Adult Adoptions
ADULT ADOPTIONS (AGE 18 and OLDER) are handled by the Probate Court and MINOR ADOPTIONS are handled by the Juvenile Court.
An adult may be adopted by any other adult, who is a resident of the State of Wisconsin. An adult adoption has the same legal consequences of a minor adoption. The county of jurisdiction for an adult adoption is the county in which the petitioner (person doing the adopting) is domiciled within. It is not the county in which the person being adopted is domiciled within.
If the party that is being adopted wishes to have their named changed, then they would need to file a civil name change with the county in which they are domiciled. The Waukesha County Probate Court will not change a person’s name through the adult adoption process.
Click here for Adult Adoption Frequently Asked Questions.
