On Point blog, page 1 of 1
Father’s attempt to voluntarily terminate parental rights dismissed for lack of personal jurisdiction
R.G. v. S.P., 2022AP1876, District 4, 02/16/2023 (one judge opinion; ineligible for publication); case activity
R.G. filed a petition to voluntarily terminate his parental rights to a non-marital child that he had not seen in over seven years. The circuit court dismissed his petition for lack of jurisdiction. R.G. pursued an appeal pro se, arguing that Wis. Stat. § 48.185 supported his petition in Dane County.
TPR court had insufficient information to conclude it had jurisdiction
J.P. v. A.P., 2018AP1775 through 2018AP1778, District 4, 4/18/19 (one-judge decision; ineligible for publication); case activity
In this unusual case, the court of appeals agrees with a parent in a TPR proceeding that the circuit court may not have subject matter jurisdiction under the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act because of an order issued in another state governs custody of the children.
Melissa S. v. Edward T. K., 2009AP2354, Dist IV, 1/14/20
court of appeals decision (1-judge; ineligible for publication)
TPR – Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act
“Wis. Stat. § 822.23 does not require a court to dismiss a custody action as soon as it discovers that another state had entered a custody order for the child when the action was commenced in this state. It prohibits the court from modifying the custody determination of another state unless the other court has declined jurisdiction,” ¶15.