Designation of Guardian for Minor Child - Wisconsin
DESIGNATION OF GUARDIAN FOR MINOR CHILD
I, [PARENT FULL LEGAL NAME], of [ADDRESS], am a parent of the child or children identified below. Under Wis. Stat. § 48.9795(2)(c)1., I nominate the individuals named here for any of my children who may need a guardian of the person. I ask the court to consider this nomination if a guardianship proceeding becomes necessary.
| Child's full legal name | Date of birth | Other parent and contact information |
|---|---|---|
| [CHILD NAME] | [__/__/____] | [NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE] |
| [CHILD NAME] | [__/__/____] | [NAME, ADDRESS, TELEPHONE] |
Primary nominee
Name: [FULL LEGAL NAME]
Relationship to child or children: [RELATIONSHIP]
Address: [ADDRESS]
Telephone and email: [CONTACT INFORMATION]
Successor nominee
If the primary nominee cannot or will not serve, I nominate:
Name: [FULL LEGAL NAME]
Relationship to child or children: [RELATIONSHIP]
Address: [ADDRESS]
Telephone and email: [CONTACT INFORMATION]
Reasons and information for the court
I believe these nominees are fit, willing, and able to care for the child or children for these reasons: [FACTS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP, CARE, STABILITY, AND CHILD'S NEEDS].
The child or children have these important care needs, records, and contacts: [DETAILS OR ATTACHED SCHEDULE]. I would like the court and any appointed guardian to consider these preferences: [PREFERENCES].
I understand that this nomination does not itself appoint a guardian or transfer custody. Under Wis. Stat. § 48.9795(2)(c), the court considers the rights of a surviving parent and the child's best interests. A child age 12 or older may also nominate a guardian under § 48.9795(2)(c)2., subject to that provision's terms. An appointed guardian may exercise only the powers authorized by statute or court order under § 48.9795(2)(d)5.
This nomination concerns guardianship of the person. An appointment of a guardian of a child's estate follows ch. 54 procedures under Wis. Stat. § 48.9795(2)(b)1.
Parent signature: ______________________________________
Printed name: [PARENT FULL LEGAL NAME]
Date: [__/__/____]
Address and telephone: [DETAILS]
Additional parent nomination, if both parents sign
I, [SECOND PARENT FULL LEGAL NAME], join in the nomination stated above.
Second parent signature: ______________________________________
Date: [__/__/____]
Address and telephone: [DETAILS]
Optional witness record
| Witness | Address | Signature | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| [NAME] | [ADDRESS] | ____________________ | [__/__/____] |
| [NAME] | [ADDRESS] | ____________________ | [__/__/____] |
About this template
- Last updated
- October 18, 2026
- Citations checked
- October 18, 2026
- Jurisdiction
- Wisconsin
- Category
- Estate Planning & Wills
Legal authority
- Wis. Stat. § 48.9795(2)(c) (Parent and child nomination of guardian of the person)
- Wis. Stat. § 48.9795(2)(b)1. (Guardianship of person and estate distinguished)
- Wis. Stat. § 48.9795(2)(d)5. (Guardian authority subject to court order)
Estate planning documents decide what happens to your property, your children, and your medical care when you cannot make those decisions yourself. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives each serve different purposes and each have to meet state law requirements for signing, witnessing, and notarization. A document that looks fine on the page but was not executed correctly can be rejected in probate, which is exactly when it is too late to fix.
Not legal advice
This template is provided for informational purposes. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Checked against the law it cites
A reviewer verified this template's legal citations against the official source on October 18, 2026.
Wis. Stat. § 48.9795(2)(c)1. (checked October 18, 2026): "A parent may nominate a guardian and successor guardian for any of his or her children who is in need of guardianship, including a nomination by will. Subject to the rights of a surviving parent, the court shall appoint the person nominated as guardian or successor guardian, unless the court finds that appointment of the person nominated is not in the child’s best interests."
Wis. Stat. § 48.9795(2)(c)2. (checked October 18, 2026): "A child who has attained 12 years of age may nominate his or her own guardian, but if the child is outside of the state or if other good reason exists, the court may dispense with the child’s right of nomination."
Wis. Stat. § 48.9795(2)(c)3. (checked October 18, 2026): "In determining who is appointed as guardian, the court shall consider the nominations of the parents and child and the opinions of the parents and child as to what is in the best interests of the child"
Wis. Stat. § 48.9795(2)(b)1. (checked October 18, 2026): "This section may be used for the appointment of a guardian of the person for a child. An appointment of a guardian of the estate of a child shall be conducted under the procedures specified in ch. 54."
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