Serves Green, Dane, Lafayette, and Rock counties from Monroe, with a second office in New Glarus. Takes personal representatives step by step through probate after a death, and handles elder law work — Medicaid applications, crisis planning, and irrevocable trusts that protect assets from nursing home costs.
Probate in Dane County
Probate Court Record
Dane County Circuit Court
Dane County · 5th Judicial District
Phone
Hours
Monday-Friday 7:45 AM-4:30 PM
Office
Room 1005, 215 South Hamilton Street, Madison, WI 53703
Website
Files probate
Register in Probate
E-filing
Filing in person
Walk-ins accepted
Self-represented filing
Allowed
Self-help forms
How to file probate in Dane County →
Verified October 16, 2026 · Source
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Dane County? →Settling an estate in Dane County →
Probate Firms Serving Dane County
Serves clients throughout Wisconsin from offices in Appleton and Green Bay. Helps personal representatives through informal and formal probate, protects other beneficiaries' interests in disputes over estate administration, and brings will contests. Also handles adult and minor guardianships and elder-law and Medicaid planning. Estate planning consultations are offered at no charge.
Serves the Green Bay area from its appointment-only De Pere office, one of five Wisconsin offices of a firm established in Oshkosh in 1849. Handles court-supervised probate, trust administration for successor trustees, and estate disputes including beneficiary and breach-of-fiduciary-duty claims and guardianships. Its elder-law attorneys also handle Medicaid and long-term-care planning.
Serves Monroe, Jackson, Vernon, Juneau, La Crosse, and Adams counties from Tomah, and takes probate cases throughout Wisconsin. Walks personal representatives through the whole probate, from court appointment through distribution and closing, and administers trusts for successor trustees. Attorney Joshua D. Shudlick is a NAELA member.
Serves the Chippewa Valley from Eau Claire, with a second office in Marshfield, and takes clients throughout Wisconsin. Handles formal and informal probate administrations and trust administrations outside of court, alongside elder law, Medicaid eligibility, and special needs trusts. Aric Burch is a Certified Elder Law Attorney; the initial consultation carries a fee.
Serves Hudson and St. Croix County, with clients across western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. Handles probate and estate administration on an hourly basis, from opening the estate and notifying creditors to final tax returns and distribution, alongside elder law, Medicaid, and guardianship planning. Founder Jennifer A. O'Neill is a Certified Elder Law Attorney.
Forms for Planning and Settling an Estate in Wisconsin
Free Wisconsin forms to plan or settle an estate: a will, trust, powers of attorney, TOD deed and the probate forms. Prepare each form for Wisconsin.
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Revocable Living Trust
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Last Will and Testament
In Wisconsin, a will is signed before 2Wis. Stat. § 853.03Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses, and a self-proving affidavit signed with it lets the court admit it without witness testimonyWis. Stat. § 853.03Verified Oct 19, 2026View source.
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Tools for Planning and Settling an Estate in Wisconsin
Free calculators and checklists to plan or settle an estate in Wisconsin: will and trust costs, probate, executor pay and taxes. Run each tool for Wisconsin.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Probate on a $500,000 estate in Wisconsin costs an estimated $22,090Wis. Stat. § 851.40(1) (just and reasonable compensation for services under chs. 851-879, incl. ch. 865 informal administration; no statutory percentage for attorneys)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source. Attorney fees run 1.8%Modeled estimate under Wis. Stat. § 851.40(1) (just and reasonable compensation for services under chs. 851-879, incl. ch. 865 informal administration; no statutory percentage for attorneys): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source to 2.9%Modeled estimate under Wis. Stat. § 851.40(1) (just and reasonable compensation for services under chs. 851-879, incl. ch. 865 informal administration; no statutory percentage for attorneys): the hours the statutory fee schedules imply, at the state's surveyed hourly rateVerified Sep 9, 2026View source of the estate under a reasonable-compensation standard.
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How Do I Settle an Estate?
Settling an estate in Wisconsin: the personal representative files the estate inventory within 180 daysWis. Stat. §§ 858.01, 858.13, 858.15, 858.17Verified Sep 15, 2026View source of appointment; creditors have 4 monthsWis. Stat. §§ 859.01, 859.02, 859.07, 859.25Verified Oct 19, 2026View source to present claims; a simple estate closes in 6 months to 9 months.
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How Much Can an Executor Charge?
Wisconsin sets executor compensation by statute — about $10,000 on a $500,000 estate, roughly 2.0%Wis. Stat. § 857.05(2) (2% commission on inventory value less mortgages and liens plus net principal gains, subject to court approval; a different rate by written agreement; extraordinary services)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.
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Do I Need Probate?
In Wisconsin, estates valued at $50,000small estate: § 867.03Verified Sep 9, 2026View source or less skip probate with the Transfer by Affidavitsmall estate: § 867.03Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.
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What Are the Creditor Claim Deadlines?
In Wisconsin, creditors have 4 monthsWis. Stat. § 859.01 (3-4 month deadline set by court)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source from the personal representative's appointment to present claims; late claims are barred.
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Can I Self-File Probate?
Wisconsin has no statewide fill-in probate petition, so the opening petition is drafted as a legal pleading, and informal probate is availableWis. Stat. Ch. 865 (informal administration by probate registrar)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source.
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