Mandatory Guardian Training in Wisconsin

Why Wisconsin Requires Guardian Training

Wisconsin is one of the states that requires every proposed non-corporate guardian to complete a formal training program before the court will finalize their appointment. Under Wis. Stat. § 54.26, you cannot receive permanent letters of guardianship without filing proof that you've completed the state-approved course.

The requirement exists because guardianship strips another adult of fundamental civil rights — the right to decide where they live, how their money is spent, and what medical treatment they receive. The state wants to make sure the person taking on that authority understands what they're legally required to do and what happens if they don't.

The UW-Green Bay Training Program

The state contracts with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay to administer the mandatory training. It's available online and in paper format, and it is free of charge.

The training covers:

• The guardian's fiduciary duties — the legal obligation to act in the ward's best interest, not your own.
• Required court filings — the inventory (Forms GN-3400/GN-3410) due within 60 days of appointment, the annual report on the ward's condition (Form GN-3490), and the annual financial account (Form GN-3500), both due by April 15 each year.
• The ward's retained rights — even under guardianship, the ward retains certain rights, including the right to be treated with dignity, to have visitors, and to petition the court to modify or terminate the guardianship.
• Protective placement rules — how Chapter 55 intersects with guardianship when the ward needs residential placement in a facility with more than 16 beds.
• Abuse reporting obligations — your duty to recognize and report suspected abuse, neglect, or financial exploitation.

The Filing Deadline

This is the part that catches families off guard. The Confirmation of Completion form (Form GN-3135) must be filed with the court at least 96 hours before the final guardianship hearing. That's four full days. If you complete the training the day before the hearing, the court will postpone.

The training itself takes a few hours to complete, but the key is starting it early. As soon as you file the guardianship petition (Form GN-3100), begin the training. Don't wait for the hearing to be scheduled.

Who Has to Complete It

Every proposed guardian who is a natural person — meaning a family member, friend, or volunteer — must complete the training. Corporate guardians (professional guardianship agencies) are exempt because they're already regulated and supervised by the state.

If two family members are being appointed as co-guardians (for example, two siblings sharing guardianship of a parent), both must complete the training independently and file separate GN-3135 forms.

What Happens If You Skip It

The court will not issue letters of guardianship without the filed GN-3135. In practice, this means:

• The hearing gets continued (rescheduled) until you complete the training and file the form.
• During the delay, the proposed ward remains without a legal decision-maker — which in a crisis situation (hospital discharge, care facility admission, bank account access) can mean weeks of paralysis.
• If a temporary guardianship is already in place, the 60-day clock keeps running, and you may need to petition for an extension while you catch up on the training requirement.

After Appointment: Ongoing Obligations

The training covers your initial duties, but the real work begins after appointment. Wisconsin requires continuous court oversight of guardians, including annual reports filed by April 15 each year. The annual report on the ward's condition (Form GN-3490 for guardians of the person) covers living arrangements, medical status, and social activities. The financial account (Form GN-3500 for guardians of the estate) requires a line-by-line reconciliation of every dollar received and spent, verified by bank statements.

Missing these deadlines can result in the court issuing an order to show cause — essentially requiring you to appear and explain why you haven't filed. Repeated failures can lead to removal as guardian.

The Wisconsin Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit includes a filing timeline that maps every deadline from petition through annual reporting, so you can track obligations without guessing.

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