A Wisconsin minor child power of attorney is a written document. In it, a parent with legal custody delegates some or all of their powers over a child to an agent, also called an attorney-in-fact. Wisconsin law allows this when every parent with legal custody signs it.[1] Parents use it to delegate parental powers while they travel, recover from an illness or serve in the military. The FormsPal template also states that the parent does not intend to give up parental rights.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Wisconsin law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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Wisconsin Minor Child Power of Attorney Requirements
A Wisconsin power of attorney for a child follows Wis. Stat. § 48.979. Under that statute, a parent who has legal custody of a child may delegate powers over the child to an agent through a power of attorney.[1] The rules below cover who signs, how long the delegation lasts, and how a parent can cancel it.
Who signs: the power of attorney must be properly executed (signed) by all parents who have legal custody of the child.[1]
How long it lasts: the delegation may remain in effect for no longer than one year. It may last longer if it is to a relative of the child or the court approves it.[1]
How to cancel it: a parent who delegated powers may revoke the delegation at any time by executing a written revocation and notifying the agent in writing.[1]
FormsPal lists this template under a second name, the Wisconsin temporary guardianship form. On the form, the parent appoints an agent (the attorney-in-fact) and states that they do not intend to give up their parental rights.
Up to one year, or longer for a relative or with court approval[1]
Avg. Time to Fill Out
15 minutes
# of Fillable Fields
64
Available Formats
Adobe PDF
When Parents Use a Minor Child Power of Attorney
Parents delegate care of a child when the child will be with another adult for a while and that adult may need to act for the child. The form is a practical tool for temporary arrangements, such as the situations below.
A parent travels for work or serves away from home and leaves the child with a grandparent or another relative.
A parent is in the hospital or recovering from surgery and cannot handle school or medical matters.
A child stays with an aunt, uncle or family friend for a school year, a summer program or a sports season.
A family lives apart, and the child spends long stretches with a relative in another city.
The delegation runs only for the period you write on the form, so it suits a temporary plan. If you need a permanent change in who has custody of the child, talk to a family law attorney instead.
What the Agent Can and Cannot Do
The agent acts for the child only in the areas the parent delegates. Page 2 of the FormsPal template offers two choices. Option 1 is the general grant. It lists the power to arrange for and consent to medical treatment, make decisions about schooling, provide support, care, housing and nourishment, and act in the child's best interests. Option 2 gives only the limited authority the parent writes in.
Type of authority
Option 1: general authority
Option 2: limited authority
What the agent can do
Arrange for and consent to medical treatment, make decisions about schooling and school activities, provide support, care, housing and nourishment, and act in the child's best interests
Only the tasks the parent lists on the form
What you fill in
Nothing
The limited authority, on the lines provided on page 2
Typical use
The child will live with the agent for a stretch and needs day-to-day care
A single task, such as a medical visit or a school enrollment
Wisconsin law lets a parent delegate any of their powers regarding the care and custody of the child, with four exceptions.[1] Consent to marriage or adoption, consent to an abortion, termination of parental rights and enlistment in the U.S. armed forces all stay with the parent. The FAQ section below lists the four powers in full.
What to Gather Before You Start
Have the details below ready before you open the form. Filling it out in one sitting is faster, and it helps you avoid blanks that a notary or school office might question later.
Your full name and address, and the same details for any other parent, guardian or conservator who will sign.
The child's full name, date of birth and address.
The name and address of the agent you appoint, plus an alternate agent's name and address if you want a backup.
The start date and the end date of the delegation.
Your choice between option 1 and option 2, and the wording for option 2.
A notary public, because page 3 of the form is an acknowledgment for the notary to complete.
Filling Out the Wisconsin Minor Child Power of Attorney Form
The FormsPal Wisconsin power of attorney form PDF for a minor child runs three pages. Work through the seven steps below in order. Each step names the part of the form it covers and the page it is on.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Wisconsin minor child power of attorney template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.
Parent, guardian or conservator and the child (page 1). Enter your name and address, then mark the blank before Parent, Court-Appointed Guardian or Court-Appointed Conservator to show your role. Add the child's name, date of birth and address.Step 1: sample entries, not a real document.
Additional parent and the agent (page 1). If more than one parent, guardian or conservator signs, complete the second statement the same way. Then enter the agent's name and address in the line that appoints the agent (attorney-in-fact).Step 2: sample entries, not a real document.
Powers and successor attorney-in-fact (page 2). For option 1, you have nothing to fill in. For option 2, write the limited authority on the lines provided. Then enter the agent's name, the alternate agent's name and the alternate's address in the successor paragraph. The alternate steps in if the agent is unable or unwilling to serve.Step 3: sample entries, not a real document.
Effective date (page 2). Enter the date the power of attorney starts and the date it continues until. Choose an end date that fits the time limit in the requirements section above.Step 4: sample entries, not a real document.
Date and signatures (page 2). Enter the day, month and year, then sign and print your name on a signature line. A second parent, guardian or conservator signs on the other line. The statement above the signatures says you do not intend to give up your parental rights.Step 5: sample entries, not a real document.
Notary acknowledgment details (page 3). Page 3 holds a notary acknowledgment. Enter the county, the date, the officer's name and title, and the signer's name in the blanks.Step 6: sample entries, not a real document.
Notary signature and seal (page 3). The notary signs on the Signature line and adds the seal to complete the acknowledgment.Step 7: sample entries, not a real document.
If you choose option 2, write the limited authority on the lines provided on page 2. The agent receives only what you write there.
How to Sign and Use the Wisconsin Minor Child Power of Attorney
After you fill out the form, review it with the agent, sign it, and share copies with the people who rely on it. The steps below cover signing, copies, safekeeping, and cancelling the delegation later.
Create or download the template. Use the Create button on this page to fill in the form online, or download the PDF and fill it in with the online PDF editor.
Check the dates and the signers. Every parent who has legal custody of the child must sign, so confirm that each of them has a signature line.[1]
Sign the form. Many people sign in front of the notary so that the acknowledgment on page 3 can be completed, since it records that the notary verified the signer's identity.
Give the signed original to the agent and keep a copy for yourself. Share copies with the child's school, doctor or other care provider so they know who may act for your child.
Keep the original somewhere safe. To cancel the delegation, a parent may revoke it at any time by executing a written revocation and notifying the agent in writing.[1]
For a power of attorney that covers money or medical decisions, see our Wisconsin POA forms.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Most problems with a power of attorney for a child come from small gaps on the form or from missing copies. Check the list below before you hand the signed form to the agent.
Leaving the dates blank. The form asks for a start date and an end date, so fill in both.
Signing with only one parent when more than one parent has legal custody. The power of attorney must be signed by all of them.[1]
Skipping the notary page. Plan to sign where a notary can complete the acknowledgment on page 3.
Writing option 2 too vaguely. Name the tasks in clear words, such as consenting to a dental visit, so the school or doctor reading it knows what is covered.
Keeping the only copy in a drawer. Give the agent a copy so they can show it when a school or doctor asks who may act for the child.
Create a personalized Wisconsin Minor Child Power of Attorney Form online now!
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers come from Wis. Stat. § 48.979, the statute that lets a parent with legal custody delegate powers over a child to an agent. They cover how long a delegation lasts, how to cancel it, and two limits on what a delegation can do.[1]
Which powers can a parent not delegate to an agent?
A parent may delegate any of their powers regarding the care and custody of the child, except these four:[1]
The power to consent to the marriage or adoption of the child.
The power to consent to the performance or inducement of an abortion on or for the child.
The termination of parental rights to the child.
The enlistment of the child in the U.S. armed forces.
How long can a Wisconsin power of attorney for a child last?
A delegation of powers to an agent may remain in effect for no longer than one year. It may last longer if the delegation is to a relative of the child or the court approves it.[1]
Can a parent cancel the delegation of powers?
Yes. A parent who delegated powers may revoke the delegation at any time by executing a written revocation and notifying the agent in writing.[1]
Can a power of attorney place a child in a foster home or treatment facility?
No. A parent who has legal custody of a child may not place the child in a foster home, group home, shelter care facility or inpatient treatment facility by means of a delegation of powers. Those placements can be made only by a court order or as otherwise authorized by statute.[1]
Can a power of attorney cover a child who is part of a court case?
Not without the court's approval. A parent may not delegate powers regarding the care and custody of a child who is subject to the court's jurisdiction in a child welfare or juvenile matter unless the court approves the delegation.[1]
Mara has been practicing estate planning and trust law in California since 2003, taking pride in helping clients of all backgrounds and asset profiles form a complete and customized estate plan. Her specialties are: estate planning, wills and trusts, trust and probate administration.
