Probate in Milwaukee County

Probate Court Record

Milwaukee County Circuit Court

Milwaukee County · 1st Judicial District

Phone

1-414-278-4444 (option 2)

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM

Office

Room 207, 901 North 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233-1425

Files probate

Register in Probate

Filing in person

Walk-ins accepted

Self-represented filing

Allowed

Self-help forms

How to file probate in Milwaukee County →

Verified October 15, 2026 · Source

Do I need a lawyer for probate in Milwaukee County? →Settling an estate in Milwaukee County →

Trust Administration Firms Serving Milwaukee County

Serves Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee, and Walworth counties from a Main Street office near the Racine County Courthouse. Attorney Rebecca Mason guides personal representatives through Wisconsin probate, represents successor trustees in trust administration, and handles guardianship and protective placement, appearing in the Racine and Kenosha County circuit courts. A solo practice since 2012.

Solo PracticeServes 4 countiesVirtual consultationsEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationElder Law+2

Serves West Bend and Washington County, plus Dodge, Sheboygan, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Fond du Lac, and Waukesha counties. Guides personal representatives and successor trustees through formal and informal probate and trust administration, and handles will and trust contests involving undue influence, lack of capacity, or breach of fiduciary duty. Practicing in West Bend since 1933.

Since 1933Serves 7 countiesFree consultationEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+5

Serves Ozaukee, Milwaukee, Washington, Sheboygan, and Waukesha counties from Mequon, with a Sheboygan office by appointment. Handles probate, trust administration fiduciary litigation when an estate or trust ends up in court, and guardianships, including challenges to a guardian. The firm concentrates on elder and special needs law; the first meeting is billed hourly.

Serves 5 countiesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+5

Serves clients throughout Wisconsin from offices in Madison, Janesville, Appleton, and Dodgeville. Advises executors on probate administration and handles trust administration, guardianships and protective placement, and litigation over contested wills and trusts, breach of fiduciary duty, undue influence, and creditor claims in estate proceedings. Founded in Madison in 1931.

Since 1931Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationTrust Litigation+6

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.

Since 1849Serves the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateProbate LitigationElder Law+3

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.

Solo PracticeServes the whole stateEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawMedicaid Planning

All 13 Wisconsin trust administration firms serving Milwaukee County →

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

Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.

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Pour-Over Will

In Wisconsin, a pour-over will is signed before 2Wis. Stat. § 853.03Verified Oct 19, 2026View source witnesses and moves anything left outside the trust into it through probate.

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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 Do I Settle a Trust?

Settling a trust in Wisconsin happens outside court: the trustee acts under the state's Uniform Trust CodeWis. Stat. § 701.0101 et seq.Verified Oct 17, 2026View source, notifies the beneficiaries, then pays the debts and distributes under the trust's terms.

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What's Fair Trustee Compensation?

In Wisconsin, trustee compensation follows "reasonable compensation" (UTC § 708 or equivalent)Wis. Stat. § 701.0708Verified Sep 18, 2026View source unless the trust instrument sets a different amount.

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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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Do I Have to File Tax Returns for Someone Who Died?

Wisconsin requires a final state income tax return for the decedent alongside the federal Form 1040Wis. Stat. § 71.06(1r), (2e)(bm); Wis. Stat. § 71.05(22)(dp), (dt)Verified Sep 20, 2026View source; a federal estate tax return (Form 706) is required only for estates above $15,000,00026 USC 2001(c), 2010; P.L. 119-21 §70106Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

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How Does Step-Up in Basis Work?

Inherited assets in Wisconsin take a basis reset to fair market value on the date of death26 USC § 1014Verified Sep 15, 2026View source, and the gain on a later sale faces state tax on the 70% of long-term gain left after a 30% exclusionWis. Stat. § 71.05(6)(b)9 (30% general LTCG exclusion; reaches estates and trusts per § 71.125(1))Verified Sep 15, 2026View source.

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