Probate for Estates Greater Than $50,000.00

Probate is the court-supervised process for the orderly transfer of a decedent’s assets to those who are entitled to them.  The process ensures that notice is properly given, that all debts, taxes, and expenses are paid, that the assets are distributed in accordance with the Last Will and Testament or to the heirs as determined by statute.

Filing Documents

If an attorney does not represent you, please call the probate office to set up an appointment.   All documents must be complete and ready to file, along with the original Will, if any.

Probate Benchmarks
Wisconsin Statutes require all estates to be settled as soon as reasonably possible, without unnecessary delay.   The Wisconsin Chief Judges have set twelve (12) months as the benchmark for disposing of probate estates.   All estates in  Jackson County must be closed within twelve (12) months of the date the initial documents are filed.

Filing Claims
To file a claim against an estate that is being probated, please complete standard state form PR-1819 – Claim Against Estate.   File the completed form with the Register in Probate together with the $3.00 statutory filing fee.   Please send a copy to the Personal Representative and the estate attorney.    There is a time limit for filing a claim based on when the probate action was started.  You can check the court file in person or review the court record on the internet at: http://wcca.wicourts.gov/index.xsl  to find out the claims deadline for a particular case.

This office cannot provide legal advice.  If you have any questions about completing the forms you will need to contact an attorney."

Guidelines and Procedures:

You may click on the following for a guideline and/or forms required: