Adoptions


There are 4 different types of adoption:
  • Adult Adoption: An adult adoption is an adoption of an adult by someone other than the biological parents. Adult adoptions may be done for inheritance purposes
  • Domestic Adoption: A domestic adoption is the adoption of a child born to parents which are US citizens. Prior to the adoption, the parental rights of both biological parents must be terminated. Following the termination, the child must be placed by the court with the proposed adoptive parents for a period of 6 months prior to the commencement of the domestic adoption.
  • Foreign Adoption: A foreign adoption is the adoption of a foreign child by the adoptive parents in the United States. This is the second and final adoption proceedings. The first proceedings were conducted in and by the country where the child was born.
  • Stepparent Adoption: A stepparent adoption is an adoption of a child by the new spouse of the custodial parent. This adoption can only proceed following the termination or death of the non-custodial biological parent.
Adoption Records Search Program
The Adoption Records Search is available to adult adoptees, adoptees whose birth parent(s) terminated parental rights when they were minors, adoptive parents, and birth parents. Link to program

Becoming an Adoptive Parent In Wisconsin link.