Estate Planning for Forest County, Wisconsin Property Owners

For most Forest 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.

Record a TOD deedWhere to recordLocal attorneys

For a Forest 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 Forest 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 Forest County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Forest 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.

Create a WisconsinTOD deed →Forest Countysigning requirements →

Where to Record Property Documents

Deeds and other real property documents for Forest County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Cortney Britten Cleereman, at 200 E Madison St, Crandon, WI 54520. Phone: 715-478-3823. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.

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

Forest County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile, CSC eRecording Solutions.

Recording Office Record

Register of Deeds

Forest County · Cortney Britten Cleereman

Address

200 E Madison StCrandon, WI 54520

Fax

715-478-3837

Hours

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

E-recording

Available via Simplifile, CSC eRecording SolutionsE-recording info →
Visit recorder website →

Recording fees

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

Wis. Stat. 59.43(2)(ag)

Open in Google Maps

Verified September 9, 2026 · Source

Estate Planning Attorneys Serving Forest County

FirmStevens Point, WI

Anderson O'Brien, LLP

Since 1886

Serves Portage, Wood, Marathon, Waushara, Adams, and Waupaca counties from Stevens Point, reaching Wisconsin Rapids, Wausau, Plover, and Waupaca. Handles estate administration and summary settlement, trust administration, and guardianships for families after a death, alongside wills, revocable trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. Founded in 1886.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 3 more

Office
1257 Main StreetStevens Point, WI 54481

FirmWausau, WI

Eaton Law, LLP

Serves Marathon County and central Wisconsin from Wausau. Handles informal and formal probate, termination of a decedent's joint-property interest, small-estate transfers, and trust administration for revocable, irrevocable, and testamentary trusts, plus will challenges and breach of fiduciary duty claims. Estate and probate work is billed on a flat-fee basis.

PracticesEstate PlanningTrust AdministrationProbateTrust Litigationand 2 more

Office
513 Grant StreetWausau, WI 54403

FirmWausau, WI

Hougum Law Firm, LLC

Serves Marathon County and the rest of Wisconsin from Wausau, with offices in Rhinelander and Plover. Handles probate and trust administration, guardianship, and crisis nursing home and Medicaid planning, alongside revocable living trusts, wills, and powers of attorney. New clients start with a two-hour complimentary consultation.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateMedicaid PlanningPowers Of Attorneyand 2 more

Office
305 S. 18th Avenue, Suite 200Wausau, WI 54401
Free consultation

FirmStevens Point, WI

Lauterbach Legal LLC

Since 2014

Modern law firm focused exclusively on estate planning, probate, and estate settlement serving central Wisconsin from Stevens Point and Wisconsin Rapids offices.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateSpecial Needs PlanningBusiness Successionand 2 more

Office
106 McDill Avenue, Suite 100Stevens Point, WI 54481

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 Forest 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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