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What to do when someone dies - the 2025 checklist

Learn what it is, the terms, and what the next few months will look like. We cover everything from qualifying to inventorying and closing.

Beginner's Guide to Probate What Is Probate

The beginner's guide to Probate

Being an executor involves a whole host of responsibilities that take an average of 500 hours and often last well over a year.

How Executors Succeed

Executors of an estate —what they do & secrets to succeeding

Feeling overwhelmed? Check out our comprehensive guides to probate and estate settlement

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Probate

Affidavit Of Heirship

Affidavit Of Service Or Waiver Of Notice

Instructions For Completing Wisconsin’s Transfer By Affidavit ($50,000 Gross And Under)

Transfer By Affidavit

To provide notice to participants in a court proceeding of the date, time and place of hearing. CCAP form.

Notice Of Hearing Probate

To apply for informal administration of an estate.

Application For Informal Administration

To decline to serve as personal representative or testamentary trustee when nominated in a will or to resign after appointment as a PR, testamentary trustee or special administrator.

Declination To Serve Or Resignation (Informal And Formal Administration)

To obtain waivers of notice, consent of all interested persons to use informal administration and appointment of the proposed personal representative from interested persons.

Waiver And Consent (Informal Administration)

To set a deadline for filing claims in an informal administration in which all interested persons have signed waivers consenting to informal administration.

Notice To Creditors (Informal Administration)

To give notice to interested persons of the filing of the application for informal administration; to give notice to creditors and set the deadline for filing claims.

Notice Setting Time To Hear Application And Deadline For Filing Claims (Informal Administration)

To establish under oath the persons who are the heirs of a decedent.

Proof Of Heirship (Informal And Formal Administration)

Consent to serve as personal representative or special administrator and acceptance of duties of the office. To designate resident agent if nonresident personal representative or special administor is named.

Consent To Serve (Informal, Formal, And Special Administration)

To grant the application for informal administration.

Statement Of Informal Administration

Signature Bond In Estate Or Trust Proceedings

Court approval to guarantee performance as fiduciary.

Court Approval Of Signature Bond In Estate Or Trust Proceedings

To evidence authority of personal representative to act on behalf of an estate.

Domiciliary Letters (Informal And Formal Administration)

To identify property subject to administration.

Inventory (Informal And Formal Administration)

To initiate formal proceedings regarding a particular issue or the remaining administration of an estate pending under informal administration.

Demand For Formal Proceedings (Informal Administration)

To account for the receipts and distributions affecting the property subject to administration.

Estate Account (Informal And Formal Administration)

To acknowledge receipt of distribution or payment from the estate.

Estate Receipt (Informal And Formal Administration)

To close the estate without converting to formal administration.

Statement Of Personal Representative To Close Estate (Informal Administration)

To provide evidence that documents were sent to the persons whose names and addresses are shown.

Affidavit Of Service (Probate)

Claim Against Estate (Informal And Formal Administration)

To petition the court to dispense with a guardian ad litem.

Petition To Dispense With Guardian Ad Litem (Informal And Formal Administration)

To dispense with a guardian ad litem due to virtual representation.

Order Dispensing With Guardian Ad Litem (Informal And Formal Administration)

To notify the court appointing a guardian of the estate of the total property to be distributed to the guardian of the estate for the benefit of the guardian's ward at least ten days prior to the distribution.

Notice Of Distribution To Ward (Informal And Formal Administration)

To provide evidence of termination of the decedent's interest(s) in property or confirmation of the interest of the surviving spouse or designated persons.

Statement Of Termination Or Confirmation Of Interest(s) In Property (Informal Administration)

To evidence transfer of the decedent's interest in the property listed to the persons entitled to the interest.

Statement Of Transfer Of Interest In Property (Informal Administration)

To transfer decedent's assets not exceeding $50,000 (gross) to an heir, trustee of trust created by decedent, or person who was guardian of the decedent at the time of the decedent's death for distribution.

Transfer By Affidavit ($50,000 And Under)

To request an extension of time to file the inventory or close out the estate.

Petition For Extension Of Time

To grant or deny an extended time to file the inventory and/or complete the estate. CCAP form.

Order For Extension Of Time

To initiate the summary settlement of an estate. May include request for special administration.

Petition For Summary Settlement (Formal Administration)

To order and give notice of hearing petition to assign property to those entitled to it.

Order And Notice For Hearing On Petition For Summary Settlement (Formal Administration)

To assign property to those entitled to it. May include order appointing Special Administrator.

Order On Petition For Summary Settlement (Formal Administration)

To initiate summary assignment of an estate. May include special administration.

Petition For Summary Assignment (Formal Administration)

To list any property in which the decedent had an interest and names and addresses of any known creditors of the decedent or the estate not included on the petition for summary assignment.

Affidavit Of Additional Property And/or Creditor For Summary Assignment (Formal Administration)

To give notice of procedure to creditors when the court does not require notice to interested persons.

Notice To Creditors For Summary Assignment (Formal Administration)

To give notice to interested persons and creditors.

Order And Notice Of Hearing Petition Of Summary Assignment (Formal Administration)

To assign the property to those entitled to it. May include order appointing special administrator.

Order On Petition For Summary Assignment (Formal Administration)

Proof Of Will (Formal Administration)

To obtain waiver of notice and consent of all interested persons to grant petition.

Waiver And Consent (Formal Administration)

To request appointment of a special administrator.

Petition For Special Administration (Formal Administration)

To give notice, if required, to all persons interested.

Order Setting Time To Hear Petition For Special Administration (Formal Administration)

Order For Special Administration (Formal Administration)

To evidence authority of special administrator to act on behalf of an estate.

Letters Of Special Administration (Formal Administration)

To report completion of duties and request discharge of special administrator.

Petition For Discharge Of Special Administrator (Formal Administration)

Order Discharging Special Administrator (Formal Administration)

To initiate formal administration of an estate.

Petition For Formal Administration

To obtain waivers of notice and consent to all interested persons.

Waiver, Consent And Approval (Formal Administration)

To set time for hearing a petition for administration and and to give notice to creditors and persons interested.

Order Setting Time To Hear Petition For Administration And Deadline For Filing Claims (Formal Administration)

To set deadline for filing claims when all interested persons have waived notice.

Order Setting Deadline For Filing A Claim (Formal Administration)

To grant the petition for formal administration and to appoint personal representative.

Order For Formal Administration

To appoint an appraiser to appraise property.

Order Appointing Appraiser(s)

To provide notice to interested persons that an inventory has been filed with the court and the option to request a copy or summary.

Notice Of Inventory On File (Formal Administration)

Judgment On Claims (Formal Administration)

To request approval of the final account and enter final judgment.

Petition For Final Judgment (Formal Administration)

To give notice of hearing on petition for final judgment.

Order And Notice For Hearing On Petition For Final Judgment (Formal Administration)

Final Judgment (Formal Administration)

To record with the register of deeds transfers of real property included in the final judgment.

Abridgment Of Final Judgment (Formal Administration)

To provide proof of recording of final judgment or abridgement with Register of Deeds in appropriate county.

Proof Of Recording (Formal Administration)

To discharge personal representative and cancel any bond.

Order Discharging Personal Representative (Formal Administration)

To petition for termination of joint tenancy or life estate separately from the final judgment.

Petition For Termination Of Joint Tenancy Or Life Estate (867.04)

To certify termination of joint tenancy or life estate.

Certificate Of Termination Of Joint Tenancy Or Life Estate (867.04)

To obtain certification of termination of the decedent's interest(s) in property transferring outside probate or vesting interest in survivorship marital property in surviving spouse.

Petition For Summary Confirmation Of Interest In Property (867.046(1m))

To certify termination of the decedent's interest(s) in property to be transferred outside probate or vesting interest in survivorship marital property in surviving spouse.

Certification Of Summary Confirmation Of Interest In Property (867.046(1m))

To consent to serve as trustee and designate resident agent for nonresident trustee.

Consent To Serve As Trustee

To evidence authority to serve as a trustee.

Wisconsin Probate Forms

All Forms

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Looking for probate and estate settlement guidance?

Feeling overwhelmed? Check out our comprehensive guides to probate and estate settlement

What to do when someone dies - the 2025 checklist

The beginner's guide to Probate

Executors of an estate —what they do & secrets to succeeding

Check out these helpful resources to get a jump start on Probate and Estate Settlement

Click to get help with Probate & settling an estate