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Circuit Court eFiling - eFiling a new adoption case as an attorney

  • Updated

    • Purpose: Adoption (AD) and juvenile adoption (JA) case types are eligible for eFiling in participating counties. This procedure covers how to file a new adoption case as an attorney.

    Applicable Users: Attorneys

    eFile a new adoption case as an attorney

    1. Visit the eFiling website at https://efiling.wicourts.gov/ and log in. For more information see the article Logging into Wisconsin circuit court eFiling.
    2. Following verification, you are routed to the Wisconsin Circuit Court eFiling home page. Select the file new case from the main navigation or the [File a new case] button from the bottom menu.
      Wisconsin Circuit court eFiling homepage with attention called to file new case link and button
    3. Select the county you are filing in from the County dropdown menu and the applicable class code from the Class code dropdown menu. Both adoption and juvenile adoption class codes will appear as 50601 – Adoption in the Class code dropdown menu. 
      New filing screen with attention called to county and class code dropdown
    4. If applicable, select the appropriate agency from the Which agency is this filing for? dropdown menu.
      Note: The Which agency is this filing for? question will be displayed for attorneys associated with county agencies.
      New filing screen with attention called to Which agency is this filing for? prompt and agency selection dropdown
    5. When the adoption class code is selected, the question Is this filing for a minor? displays. Select Yes if this filing should be classified as a juvenile adoption (JA) case. Then, select [Continue].
      New filing screen with attention called to Is this filing for a minor? Yes/No prompt and Continue button
      Note: The Is this filing for a minor? question will only display for filings in counties that accept the JA case type for juvenile adoptions. If this question does not appear, the county does not accept JA case types, and the juvenile adoption should be filed as an AD case type.
    6. Then, select the [Continue] button.
    7. Select the [Add party] button to add parties to the case.
      Parties screen with attention called to Add party button
      Note: The yellow banner will tell you what parties are required for the selected class codes.
    8. Complete the New party window. Start by choosing the Party type, beginning with the filing party (i.e., Adoptive Mother for an AD case). Select the [Add attorney] button to add the attorney representing the filing party on the case.
      New party entry screen with attention called to Party type dropdown and Add attorney button
    9. If the party you entered requires an interpreter, select [Yes] and select the language needed form the [Language] dropdown.
      New party entry screen with attention called to Is an interpreter needed? yes/no prompt set to Yes and Language selection dropdown
    10. Select the [Save and Add next party] button to add additional parties to the case.
      Bottom of New party entry screen with attention called to Save and Add next party button
    11. When all parties have been added, review them for accuracy and select [Continue].
      Parties screen with parties listed and attention called to Continue button
    12. Select the [Upload documents] button to browse for and upload a filing document and other associated documents to the case. Review the bulleted list to ensure your documents are correctly formatted.
      Note: The yellow banner will tell you what filing document is required for the selected class codes. 
      Documents screen with attention called to file requirements list and Upload documents button and informational banner describing which filing documents are required for the case type, including Petition, Petition for Adoptive Placement, Petition for Minor Child adoption, or Petition for an Order for Registration of a Foreign Adoption Order
    13. From the Document type dropdown menu, select the correct document type, and enter a descriptive title in the Document title text entry field. Select the [Continue] button.
      Documents screen with attention called to Document type dropdown menu, Document title text field and Continue button
      Note: An accurate and descriptive title is beneficial for identifying documents. The title entered here displays in the View documents list on the My cases page and is visible to the courts.
      If, after selecting the [Continue] button, the following red error message displays: “A filing document is required” you might not have selected the correct type of document to initiate the case you are filing. The system looks at the Document type field to determine if the correct document type has been uploaded.
    14. On the Review page, review the filing for accuracy. You can select a document link to open and view any of your uploaded files. Select the [Continue] button when you are ready to proceed.
      Review filing screen with attention called to uploaded document hyperlink and Continue button
      Note: The Notes to Clerk text entry field functions like a virtual sticky note on your filing. Anything entered in this box is displayed to the clerk while they process your filing but is deleted once your filing is accepted. These notes are not permanently saved to the case.
    15. On the Ready to file page, select the checkbox next to the filings(s) you wish to submit or a county name to submit all filings in that county. Select the [File] button.
      Ready to file screen with attention called to selected County filings and individual case filing checkboxes and File button
    16. On the Filings submitted page, select the [Return to main menu] button.
      Filings submitted success message
    17. Once the circuit court processes the new case, you will receive an email confirmation, and the file-stamped document(s) will be visible on the My cases page of the eFiling website. The eFiling system generates an Electronic Filing Notice that will be printed and served traditionally along with other case initiating documents.

    Support

    Contact the eFile support center if you have further questions. Staff are available Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except for court holidays.

    Phone: 1-800-462-8843
    Online support form: https://www.wicourts.gov/ecourts/efilesupportform.htm
    Email: efilesupport@wicourts.gov

    Wisconsin Court Systems (Updated: )