Co-Guardians in Wisconsin: Can Two People Share Guardianship?

Both parents want to serve as guardian for their adult child. Or a parent and an older sibling want to share the responsibility. Wisconsin law allows co-guardianship, but the details matter — especially around training, reporting, and what happens when co-guardians disagree.

How Co-Guardianship Works

Under Chapter 54, the court can appoint two or more people to serve jointly as guardians of the person, the estate, or both. The petition (Form GN-3100) names all proposed co-guardians, and each one must be evaluated and approved by the court at the hearing.

Co-guardians share authority equally unless the court order specifies otherwise. A limited guardianship order can divide responsibilities — one co-guardian handles medical decisions while the other manages finances, for example — but the default is joint authority across all areas covered by the guardianship.

Each Co-Guardian Must Complete Training Separately

This is the requirement that catches families off guard. Under Act 97 (Wis. Stat. § 54.26), every proposed permanent guardian must complete the mandatory online training program hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Co-guardians cannot take the training together under a single account. Each person must:

• Register individually with the UW-Green Bay guardianship training portal
• Complete the full self-paced course on their own
• Obtain their own Certificate of Completion
• File their own Form GN-3135 (Confirmation of Completion of Guardian Training Program) with the probate court at least 96 hours before the hearing

The court cannot appoint any guardian — co-guardian or otherwise — who has not completed this requirement. If one co-guardian finishes training and the other hasn't, the court cannot appoint the untrained co-guardian until the requirement is completed.

Practical Advantages and Complications

Why families choose co-guardianship:

• Shared workload — Annual reports, medical appointments, financial management, and court filings are substantial ongoing obligations
• Continuity planning — If one guardian becomes incapacitated or dies, the other is already in place without needing a new court petition
• Complementary skills — One co-guardian may be better with financial management while the other handles healthcare coordination

What can go wrong:

• Disagreements — When co-guardians disagree on a decision (medical treatment, living arrangements, spending), either can petition the court to resolve the dispute. This adds cost and delay
• Divorce — If co-guardian parents divorce, the guardianship order doesn't automatically change. Either party can petition to modify the arrangement, and the court will evaluate who should continue based on the ward's best interests
• Geography — Co-guardians who live far apart may struggle to share day-to-day responsibilities effectively. Some courts are reluctant to appoint co-guardians in different cities or states

Alternatives to Co-Guardianship

If the goal is to involve multiple family members in supporting the ward, there are options short of formal co-guardianship:

• Primary guardian with standby — Name one guardian in the petition and designate the other as a standby guardian who steps in if the primary can no longer serve
• Guardian plus SDM supporters — Appoint one person as guardian and name additional family members as supporters under a Chapter 52 Supported Decision-Making agreement for areas where the ward retains rights
• Split guardianship — One person is guardian of the person, another is guardian of the estate. This is a formal court arrangement but assigns distinct roles rather than shared authority

For the full framework on structuring guardianship — solo, co-guardian, or split — the Wisconsin Adult Guardianship & Alternatives Guide covers every configuration with decision worksheets.

See more Wisconsin guides →