Parental consent required prior to abortion; judicial waiver procedure
Wis. Stat. § 48.375
in effect(1) Legislative findings and intent.
(a) The legislature finds that:
1. Immature minors often lack the ability to make fully informed choices that take account of both immediate and long-range consequences.
2. The medical, emotional and psychological consequences of abortion and of childbirth are serious and can be lasting, particularly when the patient is immature.
3. The capacity to become pregnant and the capacity for mature judgment concerning the wisdom of bearing a child or of having an abortion are not necessarily related.
4. Parents ordinarily possess information essential to a physician’s exercise of the physician’s best medical judgment concerning a minor.
5. Parents who are aware that their minor is pregnant or has had an abortion may better ensure that she receives adequate medical attention during her pregnancy or after her abortion.
6. Parental knowledge of a minor’s pregnancy and parental consent to an abortion are usually desirable and in the best interest of the minor.
(b) It is the intent of the legislature in enacting this section to further the purposes set forth in s. 48.01, and in particular to further the important and compelling state interests in:
1. Protecting minors against their own immaturity.
2. Fostering the family structure and preserving it as a viable social unit.
3. Protecting the rights of parents to rear minors who are members of their households.
(2) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Abortion” means the use of any instrument, medicine, drug or any other substance or device with intent to terminate the pregnancy of a minor after implantation of a fertilized human ovum and with intent other than to increase the probability of a live birth, to preserve the life or health of the infant after live birth or to remove a dead fetus.
(b) “Adult family member” means any of the following who is at least 25 years of age:
1. Grandparent.
2. Aunt.
3. Uncle.
4. Sister.
5. Brother.
(c) “Counselor” means a physician including a physician specializing in psychiatry, a psychologist, or an ordained member of the clergy. “Counselor” does not include any person who is employed by or otherwise affiliated with a reproductive health care facility, a family planning clinic, or a family planning agency; any person affiliated with the performance of abortions, except abortions performed to save the life of the mother; or any person who may profit from giving advice to seek an abortion.
(d) Notwithstanding s. 48.02 (2m), “court” means any circuit court within this state.
(e) “Emancipated minor” means a minor who is or has been married; a minor who has previously given birth; or a minor who has been freed from the care, custody and control of her parents, with little likelihood of returning to the care, custody and control prior to marriage or prior to reaching the age of majority.
(em) “Member of the clergy” has the meaning given in s. 765.002 (1).
(g) “Physician” means a person licensed to practice medicine and surgery under ch. 448.
(h) “Referring physician” means a physician who refers a minor to another physician for the purpose of obtaining an abortion.
(3) Applicability. This section applies whether or not the minor who initiates the proceeding is a resident of this state.
(4) Parental consent required.
(a) Except as provided in this section, no person may perform or induce an abortion on or for a minor who is not an emancipated minor unless the person is a physician and one of the following applies:
1. The person or the person’s agent has, either directly or through a referring physician or his or her agent, received and made part of the minor’s medical record, under the requirements of s. 253.10, the voluntary and informed written consent of the minor and the voluntary and informed written consent of one of her parents; or of the minor’s guardian or legal custodian, if one has been appointed; or of an adult family member of the minor; or of one of the minor’s foster parents, if the minor has been placed in a foster home and the minor’s parent has signed a waiver granting the department, a county department, or the foster parent the authority to consent to medical services or treatment on behalf of the minor.
2. The court has granted a petition under sub. (7).
(b) Paragraph (a) does not apply if the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion is a physician and any of the following occurs:
1. The person who intends to perform or induce the abortion believes, to the best of his or her medical judgment based on the facts of the case before him or her, that a medical emergency exists that complicates the pregnancy so as to require an immediate abortion.
1g. The minor provides the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion with a written statement, signed and dated by the minor, in which the minor swears that the pregnancy is the result of a sexual assault in violation of s. 940.225 (1), (2) or (3) in which the minor did not indicate a freely given agreement to have sexual intercourse. The person who intends to perform or induce the abortion shall place the statement in the minor’s medical record and report the sexual intercourse as required under s. 48.981 (2) or (2m) (e). Any minor who makes a false statement under this subdivision, which the minor does not believe is true, is subject to a proceeding under s. 938.12 or 938.13 (12), whichever is applicable, based on a violation of s. 946.32 (2).
1m. A physician who specializes in psychiatry or a psychologist states in writing that the physician or psychologist believes, to the best of his or her professional judgment based on the facts of the case before him or her, that the minor is likely to commit suicide rather than file a petition under s. 48.257 or approach her parent, or guardian or legal custodian, if one has been appointed, or an adult family member of the minor, or one of the minor’s foster parents, if the minor has been placed in a foster home and the minor’s parent has signed a waiver granting the department, a county department, or the foster parent the authority to consent to medical services or treatment on behalf of the minor, for consent.
2. The minor provides the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion with a written statement, signed and dated by the minor, that the pregnancy is the result of sexual intercourse with a caregiver specified in s. 48.981 (1) (am) 1., 2., 3., 4. or 8. The person who intends to perform or induce the abortion shall place the statement in the minor’s medical record. The person who intends to perform or induce the abortion shall report the sexual intercourse as required under s. 48.981 (2m) (d) 1.
3. The minor provides the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion with a written statement, signed and dated by the minor, that a parent who has legal custody of the minor, or the minor’s guardian or legal custodian, if one has been appointed, or an adult family member of the minor, or a foster parent, if the minor has been placed in a foster home and the minor’s parent has signed a waiver granting the department, a county department, or the foster parent the authority to consent to medical services or treatment on behalf of the minor, has inflicted abuse on the minor. The person who intends to perform or induce the abortion shall place the statement in the minor’s medical record. The person who intends to perform or induce the abortion shall report the abuse as required under s. 48.981 (2).
(5) Counseling. Any minor who is pregnant and who is seeking an abortion and any minor who has had an abortion may receive counseling from a counselor of her choice. A county department may refer the minor to a private counselor.
(6) Right to petition court for waiver. Any pregnant minor who is seeking an abortion in this state, and any member of the clergy on the minor’s behalf, may file a petition specified under s. 48.257 with any court for a waiver of the parental consent requirement under sub. (4) (a) 1.
(7) Court procedure.
(a) Receipt of petition; initial appearance. On the date that a petition under s. 48.257 is filed, or if it is impossible to do so on that day, on the next calendar day, the court shall hold an initial appearance in chambers at which the minor or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, is present and shall do all of the following:
1. Appoint legal counsel under s. 48.23 (1m) (cm) for the minor if the minor is not represented by counsel.
3. Set a time for a hearing on the petition that will enable the court to act within the time period specified in par. (d) 1.
4. Notify the minor, the minor’s counsel, if any, the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, and the minor’s guardian ad litem, if any, of the time, date and place of the hearing.
(am) Guardian ad litem; appointment. At the initial appearance under par. (a), the court may also, in its discretion, appoint a guardian ad litem under s. 48.235 (1) (d).
(b) Hearing; evidence. The court shall hold a confidential hearing on a petition that is filed by a minor. The hearing shall be held in chambers, unless a public fact-finding hearing is demanded by the minor through her counsel. At the hearing, the court shall consider the report of the guardian ad litem, if any, and hear evidence relating to all of the following:
1. The emotional development, maturity, intellect and understanding of the minor.
2. The understanding of the minor about the nature of, possible consequences of and alternatives to the intended abortion procedure.
3. Any other evidence that the court may find useful in making the determination under par. (c).
(bm) Member of the clergy’s affidavit. If a member of the clergy files a petition under s. 48.257 on behalf of a minor, the member of the clergy shall file with the petition an affidavit stating that the member of the clergy has met personally with the minor and has explored with the minor the alternative choices available to the minor for managing the pregnancy, including carrying the pregnancy to term and keeping the infant, carrying the pregnancy to term and placing the infant with a relative or with another family for adoption or having an abortion, and has discussed with the minor the possibility of involving one of the persons specified in sub. (4) (a) 1. in the minor’s decision making concerning the pregnancy and whether or not in the opinion of the minor that involvement would be in the minor’s best interests. The court may make the determination under par. (c) on the basis of the ordained member of the clergy’s affidavit or may, in its discretion, require the minor to attend an interview with the court in chambers before making that determination. Any information supplied by a minor to a member of the clergy in preparation of the petition under s. 48.257 or the affidavit under this paragraph shall be kept confidential and may only be disclosed to the court in connection with a proceeding under this subsection.
(c) Determination. The court shall grant the petition if the court finds that any of the following standards applies:
1. That the minor is mature and well-informed enough to make the abortion decision on her own.
2. That the performance or inducement of the abortion is in the minor’s best interests.
(d) Time period.
1. The court shall make the determination under par. (c) and issue an order within 3 calendar days after the initial appearance unless the minor and her counsel, or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, consent to an extension of the time period. The order shall be effective immediately. The court shall prepare and file with the clerk of court findings of fact, conclusions of law and a final order granting or denying the petition within 24 hours after making the determination and order. If the court grants the petition, the court shall immediately so notify the minor by personal service on her counsel, or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, of a certified copy of the court’s order granting the petition. If the court denies the petition, the court shall immediately so notify the minor by personal service on her counsel, or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, of a copy of the court’s order denying the petition and shall also notify the minor by her counsel, or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, that she has a right to initiate an appeal under s. 809.105.
1m. Except as provided under s. 48.315 (1) (b), (c), (f), and (h), if the court fails to act within the applicable time period specified under subd. 1. without the prior consent of the minor and the minor’s counsel, if any, or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, the minor and the minor’s counsel, if any, or the member of the clergy, if any, shall select a temporary reserve judge, as defined in s. 753.075 (1) (b), to make the determination under par. (c) and issue an order granting or denying the petition and the chief judge of the judicial administrative district in which the court is located shall assign the temporary reserve judge selected by the minor and the minor’s counsel, if any, or the member of the clergy, if any, to make the determination and issue the order. A temporary reserve judge assigned under this subdivision to make a determination under par. (c) and issue an order granting or denying a petition shall make the determination and issue the order within 2 calendar days after the assignment, unless the minor and her counsel, if any, or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, consent to an extension of that time period. The order shall be effective immediately. The court shall prepare and file with the clerk of court findings of fact, conclusions of law and a final order granting or denying the petition, and shall notify the minor of the court’s order, as provided under subd. 1.
2. Counsel for the minor, or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, shall immediately, upon notification under subd. 1. or 1m. that the court has granted or denied the petition, notify the minor. If the court has granted the petition, counsel for the minor, or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, shall hand deliver a certified copy of the court order to the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion. If with reasonable diligence the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion cannot be located for delivery, then counsel for the minor, or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, shall leave a certified copy of the order with the person’s agent at the person’s principal place of business. If a clinic or medical facility is specified in the petition as the corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other unincorporated association that employs the person who intends to perform or induce the abortion, then counsel for the minor, or the member of the clergy who filed the petition on behalf of the minor, if any, shall hand deliver a certified copy of the order to an agent of the corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other unincorporated association at its principal place of business. There may be no service by mail or publication. The person or agent who receives the certified copy of the order under this subdivision shall place the copy in the minor’s medical record.
(e) Confidentiality. The identity of a minor who files or for whom is filed a petition under s. 48.257 and all records and other papers relating to a proceeding under this subsection shall be kept confidential except for use in a forfeiture action under s. 895.037 (2), a civil action filed under s. 895.037 (3) or a child abuse or neglect investigation under s. 48.981.
(f) Certain persons barred from proceedings. No parent, or guardian or legal custodian, if one has been appointed, or foster parent, if the minor has been placed in a foster home and the minor’s parent has signed a waiver granting the department, a county department, or the foster parent the authority to consent to medical services or treatment on behalf of the minor, or adult family member, of any minor who is seeking a court determination under this subsection may attend, intervene, or give evidence in any proceeding under this subsection.
(8) Appeal. An appeal by a minor from an order of the trial court denying a petition under sub. (7) may be taken to the court of appeals as a matter of right under s. 808.03 (1) and is governed by s. 809.105.
(9) Assistance to minors concerning parental consent for abortion. If a minor who is contemplating an abortion requests assistance from a county department under s. 46.215, 46.22 or 46.23 in seeking the consent of the minor’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian, or in seeking the consent of an adult family member, for the contemplated abortion or in seeking a waiver from the circuit court, the county department shall provide assistance, including, if so requested, accompanying the minor as appropriate.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/48.375Fetched: 10/7/2026