Estate Planning for Marathon County, Wisconsin Property Owners
For most Marathon 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 Marathon 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 Marathon 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.
Without a recorded beneficiary designation or a trust, Marathon County property passes through the Circuit Court — even simple Wisconsin probates run 6+ months and start with about $20 in filing fees.
Record a Transfer-on-Death Deed in Marathon County
A transfer on death deed lets an owner name a beneficiary who receives Marathon County property automatically at death, without probate. It is recorded with the Register of Deedsduring the owner’s lifetime and can be revoked any time.
Before recording, a Wisconsin transfer on death deed needs notary acknowledgment. The deed must be recorded before the owner's death to take effect.
Where to Record Property Documents
Deeds and other real property documents for Marathon County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 500 Forest St, Wausau, WI 54403. Phone: 715-261-1470. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM.
Recording costs $30 flat, regardless of page count; TOD deeds are generally transfer-tax exempt. Page count, cover sheets, and any local transfer-tax add-ons under Wisconsin law can change the final amount, so confirm the total with the Register of Deeds before submitting.
Marathon County accepts e-recording through Simplifile.
After 4:15 PM, records can be picked up or mailed the following business day.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Marathon County
Address
Phone
Hours
E-recording
Recording fees
| Flat fee (any length) | $30 |
FLAT $30.00 to record any document, regardless of the number of pages (Wis. Stat. 59.43(2)(ag)). There is no per-page charge — the $2 first-page / $1 per-additional-page schedule in Wis. Stat. 59.43(2)(b) applies only to COPIES of recorded documents. The only carve-outs are vital records (par. (f)) and cemetery/subdivision/condominium plats ($50, par. (h)). A TOD deed under Wis. Stat. 705.15 is $30 total: no transfer fee (Wis. Stat. 77.25(10m)) and no transfer return (Wis. Stat. 77.255).
Wis. Stat. 59.43(2)(ag)
Transfer tax
30 cents per $100 of value or fraction thereof ($3.00 per $1,000, 0.3%), imposed on the grantor. Wis. Stat. 77.22(1). Collected by the register of deeds at recording and remitted to the Department of Revenue under Wis. Stat. 77.23. State; None. Wis. Stat. 77.256(1) prohibits any city, village, town, or county from imposing a fee on a conveyance exempt from the real estate transfer fee under Wis. Stat. 77.25. local. Transfer-on-death deeds are generally exempt (Express statutory exemption. Wis. Stat. 77.25(10m) exempts a conveyance "solely to designate a TOD beneficiary under s. 705.15," and Wis. Stat. 77.25(11m) exempts the later conveyance "by nonprobate transfer on death under s. 705.15." Both recording the TOD deed and the passage of title at death are exempt.). The transfer fee is normally collected by the register of deeds at recording, accompanied by an electronic Real Estate Transfer Return (eRETR) signed by grantor and grantee — but Wis. Stat. 77.255 expressly waives the return for a Wis. Stat. 77.25(10m) conveyance, so a TOD deed requires NO eRETR and NO transfer fee at recording.
After 4:15 PM, records can be picked up or mailed the following business day.
Verified July 14, 2026 · Source
A Living Trust Covers More Than One Deed
A transfer-on-death deed moves a single property. A revocable living trust holds the home, bank and investment accounts, and other assets together, so the whole estate skips the Circuit Court — not just the house. For a Marathon County family with more than one major asset, the trust is usually the cleaner plan.
Create a Revocable Trust in 15 minutes
Legal Sources
- Wis. Stat. 59.43(2)(ag)
Data sourced from Wisconsin statutes and official state code. How we research.
Frequently Asked Questions
Deeds and other real property documents for Marathon County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 500 Forest St, Wausau, WI 54403. Call 715-261-1470 to confirm current recording procedures.
Recording a deed in Marathon County costs $30 flat, regardless of page count; TOD deeds are generally transfer-tax exempt. Page count, required cover sheets, and any local transfer tax can change the final total.
Marathon County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile. Paper recording by mail or in person is also accepted.
The Register of Deeds is open Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM. Reach the office at 715-261-1470. Confirm whether walk-in or mail-in recording is preferred before you go.
Yes. Deeds recorded in Wisconsin must be signed in front of a notary before the Register of Deeds will accept them. A transfer-on-death deed follows the same execution rules — see the Marathon County signing requirements.
A transfer-on-death (TOD) deed names a beneficiary who receives the property automatically when the owner dies, without probate. The deed is recorded with the Register of Deedsduring the owner’s lifetime. Start one with the Wisconsin TOD deed form.
Wisconsin Estate Planning Attorneys
Find estate planning attorneys serving Marathon County by practice area.
Wisconsin Estate Planning Articles
Estate planning articles for Wisconsin.
