Estate Planning for Buffalo County, Wisconsin Property Owners

For most Buffalo County homeowners, the house is what drags an estate into probate. A transfer-on-death deed or a living trust keeps it out—here is how to set up either one and record it locally.

For a Buffalo County property owner, the biggest probate risk is the home itself. Real estate is what forces most families into the Circuit Court. The two tools that keep a Buffalo County home out of probate are a transfer-on-death deed recorded with the Register of Deeds, and a revocable living trust that holds title to the property.

Skipping this planning step means the Circuit Court decides who receives the property: a simple Wisconsin probate takes 6+ months and opens with about $20 in court filing fees.

Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Buffalo County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Buffalo County property automatically at the owner's death, without probate. It is recorded with the Register of Deeds during the owner's lifetime and can be revoked at any time.

Before recording, a Wisconsin transfer on death deed is signed with notary acknowledgmentWis. Stat. 705.15Verified Aug 24, 2026View source. The deed takes effect only if it is recorded before the owner's deathWis. Stat. 705.15Verified Aug 24, 2026View source.

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Buffalo County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Leslie Sendelbach, at 407 S 2nd St, Alma, WI 54610. Phone: 608-685-6230. Hours: Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM.

Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 28, Alma, WI 54610.

The Register of Deeds charges $30 flat, regardless of page count. A 2-page transfer on death deed costs $30 to record in Buffalo County. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Buffalo County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Register of Deeds

Buffalo County · Leslie Sendelbach

Address

407 S 2nd StAlma, WI 54610Mailing: PO Box 28, Alma, WI 54610

Hours

Monday - Thursday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM

E-recording

Available via SimplifileE-recording info →
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

Flat fee (any length)$30
Transfer tax on a TOD deedExempt

Wis. Stat. 59.43(2)(ag)

Verified September 9, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Buffalo County

FirmLa Crosse, WI

Bosshard Parke Ltd.

Since 1900

Serves La Crosse County and the western Wisconsin coulee region, plus Sparta, Onalaska, and southeastern Minnesota, from its La Crosse office, in practice since 1900. Represents executors and families through probate and estate administration, with experience in related estate tax matters, and drafts wills and trusts for clients across financial circumstances.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills

Office
750 3rd Street NLa Crosse, WI 54601

Serves La Crosse County and the coulee region from downtown La Crosse, with a second office in Holmen. Estate planning and elder law is one of twelve practice areas, covering long-term care planning, wills, powers of attorney, and Medicare and Medicaid planning, alongside family business succession. Seventeen attorneys across the two offices.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 4 more

Office
205 Fifth Avenue South, Suite 600La Crosse, WI 54601

Serves Grant County and southwest Wisconsin from Lancaster, reaching Platteville and the surrounding communities. Handles probate and estate administration for area families alongside wills, trusts, and business formation. Matters are billed hourly, on contingency, or at a flat fee depending on the work.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateBusiness LawTrustsWills

Office
118 W Cherry StreetLancaster, WI 53813

FirmLa Crosse, WI

Moen Sheehan Meyer, Ltd.

Serves La Crosse and the surrounding coulee region across the Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa tri-state area from its Main Street office. Handles probate administration, trust and estate administration, guardianship and conservatorship, and special-needs WisPact trusts alongside long-term-care and elder-law planning. Offers phone, video, and in-person consultations.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawHealthcare Directivesand 3 more

Office
201 Main Street, Suite 700La Crosse, WI 54602
Virtual consultations

FirmMilwaukee, WI

Wisconsin Estate Planning Attorneys

Serves the whole state

Serves clients across Wisconsin from Mayfair Road in Milwaukee, with a second office in West Bend. A division of Karp & Iancu, S.C. handling wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives, and asset-protection planning, with plan pricing published up front on its site.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAsset ProtectionHealthcare Directivesand 3 more

Office
933 N. Mayfair Road, Suite 325Milwaukee, WI 53226

FirmMilwaukee, WI

von Briesen & Roper, s.c.

Serves the whole state

Serves Milwaukee and Madison clients across seven Wisconsin offices, handling formal and informal probate in the local circuit courts. The Estate and Trust Administration group represents personal representatives, trustees, and beneficiaries through trust administration, claims against estates and trusts, estate tax compliance, and will contests. Practicing in Milwaukee for more than a century.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawSpecial Needs Planningand 3 more

Office
411 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1000Milwaukee, WI 53202
See all 11 firms serving Buffalo County→

Firm listings are for informational purposes only. SimplyTrust does not endorse or recommend any specific firm or attorney. Contact firms directly to verify their current practice areas and availability.

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Legal Sources

Data sourced from Wisconsin statutes and official state code. How we research.

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