Guardianship Forms Wisconsin: Every Court Form You Need to File

Filing for adult guardianship in Wisconsin means navigating a stack of numbered court forms, each with its own purpose, deadline, and consequences for getting it wrong. County probate websites list the forms but rarely explain the sequence or how they connect. Here's the full inventory.

The Petition Phase

These forms initiate the guardianship case:

Form GN-3100 — Petition for Temporary/Permanent Guardianship Due to Incompetency This is the founding document. It asks for the proposed ward's personal information, the nature of their incapacity, why guardianship is necessary, and who you're proposing as guardian. You'll need to specify whether you're seeking guardianship of the person (medical and residential decisions), guardianship of the estate (financial decisions), or both.

Form GN-3140 — Statement of Acts Filed alongside the petition. It describes the proposed guardian's qualifications and relationship to the ward, and discloses any conflicts of interest.

Form GN-3120/GN-3121 — Declaration and Certificate of Service You must prove that the proposed ward and all interested parties (spouse, adult children, heirs, custodial facilities) received copies of the petition. Personal service or certified mail is required, delivered at least 10 days before the hearing date.

The Medical Evidence

Form GN-3130 — Physician's or Psychologist's Report A licensed physician or psychologist must examine your parent and complete this form. The report must establish that the parent has an impairment — dementia, brain injury, serious mental illness — that prevents them from effectively receiving and evaluating information or communicating decisions.

One critical detail: this written report is technically hearsay. If your parent or their adversary counsel contests the guardianship, the report alone is inadmissible. You'll need to subpoena the examining physician to testify in person.

Guardian Training

Form GN-3135 — Confirmation of Guardian Training Every proposed non-corporate guardian must complete state-approved training, offered free through UW-Green Bay (online or paper format). The confirmation must be filed with the court at least 96 hours before the final hearing. Treat this as a hard deadline: missing it can delay the hearing.

Post-Appointment Forms

Once the court grants guardianship, a new set of obligations begins:

Form GN-3200 — Letters of Guardianship of the Person The court issues these official letters confirming your authority over medical and residential decisions.

Form GN-3210 — Letters of Guardianship of the Estate Confirms your authority over financial matters. Banks and financial institutions require certified copies.

Form GN-3440 — Inventory of Estate Within 60 days of appointment (some counties enforce 30 days), you must file a verified inventory of every asset in the ward's estate. There's a statutory fee: $20 flat if the estate is $50,000 or less, or 0.2% of net estate value for larger estates.

Annual Reporting

Guardianship doesn't end at appointment. Every year, by April 15:

Form GN-3480 — Annual Report on the Condition of the Ward For guardians of the person. You report on the ward's physical and mental condition, living situation, medical treatment, and social activities.

Form GN-3500 — Annual Account of Guardian/Conservator For guardians of the estate. This is a detailed financial accounting of every dollar received and spent during the year, verified by bank statements. Courts scrutinize these reports closely.

The Form Sequence in Order

1. GN-3100 (Petition) + GN-3140 (Statement of Acts) — filed together
2. GN-3120/GN-3121 (Service) — serve all parties within 10 days before hearing
3. GN-3130 (Physician Report) — schedule the examination early; this takes time
4. GN-3135 (Guardian Training) — file at least 96 hours before hearing
5. Hearing → GN-3200/GN-3210 (Letters) issued by court
6. GN-3440 (Inventory) — within 60 days of appointment
7. GN-3480 + GN-3500 (Annual Reports) — every April 15 thereafter

Don't Navigate This Alone

The guardianship filing process has strict deadlines and procedural requirements that trip up families without legal experience. Our Wisconsin Power of Attorney & Guardianship Kit includes a step-by-step filing checklist keyed to each form, a timeline calculator, and guidance on common pitfalls — like the hearsay trap with the physician's report and the spending limits that vary by county.

See more Wisconsin guides →