Wisconsin § 54.34 - Petition for guardianship or for receipt and acceptance of a foreign guardianship.

Full text of Wisconsin Wisconsin Statutes § 54.34 — Petition for guardianship or for receipt and acceptance of a foreign guardianship., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 54.34. Petition for guardianship or for receipt and acceptance of a foreign guardianship.

54.34(1) (1) Subject to ch. 53 , any person may petition for the appointment of a guardian for an individual. The petition shall state all of the following, if known to the petitioner: 54.34(1)(a) (a) The name, date of birth, residence, and post-office address of the proposed ward and, if the proposed ward is a minor, whether the minor has been adopted. 54.34(1)(b) (b) The specific nature of the proposed ward’s alleged incapacity or spendthrift habits. 54.34(1)(c) (c) The approximate value of the proposed ward’s property and a general description of its nature. 54.34(1)(d) (d) Any assets of the proposed ward previously derived from or benefits of the proposed ward now due and payable from the U.S. department of veterans affairs. 54.34(1)(e) (e) Any other claim, income, compensation, pension, insurance or allowance to which the proposed ward may be entitled. 54.34(1)(f) (f) Whether the proposed ward has any guardian presently. 54.34(1)(g) (g) The name and post-office address of any person nominated as guardian by the petitioner. 54.34(1)(h) (h) The names and post-office addresses of all interested parties. 54.34(1)(i) (i) The name and post-office address of the person or institution, if any, that has care and custody of the proposed ward or the facility, if any, that is providing care to the proposed ward. 54.34(1)(j) (j) The interest of the petitioner, and, if a public official is the petitioner, the authority of the petitioner to act. 54.34(1)(k) (k) Whether the proposed ward is a recipient of a public benefit, including medical assistance. 54.34(1)(L) (L) The agent under any current, valid power of attorney for health care or durable power of attorney that the proposed ward has executed. 54.34(1)(m) (m) Whether the petitioner is requesting a full or limited guardianship and, if limited, the specific authority sought by the petitioner for the guardian or the specific rights of the individual that the petitioner seeks to have removed or transferred. 54.34(1)(n) (n) Whether the proposed ward, if married, has children who are not children of the current marriage. 54.34(1)(p) (p) Whether the petitioner is aware of any guardianship or conservatorship or related pending or ordered proceeding involving the proposed ward in another state or county and, if so, the details of the guardianship, conservationship, or related processings. 54.34(2) (2) A petition for guardianship may include an application for protective placement or protective services or both under ch. 55 . 54.34(2m) (2m) Whenever a petition for guardianship on the ground of incompetency is filed with respect to an individual who resides in a facility licensed for 16 or more beds, a petition for protective placement of the individual shall also be filed. 54.34(3) (3) A petition for the receipt and acceptance by this state of a foreign guardianship of a foreign ward who resides in or intends to move to this state may include other petitions related to the foreign guardianship, such as a petition to modify the terms of the foreign guardianship. 54.34 History History: 1971 c. 41 s. 8 ; Stats. 1971 s. 880.07; 1973 c. 284 ; 1977 c. 394 ; 1979 c. 32 , 110 , 355 ; 1981 c. 317 ; 1987 a. 366 ; 1989 a. 56 ; 1993 a. 316 , 486 ; 2005 a. 264 ; 2005 a. 387 ss. 100 , 317 to 328 , 330 ; 2007 a. 97 s. 232 ; 2015 a. 381 ; 2017 a. 187 ; 2019 a. 9 . 54.34 Annotation Failure of a petitioner for a guardianship to name persons who obviously have an interest does not cancel the jurisdiction of the court, and, when the interested persons have actual knowledge of the hearing and contest it, the court could appoint a guardian. Marak v. Marak, 59 Wis. 2d 139 , 207 N.W.2d 648 (1973). 54.34 Annotation Sub. (1) (e) is broad enough to include a claim for support. By providing that a guardianship petition include such a potential claim, it follows that the legislature envisioned that the circuit court has the authority to adjudicate such a claim. As ch. 880 does not otherwise address support nor provide guidelines as to how to determine support, a circuit court conducting a ch. 880 proceeding may look to ch. 767 for guidance. Amy Z. v. Jon T., 2004 WI App 73 , 272 Wis. 2d 662 , 679 N.W.2d 903 , 03-0606 . 54.34 Note NOTE: The above annotations relate to guardianships under former ch. 880, 2003 stats., prior to the revision of and renumbering of that chapter to this chapter by 2005 Wis. Act 387 . 54.34 Annotation Someone’s Afoot: Wisconsin’s Foreign Guardianship Transfer Law. Simatic. 95 MLR 1083 (2012).

Source: official Wisconsin text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Wisconsin § 54.34

What does Wisconsin Statutes § 54.34 cover?

Section 54.34 ("Petition for guardianship or for receipt and acceptance of a foreign guardianship.") is part of the Wisconsin Statutes, the codified statutory law of Wisconsin. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Wisconsin § 54.34?

A common citation format is "Wisconsin Statutes § 54.34" (Wisconsin). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Wisconsin law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Wisconsin official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney.

How does Wisconsin § 54.34 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Wisconsin can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Wisconsin.