Probate in Florence County runs through the Circuit Court: prove the will, settle the debts, and pass the house to the heirs. Here is how the local process works—and what each step actually costs.
When someone dies in Florence County, settling their estate runs through the Circuit Court. This page covers the court record, whether probate is required, what it costs, how to file, transferring property, and the local attorneys who handle probate here.
Probate Court Record
Florence County · 9th Judicial District
Address
Phone
Fax
Hours
Mailing: PO Box 410, Florence, WI 54121-0410. Florence County shares a circuit with Forest County.
Verified July 3, 2026 · Source
Probate is the court-supervised process of settling someone's estate after they die — validating the will, paying debts and taxes, and transferring what's left to the heirs. In Florence County, probate runs through the Circuit Court at 501 Lake Ave, Florence. The court sits in the 9th Judicial District.
The personal representative opens the case, gives notice to heirs and creditors, files an inventory of the estate's assets, settles outstanding debts and taxes, and then distributes the remainder under the will — or under Wisconsin intestacy law when there is no will.
Most Wisconsin estates take 9 months to 12 months to move through this process. The 4 monthsWis. Stat. § 859.01 (3-4 month deadline set by court)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source creditor claim window is the largest fixed piece of that timeline — a mandatory wait regardless of how simple the estate is.
What probate costs in Florence County, Wisconsin comes down to a handful of line items — the court filing fee, attorney and executor compensation, publication, and sometimes a bond — scaled by the estate's size and whether the will is contested. The case itself runs through the Circuit Court at 501 Lake Ave, Florence. The court is part of the 9th Judicial District.
Wisconsin charges 0.2% of the net probate estate, minimum $20Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2.Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to open probate, the same in every county. Additional filings during administration — inventory, accounting, the final petition — add to the total.
The Circuit Court accepts e-filing (https://efiling.wicourts.gov). Paper filing remains available for self-represented filers.
Estimate the costs for this estate:
Attorney fees in Wisconsin are negotiated, typically 1.8%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 — estate value may not be the controlling factor)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to 2.9%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 — estate value may not be the controlling factor)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of estate value. Flat-fee arrangements are common for straightforward estates.
Executor compensation is also statutory in Wisconsin. Family executors who are also beneficiaries often waive the fee — executor pay is taxable income while inheritances are not.
Wisconsin requires publishing creditor notice in a local newspaper, typically $200–$500. Professional appraisals for real estate or business interests add $300–$600 per asset.
A surety bond may be required unless the will waives it or all beneficiaries consent. Premiums run roughly 0.5%Wis. Stat. § 856.25 (bond solely within court discretion; will requests not binding)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of estate value annually.
Probate in Wisconsin typically runs 9 months to 12 months, and costs accrue throughout that period.
Probate documents in Florence County can be filed in person at the Circuit Court, by mail, or electronically. Most families handling probate themselves prefer paper filing, though e-filing is available. The court sits in the 9th Judicial District.
How to File Your Documents
You can file your probate documents in person at the court or by mail.
If you prefer, you can file electronically through the state's online system. This is optional for families filing without an attorney.
View E-Filing InformationNot every estate requires an attorney. Estate size, asset types, and whether beneficiaries agree determine if self-filing at the Circuit Court is realistic.
For a full cost comparison and filing checklist, see the Florence County Self-Filing Assessment.
To file at the Circuit Court you need: the original will (or proof there isn't one), a certified death certificate, contact information for all heirs and beneficiaries, and a summary of what the estate owns and owes.
Clearing title to real estate after a death, whether by a personal representative’s deed, an affidavit of survivorship, or a court order, happens at the Register of Deeds.
Deeds and other real property documents for Florence County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Carol Demko, at 501 Lake Ave, Florence, WI 54121. Phone: 715-528-4252. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:00 PM (closed 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM).
Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 410, Florence, WI 54121.
The Register of Deeds charges $30 flat, regardless of page count.
Florence County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC eRecording, Hopdox, Indecomm.
Recording Office Record
Florence County · Carol Demko
Address
Phone
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $30 |
| Transfer tax on a TOD deed | Exempt |
Wis. Stat. 59.43(2)(ag)
Verified September 9, 2026 · Source
Wisconsin allows informal probate, so many families settle straightforward estates in Florence County without hiring an attorney. A probate attorney earns the fee when the estate is contested, includes a business or out-of-state real estate, has unclear or insolvent debts, or when beneficiaries disagree.
Probate attorney fees in Wisconsin are based on reasonable compensation — typically 1.8%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 — estate value may not be the controlling factor)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source to 2.9%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 — estate value may not be the controlling factor)Verified Sep 9, 2026View source of the estate's value, billed hourly or as a flat fee. Ask a Florence County firm to quote a structure up front.
A probate attorney files the petition with the Circuit Court, publishes the required creditor notices, prepares the inventory and accounting, handles creditor claims and tax filings, and guides the final distribution. They represent the personal representative — not the beneficiaries — a distinction that matters if a dispute develops.
FirmGreen Bay, WI
Serves the Green Bay metro and Northeast Wisconsin from Packerland Drive, appearing regularly in Brown, Outagamie, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Oconto, Shawano, and Winnebago counties. Drafts wills, revocable living trusts, durable and healthcare powers of attorney, and living wills. Founded in 1997 by Shane Laughton Brabazon.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
FirmManitowoc, WI
Established Manitowoc law firm with four attorneys, all Manitowoc natives. Handles wills, trusts, summary and formal probate administration, and advises out-of-state executors on Wisconsin probate procedures.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrustsWills
FirmSheboygan, WI
Serves Sheboygan and the surrounding lakeshore from North 8th Street, originally founded in 1898. A dedicated Estate Planning, Probate and Trusts team handles probate and trust administration for families after a death, and works with small to medium-sized businesses and the families that own them.
PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateElder LawTrusts
FirmGreen Bay, WI
Serves the Fox River Valley from Green Bay, with a second office in Kaukauna, reaching Appleton and the surrounding communities. Handles probate and estate settlement alongside wills, trusts, Medicaid planning, and asset protection, and drafts business succession plans for family-owned companies. Founded by Kevin W. Davidson; every prospective client is offered a complimentary consultation.
PracticesEstate PlanningProbateAsset ProtectionMedicaid Planningand 3 more
FirmMilwaukee, WI
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
FirmMilwaukee, WI
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
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.
Data sourced from Wisconsin statutes and official state code. How we research.
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Living trust assets, and accounts with a named beneficiary or surviving joint owner. These skip probate; some states charge the court fee only on what remains.
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Probate fee bases vary by state and may use gross estate, personal property, inventory value, or net property after debts. This calculator provides educational estimates only and does not constitute legal or financial advice. Actual costs vary significantly by county, attorney, and estate complexity. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.
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