Jurisdiction over children alleged to be in need of protection or services
Wis. Stat. § 48.13
in effectExcept as provided in s. 48.028 (3), the court has exclusive original jurisdiction over a child alleged to be in need of protection or services which can be ordered by the court if one of the following applies:
(1) The child is without a parent or guardian.
(2) The child has been abandoned.
(2m) The child’s parent has relinquished custody of the child under s. 48.195 (1m).
(3) The child has been the victim of abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (a) or (b) to (g), including injury that is self-inflicted or inflicted by another.
(3m) The child is at substantial risk of becoming the victim of abuse, as defined in s. 48.02 (1) (a) or (b) to (g), including injury that is self-inflicted or inflicted by another, based on reliable and credible information that another child in the home has been the victim of such abuse.
(4) The child’s parent or guardian signs the petition requesting jurisdiction under this subsection and is unable or needs assistance to care for or provide necessary special treatment or care for the child.
(4m) The child’s guardian is unable or needs assistance to care for or provide necessary special treatment or care for the child, but is unwilling or unable to sign the petition requesting jurisdiction under this subsection.
(5) The child has been placed for care or adoption in violation of law.
(8) The child is receiving inadequate care during the period of time a parent is missing, incarcerated, hospitalized or institutionalized.
(9) The child is at least age 12, signs the petition requesting jurisdiction under this subsection and is in need of special treatment or care which the parent, guardian or legal custodian is unwilling, neglecting, unable or needs assistance to provide.
(10) The child’s parent, guardian or legal custodian neglects, refuses or is unable for reasons other than poverty to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care or shelter so as to seriously endanger the physical health of the child.
(10m) The child’s parent, guardian or legal custodian is at substantial risk of neglecting, refusing or being unable for reasons other than poverty to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care or shelter so as to endanger seriously the physical health of the child, based on reliable and credible information that the child’s parent, guardian or legal custodian has neglected, refused or been unable for reasons other than poverty to provide necessary care, food, clothing, medical or dental care or shelter so as to endanger seriously the physical health of another child in the home.
(11) The child is suffering emotional damage for which the parent, guardian or legal custodian has neglected, refused or been unable and is neglecting, refusing or unable, for reasons other than poverty, to obtain necessary treatment or to take necessary steps to ameliorate the symptoms.
(11m) The child is suffering from an alcohol and other drug abuse impairment, exhibited to a severe degree, for which the parent, guardian or legal custodian is neglecting, refusing or unable to provide treatment.
(13) The child has not been immunized as required by s. 252.04 and not exempted under s. 252.04 (3).
(14) The child’s parent is residing in a qualifying residential family-based treatment facility or will be residing at such a facility at the time of a child’s placement with the parent in the facility, signs the petition requesting jurisdiction under this subsection, and, with the department’s consent, requests that the child reside with him or her at the qualifying residential family-based treatment facility.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/48.13Fetched: 10/7/2026