Milwaukee, WI
Location checked Gestational-carrier servicesSART memberCDC 2022: 42 ART cycles
Google Business Profile 2.7/5 as of May 30, 2026 · 3 references checked.
State law route
Wisconsin surrogacy laws and planning route
Gestational Surrogacy is permitted in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision Paternity of F.T.R., Rosecky v. Schissel, 2013 WI 66, 349 Wis. 2d, 833 N.W.2d 634. The court concluded that surr... Use this page to separate public legal context from the counsel, clinic, and coordinator decisions that still need case-specific review.
Moderate state posture
Last updated October 8, 2025 Organization-reviewed
Reviewed by Patriot Conceptions Legal Review Team, Legal content review team on October 8, 2025.
On this page
What to confirm next
Before acting on Wisconsin surrogacy law
Use this page to decide who should own the next step — your attorney, clinic, or coordinator.
Independent reproductive attorney
What must counsel confirm?
Confirm the Wisconsin parentage path, compensation language, venue or residency assumptions, and required signatures before anyone treats a match as ready.
Read legal summaryClinic and screening team
What must the clinic confirm?
Confirm medical clearance, transfer timing, records, monitoring logistics, psychological review, and any clinic-specific requirements before calendars are locked.
Review requirementsPatriot coordination
What should be routed next?
Map state fit, provider handoffs, escrow and insurance timing, travel burden, and whether the Wisconsin route needs a backup jurisdiction.
Talk to our teamBefore you proceed
✓ Review Wisconsin parentage order requirements with your attorney.
✓ Confirm your gestational carrier agreement complies with current statutes.
✓ Align medical clinic milestones with legal filing timelines to prevent delays.
Legal summary
The Wisconsin law, section by section
Category
Moderate
Gestational Surrogacy
Permitted. The Wisconsin Supreme Court in Paternity of F.T.R., Rosecky v. Schissel (2013) held that surrogacy contracts are enforceable unless they conflict with the best interest of the child.
Traditional Surrogacy
Permitted. In Rosecky v. Schissel, the court confirmed that traditional surrogacy is allowed, though the surrogate cannot be forced to terminate her parental rights before birth. Contracts can include terms about custody, visitation, and placement, as long as they are not contrary to the child’s best interest.
Pre-Birth Parentage Orders
Yes—many judges issue pre-birth parentage orders. These are interim/interlocutory, and a final order is still needed after birth to secure the birth certificate. If at least one intended parent is genetically related, both parents can often be declared legal in the pre-birth order under various scenarios (married heterosexual, unmarried heterosexual, same-sex couples) though outcomes may vary by county and judge. Even when no parent is genetically related, some cases allow both parents under pre-birth orders—though this is less consistent and very county-dependent.
Venue
Requirements for where to file include: the county where the gestational carrier resides, where the alleged father resides, or another relevant county depending on where the parties are “found” at the time of filing. Hearings are usually required; stipulated orders or surrogate appearance by telephone are possible in some cases, but generally all parties attend. If none of the parties live in Wisconsin (even if the gestational carrier will deliver there), pre-birth orders are not available.
Same-Sex Couples
On the final birth certificate, same-sex intended parents are listed as “Parent 1 and Parent 2.” International same-sex male couples can initially obtain a birth certificate naming the biological father and the gestational carrier. They can also later update the birth certificate to name only the biological father or both fathers, with no mention of the gestational carrier. If neither intended parent lives in Wisconsin, the non-biological parent cannot automatically obtain second-parent adoption based solely on birth in Wisconsin. However, if a second-parent adoption was done in another state, Wisconsin Vital Records will honor that adoption and add the non-biological parent to the birth certificate.
Birth Certificate Timing
About 4 to 14 days
Vital Records
To get a Wisconsin birth certificate listing both parents via surrogacy, the final court order must be issued (post-birth) even if a pre-birth order was used.
Primary source
Wisconsin source used for this summary
This summary is based on the primary source listed for Wisconsin. Confirm your situation with a reproductive attorney licensed in that state.
SourceWisconsin Supreme Court: Paternity of F.T.R. surrogacy agreement opinion
Judicial source · Accessed May 31, 2026
Partner with our legal network
We coordinate with reproductive law specialists who draft enforceable agreements tailored to your family plan.
✓Attorney-matched guidance for intended parents, carriers, and donors.
✓Jurisdiction-specific contract language aligned with recent case law.
✓Coordination with clinics to secure parentage orders without delays.
Clinic layer
Fertility clinics in Wisconsin
The law sets the parentage route. The clinic sets medical clearance, transfer timing, and monitoring — so both calendars have to be planned together. These are public Atlas profiles, not recommendations.
4 Wisconsin clinic profiles
Middleton, WI
Location checked
Google Business Profile 3.3/5 as of May 30, 2026 · 2 references checked.
Eau Claire, WI
Location checked
Google Business Profile 4.1/5 as of May 30, 2026 · 2 references checked.
Green Bay, WI
Location checked
Google Business Profile 2.6/5 as of May 30, 2026 · 2 references checked.
Showing 1–4 of 4 published Wisconsin clinic profiles, ordered by how complete each public record is.
Atlas clinic facts reviewed June 2, 2026. Patriot does not rank or endorse clinics — each profile links to its own public sources and a correction path. Confirm screening, transfer timing, and carrier requirements with the clinic directly.
Funds custody
How escrow works in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, your surrogacy funds are held in a fertility-law firm's attorney trust account (an IOLTA). Patriot never holds your money directly. The firm administers the trust account using software built for that workflow.
Patriot recommends TrustUS, the software your law firm uses to hold your funds. TrustUS runs on top of the firm's IOLTA — not as a separate third-party escrow agent.
✓IOLTA-ready escrow, AES-256 encryption, full audit trail.
✓SOC 2 practices.
✓99.98% receipt match rate, 2-second average payout.
Patriot has not independently verified TrustUS's compliance attestations; consult your attorney before custodying funds.
Explore more states
Stay confident in your chosen destination. See how other jurisdictions approach pre-birth orders, surrogacy compensation, and intended parent protections.
Need legal guidance?
Surrogacy laws are complex and vary by state. Our team collaborates with experienced reproductive law attorneys across the country to ensure your journey remains legally sound and fully protected.
Become a SurrogateLearn + resources
Planning surrogacy in Wisconsin?
Move from legal research into the next decision pages: requirements, cost planning, agency comparison, and a live conversation with the team.
Talk with a reproductive attorney licensed in Wisconsin before you act on any detail here.
State law route
Wisconsin surrogacy laws and planning route
Gestational Surrogacy is permitted in Wisconsin by the Wisconsin Supreme Court decision Paternity of F.T.R., Rosecky v. Schissel, 2013 WI 66, 349 Wis. 2d, 833 N.W.2d 634. The court concluded that surr... Use this page to separate public legal context from the counsel, clinic, and coordinator decisions that still need case-specific review.
Moderate state posture
Last updated October 8, 2025 Organization-reviewed
Reviewed by Patriot Conceptions Legal Review Team, Legal content review team on October 8, 2025.
State snapshot
- Legal Status
- No specific surrogacy legislation
- Pre-Birth Orders
- Available
- Compensated Surrogacy
- Status Varies
- Residency Requirement
- Required
What to confirm next
Before acting on Wisconsin surrogacy law
Use this page to decide who should own the next step — your attorney, clinic, or coordinator.
Independent reproductive attorney
What must counsel confirm?
Confirm the Wisconsin parentage path, compensation language, venue or residency assumptions, and required signatures before anyone treats a match as ready.
Read legal summaryClinic and screening team
What must the clinic confirm?
Confirm medical clearance, transfer timing, records, monitoring logistics, psychological review, and any clinic-specific requirements before calendars are locked.
Review requirementsPatriot coordination
What should be routed next?
Map state fit, provider handoffs, escrow and insurance timing, travel burden, and whether the Wisconsin route needs a backup jurisdiction.
Talk to our teamBefore you proceed
✓ Review Wisconsin parentage order requirements with your attorney.
✓ Confirm your gestational carrier agreement complies with current statutes.
✓ Align medical clinic milestones with legal filing timelines to prevent delays.
Legal summary
The Wisconsin law, section by section
Category
Moderate
Gestational Surrogacy
Permitted. The Wisconsin Supreme Court in Paternity of F.T.R., Rosecky v. Schissel (2013) held that surrogacy contracts are enforceable unless they conflict with the best interest of the child.
Traditional Surrogacy
Permitted. In Rosecky v. Schissel, the court confirmed that traditional surrogacy is allowed, though the surrogate cannot be forced to terminate her parental rights before birth. Contracts can include terms about custody, visitation, and placement, as long as they are not contrary to the child’s best interest.
Pre-Birth Parentage Orders
Yes—many judges issue pre-birth parentage orders. These are interim/interlocutory, and a final order is still needed after birth to secure the birth certificate. If at least one intended parent is genetically related, both parents can often be declared legal in the pre-birth order under various scenarios (married heterosexual, unmarried heterosexual, same-sex couples) though outcomes may vary by county and judge. Even when no parent is genetically related, some cases allow both parents under pre-birth orders—though this is less consistent and very county-dependent.
Venue
Requirements for where to file include: the county where the gestational carrier resides, where the alleged father resides, or another relevant county depending on where the parties are “found” at the time of filing. Hearings are usually required; stipulated orders or surrogate appearance by telephone are possible in some cases, but generally all parties attend. If none of the parties live in Wisconsin (even if the gestational carrier will deliver there), pre-birth orders are not available.
Same-Sex Couples
On the final birth certificate, same-sex intended parents are listed as “Parent 1 and Parent 2.” International same-sex male couples can initially obtain a birth certificate naming the biological father and the gestational carrier. They can also later update the birth certificate to name only the biological father or both fathers, with no mention of the gestational carrier. If neither intended parent lives in Wisconsin, the non-biological parent cannot automatically obtain second-parent adoption based solely on birth in Wisconsin. However, if a second-parent adoption was done in another state, Wisconsin Vital Records will honor that adoption and add the non-biological parent to the birth certificate.
Birth Certificate Timing
About 4 to 14 days
Vital Records
To get a Wisconsin birth certificate listing both parents via surrogacy, the final court order must be issued (post-birth) even if a pre-birth order was used.
Primary source
Wisconsin source used for this summary
Based on the primary source listed for Wisconsin. Confirm your situation with a reproductive attorney licensed in that state.
Source Wisconsin Supreme Court: Paternity of F.T.R. surrogacy agreement opinionJudicial source · Accessed May 31, 2026
Partner with our legal network
We coordinate with reproductive law specialists who draft enforceable agreements tailored to your family plan.
✓Attorney-matched guidance for intended parents, carriers, and donors.
✓Jurisdiction-specific contract language aligned with recent case law.
✓Coordination with clinics to secure parentage orders without delays.
Clinic layer
Fertility clinics in Wisconsin
The law sets the parentage route. The clinic sets medical clearance, transfer timing, and monitoring — so both calendars have to be planned together. These are public Atlas profiles, not recommendations.
4
Wisconsin clinic profiles
Reproductive Specialty Center
Milwaukee, WI
Location checked Gestational-carrier servicesSART memberCDC 2022: 42 ART cycles
Google Business Profile 2.7/5 as of May 30, 2026 · 3 references checked.
Generations & University of Wisconsin Hospitals
Middleton, WI
Location checked
Google Business Profile 3.3/5 as of May 30, 2026 · 2 references checked.
Oakleaf Clinic OBGYN
Eau Claire, WI
Location checked
Google Business Profile 4.1/5 as of May 30, 2026 · 2 references checked.
Aurora Fertility Services
Green Bay, WI
Location checked
Google Business Profile 2.6/5 as of May 30, 2026 · 2 references checked.
Showing 1–4 of 4 published Wisconsin clinic profiles, ordered by how complete each public record is.
Atlas clinic facts reviewed June 2, 2026. Patriot does not rank or endorse clinics — each profile links to its own public sources and a correction path. Confirm screening, transfer timing, and carrier requirements with the clinic directly.
Funds custody
How escrow works in Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, your surrogacy funds are held in a fertility-law firm's attorney trust account (an IOLTA). Patriot never holds your money directly. The firm administers the trust account using software built for that workflow.
Patriot recommends TrustUS, the software your law firm uses to hold your funds. TrustUS runs on top of the firm's IOLTA — not as a separate third-party escrow agent.
✓IOLTA-ready escrow, AES-256 encryption, full audit trail.
✓SOC 2 practices.
✓99.98% receipt match rate, 2-second average payout.
Patriot has not independently verified TrustUS's compliance attestations; consult your attorney before custodying funds.
Explore more states
See how other jurisdictions approach pre-birth orders, surrogacy compensation, and intended parent protections.
Learn + Resources
Planning surrogacy in Wisconsin?
Move from legal research into the next decision pages: requirements, cost planning, agency comparison, and a live conversation with the team.