You must be a resident of Wisconsin. The petition must be filed in the county of your residence. The court may grant the petition "if no sufficient cause is shown to the contrary."
For a person under 14 years of age, the petition may be submitted by:
- Both parents, if both are living, or the surviving parent.
- The guardian or person who has legal custody of the minor if both parents are dead or if parental rights have been terminated by judicial proceedings.
- The minor's mother, if the parents have not married, if the child is not adopted, and if paternity of the minor has not been established.
- One parent, if that parent has been unable to locate or serve the other parent with the petition. If the other parent is notified and objects, and has not abandoned the child, the court will require consent of the non petitioning parent.
There are some restrictions for people engaged in professions for which the State of Wisconsin requires a license. See Wisconsin Statutes 786.36(3). People required to register as sex offenders are prohibited from changing their names. See sec. 301.47(2) of 2003 Wis. Act 52.