Final Judgment (Formal Administration)

There are all sorts of forms executors, beneficiaries, and probate court clerks have to fill out and correspond with during probate and estate settlement, including affidavits, letters, petitions, summons, orders, and notices.

Final Judgment (Formal Administration) is a commonly used form within Wisconsin. Here’s an overview of what the form is and means, including a breakdown of the situations when (or why) you may need to use it:

To grant final judgment.

Atticus Fast Facts About Final Judgment (Formal Administration)

Sometimes it’s tough to find a quick summary— here’s the important details you should know about Final Judgment (Formal Administration):

• This form pertains to the State of Wisconsin

Government forms are not typically updated often, though when they are, it often happens rather quietly. While Atticus works hard to keep this information about Wisconsin’s Form PR-1912 - Final Judgment (Formal Administration) up to date, certain details can change from time-to-time with little or no communication.

Step 1 - Download the correct Wisconsin form based on the name and ID if applicable

Double check that you have both the correct form name and the correct form ID. Some Wisconsin probate forms can look remarkably similar, so it’s best to double, even triple-check that you’re using the right one! Keep in mind that not all States have a standardized Form ID system for their probate forms.

Step 2 - Complete the Document

Fill out all relevant fields in Form PR-1912, take a break, and then review. Probate and estate settlement processes in WI are long enough to begin with, and making a silly error can push your timeline even farther back. No thank you!

Note: If you don’t currently know all of the answers and are accessing Form PR-1912 online, be sure to avoid closing the browser tab and potentially losing all your progress (or use a platform like Atticus to help avoid making mistakes).

Step 3 - Have Form PR-1912 witnessed or notarized (if required)

Some States and situations require particular forms to be notarized. If you have been instructed to get the document notarized or see it in writing on the document, then make sure to hire a local notary. There are max notary fees in the United States that are defined and set by local law. Take a look at our full guide to notary fees to make sure you aren’t overpaying or getting ripped off.

Step 4 - Submit Final Judgment (Formal Administration) to the relevant office

This is most often the local probate court where the decedent (person who passed away) is domiciled (permanently resides) or the institution involved with this particular form (e.g. a bank). Some offices allow you to submit forms online, other’s don’t, and we while we generally recommend going in-person to expedite the process, sometimes that simply isn’t an option.

It’s also a generally good idea to establish a positive working relationship with any probate clerk (unfortunately there’s enough people & process out there making things more difficult and unnecessarily confusing for them), so a best practice is to simply ask the probate clerk proactively exactly how and where they’d prefer you to submit all forms.

Need help getting in touch with a local probate court or identifying a domicile probate jurisdiction?

👉 Find and Contact your Local Probate Court

👉 What is a Domicile Jurisdiction?

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Different probate forms or processes can require different deadlines or response times for completing the appropriate form.

While some steps in the process are bound to specific deadlines (like petitioning for probate, having to submit an inventory of assets, or filing applicable notices to creditors and beneficiaries), many probate forms or processes are not tied to a specific deadline since the scope of work can vary based on situational factors or requirements involved.

Either way, there are a bunch of practical reasons why personal representatives should work to complete each step as thoroughly and quickly as possible when completing probate in Wisconsin.

5 reasons you should submit PR-1912 as quickly as possible:

1. The sooner you begin, the faster Wisconsin can allow heirs and beneficiaries to get their share of assets subject to probate. Acting promptly can also decrease the costs & overall mental fatigue through an otherwise burdensome process.
   
   Helpful Context: What’s the Difference Between Probate and Non-Probate Assets?

2. In general, creditors of an estate usually have around 3-6 months from the time you file notice to creditors to file any claims for debt against the deceased’s assets. If they don’t, then that debt is forfeited (and more importantly, the executor won’t be held personally responsible). So doing this sooner means you have a better idea of who is owed what and ensures you won’t get a surprise collector months later.

3. Not filing a will within 30 days (on average) could mean that the probate process proceeds according to intestate laws (laws that govern what happens to someone's stuff without a will) or is subject to unnecessary supervision by the probate court. And if you aren't directly related to the deceased (a.k.a. next of kin), this could also mean you lose your inheritance.

4. It’s important to file any necessary state tax returns on behalf of the deceased or estate by the following tax season in Wisconsin. If you don’t, you could owe penalties and interest. This also includes any necessary federal tax returns such as Forms 1040, 1041, or even a Form 706 estate tax return.

5. If a house in the State of Wisconsin is left empty (or abandoned) for a while, insurance can get dicey. For example, if the house burns down and no one has been there for a year, an insurance company may get out of paying your claim.

If you’re not using Atticus to get specific forms, deadlines, and timelines for Wisconsin probate, then try and stay as organized as possible, pay close attention to the dates mentioned in any correspondence you have with the State’s government officials, call the local Wisconsin probate clerk or court for exact answers regarding Form PR-1912, and when in doubt— consult a qualified trust & estates lawyer for that area.

Final Judgment (Formal Administration) is one of the many probate court forms available for download through Atticus.

It may also be available through some Wisconsin probate court sites, such as . In order to access the latest version, be updated with any revisions, and get full instructions on how to complete each form, check out the Atticus Probate & Estate Settlement software or consider hiring a qualified legal expert locally within Wisconsin.

While Atticus automatically provides the latest forms, be sure to choose the correct version of Form PR-1912 - Final Judgment (Formal Administration) f using any other site or resource in order to avoid having to re-complete the form process and/or make another trip to the Wisconsin probate court office.

Final Judgment (Formal Administration) is a .pdf, so opening it should be as simple as clicking “View Form” from within the Atticus app or by clicking the appropriate link found on any Wisconsin-provided government platform. Once you’ve opened the form, you should be able to directly edit the form before saving or printing.

Here’s the text, verbatim, that is found on Wisconsin Form PR-1912 - Final Judgment (Formal Administration). You can use this to get an idea of the context of the form and what type of information is needed.

PR-1912, 10/10 Final Judgment (Formal Administration) §§701.20, 705.15, 766.58, 863.23, and 863.27, Wisconsin Statutes This form shall not be modified. It may be supplemented with additional material. Page 1 of 2 STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, COUNTY IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTATE OF Name Amended Final Judgment (Formal Administration) Case No. A Petition for Final Judgment was filed. THE COURT FINDS: 1. The decedent died on [Date] , domiciled in County, State of and owned property located in County, Wisconsin. 2. The decedent had a will dated a codicil(s) dated which was admitted to probate. no will. 3. The Petition was heard upon notice and appearance. waiver of notice. 4. Notice was published for determination of heirship. 5. The heirs (persons entitled to intestate succession) of the decedent are as follows: See attached 6. The payment of all required taxes, claims and charges are stated in the final account. 7. At the time of death, the decedent had an interest in real property. 8. The decedent had a life estate, or an interest as a joint tenant in property for which a certificate of termination was not previously issued. The life estate or joint tenancy interest terminated upon death and any surviving joint tenants have a right of survivorship in such property. 9. The decedent had an interest in marital property for which a certificate was not previously issued. 10. The surviving spouse filed a Petition for the confirmation of surviving spouse’s one-half interest in marital property immediately before the death of decedent and this interest is confirmed. PR-1912, 10/10 Final Judgment (Formal Administration) §§701.20, 705.15, 766.58, 863.23, and 863.27, Wisconsin Statutes This form shall not be modified. It may be supplemented with additional material. Page 2 of 2 11. A designated person trust or other entity under §766.58(3)(f), Wis. Stats., or a transfer on death beneficiary under §705.15, Wis. Stats., filed a petition for confirmation of an interest in property passing by nontestamentary disposition under §705.15 or §766.38(3)(f), Wis. Stats., and this interest is confirmed. 12. The property referred to in 7. through 11. above is as follows: See attached Description of Property (include legal description of real estate, WI county where the property is located and Recording Data from creating document) Person Receiving Property and Nature of Interest 13. Principal and income require apportionment as provided in §701.20, Wis. Stats. See attached 14. Property remains for distribution as shown in the final account. 15. Other: THE COURT ORDERS: 1. The Petition for final judgment is granted including approval of A. the classification of assets as shown in the inventory; B. the payment of claims and debts as stated in the account(s) filed; C. the fees of attorney(s), personal representative(s), and guardian(s) ad litem; AND D. the distributions paid to date described in the account(s). 2. The property remaining for distribution is assigned as follows: See attached Person(s) Entitled to Receive Description of Property Value $ 3. Other: THIS IS A FINAL ORDER FOR THE PURPOSE OF APPEAL IF SIGNED BY A CIRCUIT COURT JUDGE. Form completed by: (Name) Address Telephone Number Bar Number