the child's custody to the county department specified in the petition. The department shall remain the child's guardian.
48.43 History History: 1979 c. 330; 1983 a. 27, 219, 286; 1985 a. 70, 176, 332; Sup. Ct. Order, 136 W (2d) xxv (1987); 1987 a. 383; 1993 a. 395, 446; 1995 a. 275.
48.43 Annotation Appeal process in termination case must be commenced within 30 days after order is entered. In Interest of JD, 106 W (2d) 126, 315 NW (2d) 365 (1982).
48.432 48.432 Access to medical information.
48.432(1) (1) In this section:
48.432(1)(a) (a) "Adoptee" means a person who has been adopted in this state with the consent of his or her birth parent or parents before February 1, 1982.
48.432(1)(ag) (ag) "Agency" means a county department or a licensed child welfare agency.
48.432(1)(am) (am) "Birth parent" means either:
48.432(1)(am)1. 1. The mother designated on the individual's or adoptee's original birth certificate.
48.432(1)(am)2. 2. One of the following:
48.432(1)(am)2.a. a. The adjudicated father.
48.432(1)(am)2.b. b. If there is no adjudicated father, the husband of the mother at the time the individual or adoptee is conceived or born, or when the parents intermarry under s. 767.60.
48.432(1)(b) (b) "Individual" means a person whose birth parent's rights have been terminated in this state at any time.
48.432(2) (2)
48.432(2)(a)(a) The department, or agency contracted with under sub. (9), shall maintain all information obtained under s. 48.427 (6) (b) in a centralized birth record file.
48.432(2)(b) (b) Any birth parent whose rights to a child have been terminated in this state at any time, or who consented to the adoption of a child before February 1, 1982, may file with the department, or agency contracted with under sub. (9), any relevant medical or genetic information about the child or the child's birth parents, and the department or agency shall maintain the information in the centralized birth record file.
48.432(3) (3)
48.432(3)(a)(a) The department, or agency contracted with under sub, (9), shall release the medical information under sub. (2) to any of the following persons upon request:
48.432(3)(a)1. 1. An individual or adoptee 18 years of age or older.
48.432(3)(a)2. 2. An adoptive parent of an adoptee.
48.432(3)(a)3. 3. The guardian or legal custodian of an individual or adoptee.
48.432(3)(a)4. 4. The offspring of an individual or adoptee if the requester is 18 years of age or older.
48.432(3)(a)5. 5. An agency or social worker assigned to provide services to the individual or adoptee or place the individual for adoption.
48.432(3)(b) (b) Before releasing the information under par. (a), the department, or agency contracted with under sub. (9), shall delete the name and address of the birth parent and the identity of any provider of health care to the individual or adoptee or to the birth parent.
48.432(3)(c) (c) The person making a request under this subsection shall pay a fee for the cost of locating, verifying, purging, summarizing, copying and mailing the medical or genetic information according to a fee schedule established by the department, or agency contracted with under sub. (9), based on ability to pay. The fee may not be more than $150 and may be waived by the department or agency.
48.432(4) (4)
48.432(4)(a)(a) Whenever any person specified under sub. (3) wishes to obtain medical and genetic information about an individual whose birth parent's rights have been terminated in this state at any time, or whose birth parent consented to his or her adoption before February 1, 1982, or medical and genetic information about the birth parents of such an individual or adoptee, and the information is not on file with the department, or agency contracted with under sub. (9), the person may request that the department or agency conduct a search for the birth parents to obtain the information. The request shall be accompanied by a statement from a physician certifying either that the individual or adoptee has or may have acquired a genetically transferable disease or that the individual's or adoptee's medical condition requires access to the information.
48.432(4)(b) (b) Upon receipt of a request under par. (a), the department, or agency contracted with under sub. (9), shall undertake a diligent search for the individual's or adoptee's parents.
48.432(4)(c) (c) Employes of the department and any agency conducting a search under this subsection may not inform any person other than the birth parents of the purpose of the search.
48.432(4)(d) (d) The department, or agency contracted with under sub. (9), shall charge the requester a reasonable fee for the cost of the search. When the department or agency determines that the fee will exceed $100 for either birth parent, it shall notify the requester. No fee in excess of $100 per birth parent may be charged unless the requester, after receiving notification under this paragraph, has given consent to proceed with the search.
48.432(4)(e) (e) The department or agency conducting the search shall, upon locating a birth parent, notify him or her of the request and of the need for medical and genetic information.
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This is an archival version of the Wis. Stats. database for 1995. See Are the Statutes on this Website Official?