Inheritance by a parent who abandons a child
Wis. Stat. § 852.14
in effect(1) In this section, “abandoned” means failed without cause to do all of the following for at least one year immediately before the death of a minor child:
(a) Communicate with the minor.
(b) Care for the minor as required by law or court order.
(c) Provide for the minor’s maintenance or support as required by law or court order.
(2)
(a) A personal representative of a minor who died intestate who has actual knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that the minor was abandoned by a parent shall file a petition with the probate court with jurisdiction for a determination that the parent abandoned the child.
(b) Any interested person may file a petition with a probate court with jurisdiction for a determination that a parent of a minor who died intestate abandoned the minor.
(3) Notwithstanding s. 852.01 (1), if a court determines that a parent abandoned his or her minor child and the child died intestate while a minor, the parent may not inherit from the child’s estate under s. 852.01. If a parent is barred from inheriting from a child’s estate under this section, the child’s estate passes under s. 852.01 as if the parent predeceased the child.
(4) A parent who is barred from inheriting from a child’s estate under sub. (3) is not considered an heir of the child beginning on the date a court determined that the parent abandoned the child.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/852.14Fetched: 10/7/2026