NOTE: THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AS A PUBLIC SERVICE.
THE REGISTER IN PROBATE OFFICE CANNOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE; PLEASE CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IF YOU NEED LEGAL GUIDANCE OR ADVICE.
THE REGISTER IN PROBATE OFFICE CANNOT GIVE LEGAL ADVICE; PLEASE CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IF YOU NEED LEGAL GUIDANCE OR ADVICE.
Informal probate is a full administration of a deceased person’s estate supervised by the Probate Registrar. All required probate documents are filed with the court and are considered public records. Although consulting with a Wisconsin probate attorney is recommended, doing so is not required.
Before making the decision to begin an Informal Administration, please review all forms in their entirety. It is also recommended that you review A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin, a publication provided by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association.
To open a new Informal Probate please complete the following documents:
Form | Link to form | |
---|---|---|
PR-1801 | Application for Informal Administration | Click here to access form |
PR-1806 | Proof of Heirship | Click here to access form |
Original Last Will and Testament | ||
PR-1803 | Waiver and Consent (must be completed by all interested persons) | Click here to access form |
GF-131A | Order Appointing Guardian ad Litem (if required) | Click here to access form |
PR-1802 | Declination to Serve as Personal Representative (if necessary) | Click here to access form |
PR-1807 | Consent to Serve | Click here to access form |
PR-1804 | Notice to Creditors (if all interested persons completed a Waiver and Consent) | Click here to access form |
Or | ||
PR-1805 | Notice Setting Time to Hear Application and Deadline for Filing Claims | Click here to access form |
PR-1808 | Statement of Informal Administration | Click here to access form |
Surety Bond (obtained from an insurance agent) for estimated value of administration | ||
PR-1810 | Domiciliary Letters | Click here to access form |
PR-1930 | Consent to Serve as Trustee (if required) | Click here to access form |
PR-1931 | Letters of Trust (if a trustee is required under the terms of the Will) | Click here to access form |
F-13033 | Probate Claims Notice (if required) | Click here to access form |
When all forms necessary to begin informal administration are completed, and if you are not represented by an attorney, please call 920-448-4275 to make an appointment to meet with the Register in Probate. This appointment will take approximately one half hour. It is important that all forms necessary to open an informal estate administration have been completed, in their entirety, prior to this appointment. All personal representatives, unless represented by counsel, must provide a surety bond for the estimated value of the estate. Please contact your insurance agent for more information on obtaining a surety bond.
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After you have been appointed as Personal Representative, the following documents are required to close the estate:
Form | Link to Form | |
---|---|---|
PR-1817 | Affidavit of Service
* Showing that a copy of the Inventory was mailed to all interested persons; and * Showing that a copy of the Final Account (PR-1814) was mailed to all interested persons | Click here to access form |
Proof of Publication - Obtain from the Green Bay Press Gazette after publication | ||
PR-1811 | Inventory
* Due 6 months after personal representative is appointed * Filing fee of .2% of value of estate is required | Click here to access form |
PR-1814 | Final Estate Account | Click here to access form |
PR-1815 | Estate Receipt
* Each distributee must provide a receipt for all distributions received; and * Each creditor who filed a Claim Against Estate | Click here to access form |
Closing Certificate for Fiduciaries - Obtain from Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Click here to obtain more information from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue | ||
PR-1816 | Statement of Personal Representative to Close Estate | Click here to access form |