Guardianship Training in Wisconsin: UW-Green Bay Course Requirements

You've been nominated as a guardian in Wisconsin, and now the court tells you there's a mandatory training requirement. Since January 1, 2023, every proposed permanent guardian of the person or estate must complete a state-approved training before the court will finalize the appointment. Here's exactly what that involves.

What Act 97 Requires

Wisconsin Act 97 added a training mandate under Wis. Stat. § 54.26. The requirement applies to every nominated permanent guardian — whether you're guardian of the person, guardian of the estate, or both. Temporary guardians under § 54.50 are exempt.

The training is free, online, and self-paced. It's hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, which is the sole state-approved provider. You access it through uwgb.edu/guardianship-training.

What the Course Covers

The UW-Green Bay program walks through the core responsibilities of a Wisconsin guardian:

• The legal duties of a guardian of the person (healthcare, housing, daily care decisions)
• The legal duties of a guardian of the estate (financial management, asset protection, court reporting)
• Rights retained by the ward — which vary depending on whether the guardianship is full or limited
• Alternatives to guardianship, including supported decision-making under Chapter 52 and powers of attorney
• Annual reporting obligations (Form GN-3480 for person, Form GN-3500 for estate)
• Ethical responsibilities and the duty to act in the ward's best interest

The course is asynchronous — you work through it at your own pace. Most people complete it in a few hours.

One Registration Per Guardian

If two parents are named as co-guardians, each person must create their own account and complete the training separately. You cannot share a single registration or submit one certificate for both.

This trips up families who assume they can take the course together under one login. The court system tracks individual completions, and both proposed guardians need their own certificate of completion.

Filing the Training Confirmation

After finishing the course, you'll receive a certificate of completion from the UW-Green Bay registry. You then file Form GN-3135 (Confirmation of Completion of Guardian Training Program) with the probate court.

The deadline is strict: GN-3135 must be filed at least 96 hours before the final hearing. If it's not on file, the court is legally barred from appointing you, which can delay or require rescheduling the case.

Plan ahead — don't leave the training for the week before the hearing. Complete it early in the petition process so it's one less thing to worry about as the hearing date approaches.

Timing It Within the Overall Process

For families navigating the turning-18 transition, here's where the training fits in the broader sequence:

1. Begin exploring alternatives (SDM agreements, powers of attorney) around 8 months before the 18th birthday
2. If guardianship is necessary, file the petition (Form GN-3100) once the proposed ward turns 17 years and 9 months
3. Complete the UW-Green Bay training immediately after filing
4. File GN-3135 along with Form GN-3140 (consent to serve) at least 96 hours before the hearing
5. Attend the hearing with all required documentation in hand

The entire petition-to-hearing process typically takes 30 to 90 days, so starting the training within the first week of filing gives you plenty of buffer.

What If You're Already a Guardian?

Act 97 applies to new appointments. If you were appointed as guardian before January 1, 2023, the training requirement doesn't retroactively apply to you. However, taking the course voluntarily is still useful — particularly if you're unfamiliar with the annual reporting requirements or the alternatives to guardianship that might allow you to step back from full authority over time.

For a complete walkthrough of the guardianship petition process — from the initial capacity evaluation through post-appointment compliance — the Wisconsin Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide covers each step, including the training requirement, county-specific filing details, and the full spectrum of less-restrictive alternatives your family should consider first.

See more Wisconsin guides →