Estate Planning for Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Property Owners

For most Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee 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, Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee County

A transfer on death deed names a beneficiary who receives Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee County are recorded with the Register of Deeds, led by Israel Ramon, at 901 N 9th St, Room 103, Milwaukee, WI 53233. Phone: 414-278-4021. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM.

The Register of Deeds charges $30 flat, regardless of page count. Recording a 2-page transfer on death deed in Milwaukee County comes to $30. A transfer on death deed is exempt from transfer tax.

Milwaukee County accepts electronic recording through Simplifile.

Recording Office Record

Register of Deeds

Milwaukee County · Israel Ramon

Address

901 N 9th St, Room 103Milwaukee, WI 53233

Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 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 Milwaukee County

Serves Milwaukee families from its office on East Erie Street. Guides estate administrators through probate for the assets that require it, administers trusts under an existing estate plan, and works to head off disagreements among family members. The firm also handles elder and disability law, public benefits planning, guardianships, and same-sex estate planning.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawGuardianshipSpecial Needs Planning

Office
222 E. Erie Street, Suite 320Milwaukee, WI 53202

FirmMilwaukee, WI

Walny Legal Group LLC

Since 2011

Serves Milwaukee and Waukesha County families from downtown Milwaukee, with a second office in Brookfield. Walks executors, trustees, and beneficiaries through probate and trust administration, and handles estate litigation and mediation when a family disagrees. Also covers elder and special needs law and business succession; founder Eido Walny holds the Estate Planning Law Specialist credential.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTrust LitigationElder Lawand 2 more

Office
250 East Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 1750Milwaukee, WI 53202

FirmKenosha, WI

Wokwicz Law Offices, LLC

Since 1958

Serves the Kenosha, Racine, Walworth, and Milwaukee county probate courts from Kenosha. Handles estate administration for personal representatives, including asset inventory and valuation, creditor claims, fiduciary income and estate tax returns, beneficiary distributions, and will contests, plus trust administration. In continuous local practice since 1958, with no-cost initial consultations.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateElder LawTax Planningand 2 more

Office
6121 Green Bay Road, Suite 240Kenosha, WI 53142
Free consultation

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

FirmMilwaukee, WI

Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c.

Serves the whole state

Serves Milwaukee, Madison, Waukesha, and Wausau clients from four Wisconsin offices. The Trusts and Estates group builds revocable living trusts, wills, marital property agreements, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives, with attention to estate and gift tax exposure and to keeping a plan flexible as the family or the tax law changes.

PracticesEstate PlanningProbateTax PlanningBusiness SuccessionTrusts

Office
1000 N Water Street, Suite 1700Milwaukee, WI 53202
See all 10 firms serving Milwaukee 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.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Legal Sources

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

Wisconsin Estate Planning Articles

Estate planning articles for Wisconsin.