Persons included in family groups or classes
Wis. Stat. § 854.21
in effect(1) Adopted persons.
(a) Except as provided in sub. (7), a gift of property by a governing instrument to a class of persons described as “issue,” “lawful issue,” “children,” “grandchildren,” “descendants,” “heirs,” “heirs of the body,” “next of kin,” “distributees,” or the like includes a person adopted by a person whose birth child would be a member of the class, and issue of the adopted person, if the conditions for membership in the class are otherwise satisfied and at least one of the criteria under s. 854.20 (1) (b) 1., 2., and 3. is satisfied.
(b) Except as provided in sub. (7), a gift of property by a governing instrument to a class of persons described as “issue,” “lawful issue,” “children,” “grandchildren,” “descendants,” “heirs,” “heirs of the body,” “next of kin,” “distributees,” or the like excludes a birth child and his or her issue otherwise within the class if the birth child has been adopted and would cease to be treated as a child of the birth parent under s. 854.20 (2).
(2) Individuals born to unmarried parents.
(a) Subject to par. (b) and sub. (7), individuals born to unmarried parents are included in class gifts and other terms of relationship in accordance with s. 852.05.
(b) In addition to the requirements of par. (a) and subject to the provisions of sub. (7), in construing a disposition by a transferor who is not the birth parent, an individual born to unmarried parents is not considered to be the child of a birth parent unless that individual lived while a minor as a regular member of the household of that birth parent or of that birth parent’s parent, brother, sister, spouse or surviving spouse.
(3) Relatives by marriage. Subject to sub. (7), terms of family relationship in statutes or governing instruments that do not differentiate between relationships by blood and relationships by marriage are construed to exclude relatives by marriage.
(4) Relatives of the half-blood. Subject to sub. (7), terms of family relationship in statutes or governing instruments that do not differentiate between relationships by the half-blood and relationships by the full-blood are construed to include both types of relationships.
(5) Posthumous issue. Subject to sub. (7), if a statute or governing instrument transfers an interest to a group of persons described as a class, such as “issue”, “children”, “nephews and nieces” or any other class, a person conceived at the time the membership in the class is determined and subsequently born alive is entitled to take as a member of the class if that person otherwise satisfies the conditions for class membership and survives at least 120 hours past birth.
(6) Person related through 2 lines. Subject to sub. (7), a person who is eligible to be a transferee under a statute or governing instrument through 2 lines of relationship is limited to one share, based on the relationship that entitles the person to the larger share.
(7) Contrary intent. If the transfer is made under a governing instrument and the person who executed the governing instrument had an intent contrary to any provision in this section, then that provision is inapplicable to the transfer. Extrinsic evidence may be used to construe the intent.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/854.21Fetched: 10/7/2026