Grandparents And Visitation
Wis. Stat. 767.43 — best interest, the child's wishes, and a special rule for a nonmarital child
In Wisconsin, on the petition of a grandparent, great grandparent, stepparent, or a person who has maintained a relationship similar to a parent and child, the court may grant reasonable visitation if the parents have notice of the hearing and the court determines visitation is in the child's best interest. Whenever possible, the court considers the child's wishes.
A nonmarital child. For a child whose parents never married each other and who has not been adopted, a grandparent may be granted visitation if paternity has been determined where the grandparent is the father's parent, the grandparent has maintained or tried to maintain a relationship, the grandparent is not likely to act contrary to the custodial parent's decisions about the child's welfare, and visitation is in the child's best interest.
A person convicted of first or second degree intentional homicide of a parent of the child is not granted visitation, unless the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that it would be in the child's best interests, considering the child's wishes.
A pretrial hearing is held under the nonmarital child provision, and the section sets other procedure not reproduced here. Whether a petition can succeed is a question for the court and for a licensed Wisconsin attorney.
Sources for this section (1)
- Wis. Stat. 767.43 — Visitation rights of certain persons
Legal information, not legal advice. Verified as of September 2026. Applying it to a particular situation is the work of a licensed Wisconsin attorney.