Estate Planning for Ozaukee County, Wisconsin Property Owners
For most Ozaukee 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 Ozaukee 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 Ozaukee 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, Ozaukee 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 Ozaukee County
A transfer on death deed lets an owner name a beneficiary who receives Ozaukee 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 Ozaukee County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 121 W Main St, Room 120, Port Washington, WI 53074. Phone: 262-284-8260. Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM (Vital Records counter closes 4:00 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.
Ozaukee County accepts e-recording through Simplifile.
Documents submitted by mail go to PO Box 994, Port Washington, WI 53074.
Recording Office Record
Register of Deeds
Ozaukee 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.
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 Ozaukee 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 Ozaukee County are recorded with the Register of Deeds at 121 W Main St, Room 120, Port Washington, WI 53074. Call 262-284-8260 to confirm current recording procedures.
Recording a deed in Ozaukee 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.
Ozaukee 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 (Vital Records counter closes 4:00 PM). Reach the office at 262-284-8260. 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 Ozaukee 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.
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