Informal disposition
Wis. Stat. § 48.245
in effect(1) An intake worker may enter into a written agreement with all parties that imposes informal disposition under this section if all of the following apply:
(a) The intake worker has determined that neither the interests of the child or unborn child nor of the public require the filing of a petition for circumstances relating to ss. 48.13 to 48.14.
(b) The facts persuade the intake worker that the jurisdiction of the court, if sought, would exist.
(c) The child, if 12 years of age or over, and the child’s parent, guardian, and legal custodian; the parent, guardian, and legal custodian of the child expectant mother and the child expectant mother, if 12 years of age or over; or the adult expectant mother, consent.
(2)
(a) Informal disposition may provide for any one or more of the following:
1. That the child appear with a parent, guardian or legal custodian for counseling and advice or that the adult expectant mother appear for counseling and advice.
2. That the child and a parent, guardian and legal custodian abide by such obligations as will tend to ensure the rehabilitation, protection or care of the child or that the expectant mother abide by such obligations as will tend to ensure the protection or care of the unborn child and the rehabilitation of the expectant mother.
3. That the child or expectant mother submit to an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment that conforms to the criteria specified under s. 48.547 (4) and that is conducted by an approved treatment facility for an examination of the use of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs by the child or expectant mother and any medical, personal, family or social effects caused by its use, if the multidisciplinary screen conducted under s. 48.24 (2) shows that the child or expectant mother is at risk of having needs and problems related to the use of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs and its medical, personal, family or social effects.
4. That the child or expectant mother participate in an alcohol and other drug abuse outpatient treatment program or an education program relating to the abuse of alcohol beverages, controlled substances or controlled substance analogs, if an alcohol and other drug abuse assessment conducted under subd. 3. recommends outpatient treatment or education.
(b) Informal disposition may not include any form of out-of-home placement and may not exceed 6 months, except as provided under sub. (2r).
(c) If the informal disposition provides for alcohol and other drug abuse outpatient treatment under par. (a) 4., the child, if 12 years of age or over, and the child’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian, or the adult expectant mother, shall execute an informed consent form that indicates that they are, or that she is, voluntarily and knowingly entering into an informal disposition agreement for the provision of alcohol and other drug abuse outpatient treatment.
(2r) The intake worker may, after giving written notice to the child, the child’s parent, guardian, and legal custodian, and their counsel, if any, or after giving written notice to the child expectant mother, her parent, guardian, and legal custodian, and their counsel, if any, or after giving written notice to the adult expectant mother and her counsel, if any, extend the informal disposition for up to an additional 6 months unless the parent, guardian, or legal custodian, the child or child expectant mother, if 12 years of age or over, or the adult expectant mother objects to the extension. If the parent, guardian, or legal custodian, the child or child expectant mother, if 12 years of age or over, or the adult expectant mother objects to the extension, the intake worker may request the district attorney or corporation counsel to file a petition under s. 48.13 or 48.133. An extension under this subsection may be granted only once for any informal disposition. An extension under this subsection of an informal disposition relating to an unborn child who is alleged to be in need of protection or services may be granted after the child is born.
(3) The obligations imposed under an informal disposition and its effective date shall be set forth in writing. The written agreement shall state whether the child has been adopted. The child and a parent, guardian, and legal custodian; the child expectant mother, her parent, guardian, and legal custodian, and the unborn child’s guardian ad litem; or the adult expectant mother and the unborn child’s guardian ad litem, shall receive a copy, as shall any agency providing services under the agreement.
(4) The intake worker shall inform the child, if 12 years of age or over, and the child’s parent, guardian, and legal custodian, the child expectant mother, if 12 years of age or over, and her parent, guardian, and legal custodian, or the adult expectant mother in writing of their right to terminate the informal disposition at any time or object at any time to the fact or terms of the informal disposition. If there is an objection, the intake worker may alter the terms of the agreement or request the district attorney or corporation counsel to file a petition. If the informal disposition is terminated, the intake worker may request the district attorney or corporation counsel to file a petition.
(5) Informal disposition shall be terminated upon the request of the child, if 12 years of age or over, or the child’s parent, guardian, or legal custodian, upon request of the child expectant mother, if 12 years of age or over, or her parent, guardian, or legal custodian, or upon the request of the adult expectant mother.
(5m) An informal disposition is terminated if the district attorney or corporation counsel files a petition within 20 days after receipt of notice of the informal disposition under s. 48.24 (5).
(7) If at any time during the period of informal disposition the intake worker determines that the obligations imposed under it are not being met, the intake worker may cancel the informal disposition. Within 10 days after the informal disposition is cancelled, the intake worker shall notify the district attorney, corporation counsel, or other official under s. 48.09 of the cancellation and may request that a petition be filed. The district attorney, corporation counsel, or other official under s. 48.09 shall file the petition or close the case within 20 days after the date of the notice. The petition may include information received before the effective date of the informal disposition, as well as information received during the period of the informal disposition, including information indicating that a party has not met the obligations imposed under the informal disposition, to provide a basis for conferring jurisdiction on the court. The court shall grant appropriate relief as provided in s. 48.315 (3) with respect to any petition that is not filed within the time period specified in this subsection. Failure to object to the fact that a petition is not filed within the time period specified in this subsection waives any objection to the court’s competency to act on the petition.
(8) If the obligations imposed under the informal disposition are met, the intake worker shall so inform the child and a parent, guardian, and legal custodian; the child expectant mother, her parent, guardian, and legal custodian, and the unborn child’s guardian ad litem; or the adult expectant mother and the unborn child’s guardian ad litem, in writing, and no petition may be filed on the charges that brought about the informal disposition nor may the charges be the sole basis for a petition under ss. 48.13 to 48.14.
(9) The intake worker shall perform his or her responsibilities under this section under general written policies which the judge shall promulgate under s. 48.06 (1) or (2).
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/48.245Fetched: 10/7/2026