Sometimes parents have problems such as alcoholism, drug addiction, mental or physical illness, poor judgment, or immaturity, which prevent them from caring properly for their children. Grandparents often step in to protect and nurture their grandchildren. Grandparents had no standing to ask a court for visitation with the child, even when preserving the child's relationship with his or her grandparents was in the child's best interest. The two-part test, however, leaves some children's relationships with their grandparents vulnerable when the parents refuse to allow contact under circumstances where there is no underlying court action. As such, the legislature and the Wisconsin Supreme Court have taken steps to protect these children.
All minors are subject to guardianship.
The court may appoint a guardian of the person of any minor resident of the county or of a nonresident under extraordinary circumstances requiring medical aid or the prevention of harm to his or her person. If one or both parents of a minor is suitable and willing, the court must appoint one or both of them unless the proposed ward objects. The juvenile court has exclusive jurisdiction over the appointment and removal of a guardian of the person for a child under chapters 48 and 880. A guardian is a person appointed by a court to have the care, custody and control of the person of a minor or the estate of a minor. Any person may petition for the appointment of a guardian of a minor.