69.15(2)(c)
(c) If the state registrar determines that the registrant of a birth certificate was adopted without a change in the registrant's birth certificate under
par. (a) or
(b), the state registrar shall obtain a copy of the court order which provided for the adoption, if available, and shall prepare, under
sub. (6), a new certificate for the registrant.
69.15(3)(a)(a) If the state registrar receives an order under
sub. (1) which establishes paternity or determines that the man whose name appears on a registrant's birth certificate is not the father of the registrant, the state registrar shall do the following, as appropriate:
69.15(3)(a)1.
1. Prepare under
sub. (6) a new certificate omitting the father's name if the order determines that the man whose name appears on a registrant's birth certificate is not the father of the registrant and if there is no adjudicated father.
69.15(3)(a)2.
2. Prepare under
sub. (6) a new certificate for the subject of a paternity action changing the name of the father if the name of the adjudicated father is different than the name of the man on the birth certificate.
69.15(3)(a)3.
3. Except as provided under
subd. 4., insert the name of the adjudicated father on the original birth certificate if the name of the father was omitted on the original certificate.
69.15(3)(a)4.
4. If the order provides for a change in the child's given name or surname or both, enter the name indicated on a new birth certificate prepared under
subd. 1. or
2. or on the original birth certificate under
subd. 3. except that if the surname of a child under 7 years of age is changed, the state registrar shall prepare a new certificate under
sub. (6).
69.15(3)(b)1.1. Except as provided under
par. (c), if the state registrar receives a statement acknowledging paternity on a form prescribed by the state registrar and signed by both of the birth parents of a child determined to be a marital child under
s. 767.60, a certified copy of the parents' marriage certificate and the fee required under
s. 69.22 (5) (b) 1., the state registrar shall insert the name of the husband from the marriage certificate as the father if the name of the father was omitted on the original birth certificate. The state registrar shall include on the form for the acknowledgment a notice of the information in
s. 767.458 (1) (a) to
(e).
69.15(3)(b)2.
2. Except as provided under
par. (c), if the parent of a child determined to be a marital child under
s. 767.60 dies after his or her marriage and before the statement acknowledging paternity has been signed, the state registrar shall insert the name of the father under
subd. 1. upon receipt of a court order determining that the husband was the father of the child.
69.15(3)(b)3.
3. Except as provided under
par. (c), if the state registrar receives a statement acknowledging paternity on a form prescribed by the state registrar and signed by both parents, and by a parent or legal guardian of any parent who is under the age of 18 years, along with the fee under
s. 69.22, the state registrar shall insert the name of the father under
subd. 1. The state registrar shall mark the certificate to show that the form is on file. The form shall be available to the department of workforce development or a county child support agency under
s. 59.53 (5) pursuant to the program responsibilities under
s. 49.22 or to any other person with a direct and tangible interest in the record. The state registrar shall include on the form for the acknowledgment a notice of the information in
ss. 767.458 (1) (a) to
(e) and
767.62.
69.15(3)(b)4.
4. If a registrant has not reached the age of 18 years and if any of the following indicate, in a statement acknowledging paternity under
subd. 1. or
3., that the given name or surname, or both, of the registrant should be changed on the birth certificate, the state registrar shall enter the name indicated on the birth certificate without a court order:
69.15(3)(b)4.b.
b. The father of the registrant if the father has legal custody of the registrant.
69.15(3)(b)4.c.
c. The parents of the registrant if they have married each other after the birth of the registrant.
69.15(3)(c)
(c) If the state registrar is required to enter a new surname or a new given name on a birth certificate under
par. (b) 4. and the registrant has not reached the age of 7 years, the state registrar shall make a new certificate under
sub. (6).
69.15(3)(d)
(d) The form prescribed by the state registrar for acknowledging paternity shall require that the social security number of each of the registrant's parents signing the form be provided.
69.15(3m)
(3m) Rescission of statement acknowledging paternity. 69.15(3m)(a)(a) A statement acknowledging paternity that is filed with the state registrar under
sub. (3) (b) 3. may be rescinded by either person who signed the statement as a parent of the registrant if all of the following apply:
69.15(3m)(a)1.
1. The statement was signed and filed on or after April 1, 1998.
69.15(3m)(a)2.
2. The person rescinding the statement files with the state registrar a document prescribed by the state registrar for rescinding a statement acknowledging paternity under
sub. (3) (b) 3.
69.15(3m)(a)3.
3. Except as provided in subd. 4, the person rescinding the statement files the document under
subd. 2. before the day on which a court or family court commissioner makes an order in an action affecting the family involving the man who signed the statement and the child who is the subject of the statement or before 60 days elapse after the statement was filed, whichever occurs first.
69.15(3m)(a)4.
4. If the person rescinding the statement was under age 18 when the statement was filed, the person files the document under
subd. 2. before the day on which a court or family court commissioner makes an order in an action affecting the family involving the man who signed the statement as the father of the registrant and the child who is the subject of the statement or before 60 days elapse after the person attains age 18, whichever occurs first.
69.15(3m)(b)
(b) If the state registrar, within the time required under
par. (a) 3. or
4., whichever is appropriate, receives a document prescribed by the state registrar for rescinding a statement acknowledging paternity under
sub. (3) (b) 3., along with the proper fee under
s. 69.22, the state registrar shall prepare under
sub. (6) a new certificate omitting the father's name if it was inserted under
sub. (3) (b).
69.15(4)(a)(a) If the state registrar receives an order under
sub. (1) which provides for a name change, the state registrar shall change the name on the original birth certificate.
69.15(4)(b)
(b) Any person with a direct and tangible interest in a birth certificate registered in this state may petition a court to change the name and sex of the registrant on the certificate due to a surgical sex-change procedure. If the state registrar receives an order which provides for such a change the state registrar shall change the name and sex on the original certificate, except that if the court orders the state registrar to prepare a new certificate the state registrar shall prepare a new certificate under
sub. (6).
69.15(4)(c)
(c) A court may not order the state registrar to change any vital record due to a surgical sex-change procedure except as provided under this subsection.
69.15(4m)
(4m) Name change without court order. 69.15(4m)(a)(a) Unless either parent of a registrant is a party to an action under
ch. 767 involving the registrant and notwithstanding
sub. (3) (b) 4. and
s. 786.36, the name of a registrant born in this state may be changed once under this subsection without a court order if all of the following apply:
69.15(4m)(a)1.
1. The request for the change is received to the state registrar in writing, on a form approved by the state registrar.
69.15(4m)(a)2.
2. If a parent has sole legal custody of the registrant, the request for the change is signed by the parent who has legal custody.
69.15(4m)(a)3.
3. If both parents have legal custody of the registrant, the request for the change is signed by both parents.
69.15(4m)(a)4.
4. The request for the change is received within 365 calendar days after the day of birth of the registrant.
69.15(4m)(b)
(b) If the conditions under
par. (a) 1. to
4. are met, the state registrar shall change the registrant's name on the registrant's birth certificate. The state registrar is not required to issue a new birth certificate under this paragraph.
69.15(5)
(5) New certificate for a person without any certificate. If no birth certificate has been registered for any person who is more than 365 days old and who is entitled to a new certificate under this section, and if the date and place of birth of the person have not been determined by a court, the state registrar shall register a birth certificate for the individual under
s. 69.14 (2) (b) before preparing a new certificate under
sub. (6).
69.15(6)
(6) Preparation of new certificates. 69.15(6)(a)(a) The state registrar shall prepare a new birth certificate under this section on the form in use at the time the original certificate was filed. The state registrar shall include on a new certificate the date of creation of the new certificate and shall sign it. The state registrar shall type on the new certificate any other legible signature on the original certificate.
69.15(6)(b)
(b) The state registrar shall register a new certificate created under this section and shall impound the original certificate or the certificate registered under
sub. (5) and all correspondence, affidavits, court orders and other related materials and prohibit access except by court order or except by the state registrar for processing purposes or except when authorized under
ss. 48.432 and
48.433. The state registrar shall send a copy of any new certificate registered under this section to the local registrar who filed the original of the replaced certificate. Upon receipt of the copy, the local registrar shall destroy his or her copy of the replaced certificate and file the new certificate.
69.15(6)(c)
(c) If the state registrar changes a birth certificate on file or registered under this section instead of preparing a new certificate, the state registrar shall make the change under
s. 69.11 (5) and shall send a notice of the change to the local registrar who filed the original of the changed certificate. Upon receipt of the notice, the local registrar shall change his or her copy of the changed certificate.
69.15 Annotation
Although sub. (1) (a) provides for changing a name according to an order in a paternity action, it does not provide authority to order a name change in a paternity action without complying with the procedural requirements for a name change under s. 786.36. Paternity of Noah J.M.
223 Wis. 2d 768,
590 N.W.2d 21 (Ct. App. 1998).
69.16
69.16
Marriage documents. 69.16(1)(1) The form, content, application for and registration of marriage documents shall be under
ch. 765.
69.16(2)
(2) If a person has married in this state, at least 365 days have elapsed since the marriage and no marriage document is on file, a person with a direct and tangible interest in having a marriage document registered may petition the circuit court of the county in which the marriage is alleged to have occurred. If the court finds that the petitioner has established the fact of the marriage required on the marriage document, except for the information under
s. 69.20 (2), the clerk of the court shall report the court's determination to the state registrar on a form prescribed by the state registrar, along with the fee required under
s. 69.22. Upon receipt of the report, the state registrar shall register the marriage document and send a copy of the document to the local registrar under
s. 69.03 (11). The local registrar shall file the document.
69.16 History
History: 1985 a. 315.
69.17
69.17
Divorce report. At the end of every biweekly period, the clerk of any court which conducts divorce proceedings under
ch. 767 shall forward to the state registrar, on a form supplied by the state registrar, a report of every divorce or annulment of marriage granted during the biweekly period. The form supplied by the state registrar shall require that the social security numbers of the parties to the divorce or annulment and the social security number of any child of the parties be provided.
69.17 History
History: 1985 a. 315;
1997 a. 191.
69.18
69.18
Death records. 69.18(1)(a)(a) Any one of the following may move a corpse for the purpose of final disposition:
69.18(1)(a)1.
1. A funeral director licensed under
ch. 445 acting in person or through the agency of another funeral director licensed under
ch. 445.
69.18(1)(a)2.
2. A member of the decedent's immediate family who personally prepares for and conducts the final disposition of the decedent.
69.18(1)(b)
(b) Any person who moves a corpse under
par. (a) shall file a certificate of death for the corpse under this subsection on a form prescribed by the state registrar under any one of the following circumstances:
69.18(1)(b)3.
3. The corpse was removed in this state from a conveyance which was moving at the time of death.
69.18(1)(b)4.
4. The corpse was found in interstate waters and removed in this state.
69.18(1)(bm)
(bm) A person required to file a certificate of death under
par. (b) shall obtain the information required for the certificate of death from the next of kin or the best qualified person or source available. The person filing the certificate of death shall enter his or her signature on the certificate and include his or her address and the date of signing and shall present or mail the certificate, within 24 hours after being notified of the death, to the physician, coroner or medical examiner responsible for completing and signing the medical certification under
sub. (2). Within 2 days after receipt of the medical certification under
sub. (2), the person filing the certificate of death shall mail or present the certificate of death in:
69.18(1)(bm)1.
1. The registration district of the place of death if the death occurred in this state.
69.18(1)(bm)2.
2. The registration district where the corpse was found or removed if the place of death is not in this state or is unknown, is removed in this state from a conveyance which was moving at the time of death or is found in interstate waters and removed in this state.
69.18(1)(c)
(c) A hospital or a nursing home, as defined in
s. 50.01 (3), which is the place of death of a person may prepare a certificate of death for the person and give the certificate to the person who moves the corpse under
par. (a).
69.18(1)(d)
(d) A hospital or nursing home may not release a corpse to any person under
par. (a) unless the person presents a notice of removal on a form prescribed by the state registrar, in duplicate, to the administrator of the hospital or nursing home. The administrator shall retain one copy and forward the other copy to the local registrar of the registration district in which the hospital or nursing home is located.
69.18(1)(e)1.1. If a death is a miscarriage and 20 weeks or more have elapsed between the mother's last normal menstrual period and delivery or the stillbirth weighs 350 grams or more, one of the following shall submit, within 5 days after delivery, a fetal death report to the state registrar:
69.18(1)(e)1.a.
a. If the miscarriage occurs at or on route to a hospital, the individual who manages the hospital or the hospital's medical records.
69.18(1)(e)1.b.
b. If the miscarriage does not occur at or on route to a hospital, the funeral director or other person authorized by at least one parent of the stillbirth.
69.18(1)(e)2.
2. Except as provided under
subd. 1., no fetal death report is required.
69.18(2)(a)(a) On the form for a certificate of death prescribed by the state registrar under
sub. (1) (b), the state registrar shall provide for a separate medical certification section to be completed under this subsection.
69.18(2)(b)
(b) If a person under the care of a physician dies from the illness or condition for which the care is given and a coroner or medical examiner does not certify the cause of death under
par. (d) 1., the physician shall complete and sign a medical certification for the death under
par. (f) and mail the medical certification within 5 days after the pronouncement of death or present the medical certification to the person responsible for filing the death certificate under
sub. (1) within 6 days after the pronouncement of death.
69.18(2)(c)
(c) If the physician under
par. (b) is absent or gives his or her written approval, the medical certification under
par. (b) may be completed and signed by any one of the following who has access to the medical history of the decedent:
69.18(2)(c)1.
1. If any other physician assisted in attending the decedent, the other physician.
69.18(2)(c)2.
2. The chief medical officer of the hospital or nursing home in which the death occurred.
69.18(2)(c)3.
3. The physician who performed an autopsy on the decedent.
69.18(2)(d)1.1. Except as provided under
par. (e), if a death is the subject of a coroner's or medical examiner's determination under
s. 979.01 or
979.03, the coroner or medical examiner or a physician supervised by a coroner or medical examiner in the county where the event which caused the death occurred shall complete and sign the medical certification part of the death certificate for the death and mail the death certificate within 5 days after the pronouncement of death or present the certificate to the person responsible for filing the death certificate under
sub. (1) within 6 days after the pronouncement of death.
69.18(2)(d)2.
2. Except as provided under
par. (e), if the decedent was not under the care of a physician for the illness or condition from which the person died, the coroner or medical examiner, or a physician supervised by a coroner or medical examiner, in the county of the place of death shall complete and sign the medical certification part of the death certificate for the death and mail the death certificate within 5 days after the pronouncement of death or present the certificate to the person responsible for filing the death certificate under
sub. (1) within 6 days after the pronouncement of death.
69.18(2)(d)3.
3. For a medical certification under this paragraph, except a medical certification of the cause of death of an indigent, a coroner or medical examiner may charge a fee established by the county board, not to exceed an amount reasonably related to the actual and necessary cost of providing the medical certification. The coroner or medical examiner, or the physician employed by the coroner or medical examiner, shall mail or present a medical certification as required under
subd. 1., whether or not the fee has been paid.
69.18(2)(e)
(e) Unless the person is a physician supervised by a coroner or medical examiner, no person may act under
par. (d) if the subject of the death certificate was his or her patient or a patient in a hospital, or nursing home, as defined in
s. 50.01 (3), in which he or she has direct care of any patient.
69.18(2)(f)1.1. A person signing a medical certification under
par. (b),
(c) or
(d) shall describe, in detail, on a form prescribed by the state registrar, the cause of death, show the duration of each cause, the sequence of each cause if the cause of death was multiple and, if the cause was disease, the evolution of the disease. The person shall describe a disease in medical terms and may not limit the description to symptoms or conditions resulting from disease. If the cause of a death is medically certified under
par. (d), the coroner or medical examiner shall describe any violence related to the cause of death, its effect on the decedent and whether it was accidental, suicidal, homicidal or undetermined.
69.18(2)(f)2.
2. If a person signing a medical certification under
par. (b),
(c) or
(d) fails to satisfy the requirements of
subd. 1., the medical certification shall be deemed incomplete and unsigned and may be returned to the person for completion.
69.18(2)(f)3.
3. A person signing a medical certification under
par. (b),
(c) or
(d) shall note on the certificate if the cause of death of the subject of the certificate is unknown, undetermined or if the determination of the cause of death is pending and shall submit to the state registrar within 30 days after the pronouncement of death an amendment to the medical certification which satisfies the requirements of
subd. 1., except that such amendment may exclude information which is unavailable pending the determination of an inquest under
s. 979.04.
69.18(3)
(3) Requirements for disposition of a corpse or stillbirth. 69.18(3)(a)(a) Except as provided under
par. (c) or
(e), the person who has moved a corpse under
sub. (1) (a) shall complete a report for final disposition, on a form supplied by the state registrar, and, within 24 hours after being notified of the death, mail or present a copy of the report to the coroner or medical examiner in the county of the place of death and mail or present a copy to the local registrar in the registration district of the place of death. If the cause of death is subject to an investigation under
s. 979.01 or
979.03, the report for final disposition shall be submitted to the coroner or medical examiner in the county in which the event which caused the death occurred.
69.18(3)(b)
(b) If a medical certification for a corpse is required under
sub. (2) (d), no person may embalm the corpse or effect its final disposition without satisfying the requirements for a report under
par. (a) and without obtaining the written permission of the person required to complete the medical certification under
sub. (2) (d).
69.18(3)(c)
(c) No person may effect a final disposition of a corpse brought into this state unless the corpse is accompanied by written authorization for final disposition under the law of another state.
