Back to Wisconsin
Brown County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Brown County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for Brown County. Estate filings are handled by the Brown County Register in Probate. |
| Probate counter | Brown County Register in Probate, Brown County Courthouse, Room 160, 100 South Jefferson Street, Green Bay, WI 54301. |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 23600, Green Bay, WI 54305-3600. |
| Phone | (920) 448-4275 for the Brown County Register in Probate. The Clerk of Circuit Court is a separate counter. |
| Fax | (920) 448-6208. No Brown County rule says a probate filing may be made by fax. |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. |
| Estate fee | The statewide estate fee is $20 where the value of property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value where it is more, in force through October 31, 2026 and paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises the minimum to $36 where that value is $18,500 or less, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must e-file. A self-represented filer may opt in, but may also use paper by traditional methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). The e-filing fee is $35 per party per case where it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Local forms | No Brown County probate packet, cover sheet or local probate form was found. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, is the statewide public circuit court case search: https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. |
| Remote appearance | Brown County does not publish a probate-specific remote appearance rule. Ask the assigned branch about a request; statewide request forms GF-306 and GF-307 are used for remote appearance requests. |
| Website | https://www.browncountywi.gov/departments/register-in-probate/general-information/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Brown County, identify the assets, debts, title documents and beneficiary designations. Wisconsin fees, small-estate choices and the need for a court administration depend on what property is actually subject to administration, not on a rough guess about the family's total wealth.
Sunset's estate settlement platform searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions, helps you organize the asset list, and then points the paperwork toward the right Brown County counter: Room 160 for the Register in Probate, or the Register of Deeds when real estate paperwork must be recorded.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Circuit Court for Brown County serves the whole county from the courthouse in Green Bay. Brown County is its own single-county circuit, so a Brown County estate is not routed through another county's courthouse.
An estate administration belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, the case may be filed in a Wisconsin county where the decedent's property is located, and the court that first exercises jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
The Green Bay courthouse serves estates for decedents domiciled anywhere in Brown County, including Green Bay, De Pere, Allouez, Ashwaubenon, Bellevue, Denmark, Hobart, Howard, Pulaski, Suamico and the towns within the county.
The jurisdiction process
- Decide whether Brown County is the right county. Use the decedent's domicile at death, or Wisconsin property location for a nonresident decedent, under Wis. Stat. § 856.01.
- File the original will on time. Brown County's Register in Probate FAQ says the original will must be filed with the Register in Probate within 30 days of death even if no probate is required, and it may be filed with the initial probate documents if an administration is opened (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)).
- Choose the statewide path. Informal administration starts with the probate registrar under Wis. Stat. ch. 865. Formal administration starts with a petition to the circuit court. Transfer by affidavit, summary settlement and summary assignment are statewide alternatives when their statutory tests fit.
- Use the statewide PR forms. Brown County publishes no local probate packet or cover sheet. Use the Wisconsin Court System probate forms, including PR-1801 for informal administration, PR-1901 for formal administration, PR-1810 for domiciliary letters and PR-1811 for the inventory.
- File with the Brown County Register in Probate. Deliver papers to Room 160, Brown County Courthouse, 100 South Jefferson Street, Green Bay, WI 54301, or mail them to P.O. Box 23600, Green Bay, WI 54305-3600. The probate counter is open 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays.
- Use e-filing only if it applies to you. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must e-file, while a self-represented filer may opt in or may use paper by traditional methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). The e-filing fee is $35 per party per case where it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
- Plan for the statewide estate fee at the inventory stage. Through October 31, 2026, the fee is $20 where the value of property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value where it is more (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 where that value is $18,500 or less, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. The fee is paid when the inventory or other value document is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3).
- Give notice and watch the claim date set by order. In Wisconsin the claim deadline is a date set by order, by the court in a formal administration or by the probate registrar in an informal administration, at not less than three nor more than four months from the date of the order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Publication runs as a class 3 notice in a newspaper published in the county (Wis. Stat. § 859.07(1), § 879.05(4)).
- Address medical assistance and agency notices when they apply. If the decedent or the decedent's spouse received medical assistance or long-term care benefits, or if another listed state or county obligation is involved, the personal representative must give the required agency and county notice by registered or certified mail not less than 30 days before the claim deadline (Wis. Stat. § 859.07(2)).
- Wait for authority before acting for the estate. Brown County's FAQ says a person named in a will has no authority to act until domiciliary letters are granted. Domiciliary Letters, PR-1810, are the authority document for both informal and formal administration (Wis. Stat. § 856.21).
- Record real estate documents at the separate deeds office. If the estate settlement affects Brown County real estate, the recording step is usually at the Brown County Register of Deeds, Northern Building, Room 260, 305 E. Walnut Street, Green Bay, not at Room 160 of the courthouse.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Brown County
Brown County does not publish its own probate packet, cover sheet or county-created probate form. The county's Register in Probate Helpful Links page sends readers to the Wisconsin Court System for forms and instructional materials, and the county's Clerk of Circuit Court page describes Wisconsin circuit court forms as standard, statewide forms required by Wisconsin circuit courts.
| Need | Statewide form |
|---|---|
| Open informal administration | PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration |
| Heirship information | PR-1806, Proof of Heirship (Informal and Formal Administration) |
| Waiver for informal administration | PR-1803, Waiver and Consent (Informal Administration) |
| Authority document | PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters (Informal and Formal Administration) |
| Inventory | PR-1811, Inventory (Informal and Formal Administration) |
| Close informal administration | PR-1816, Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate (Informal Administration) |
| Transfer by affidavit | PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit ($50,000 and Under) (Wis. Stat. § 867.03) |
| Open formal administration | PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration |
| Formal closing documents | PR-1912, Final Judgment; PR-1913, Abridgment of Final Judgment; PR-1915, Order Discharging Personal Representative |
Use the Wisconsin Court System probate forms index, Category 26, and call the Brown County Register in Probate at (920) 448-4275 if you are unsure whether a statewide form fits your filing.
Local nuance
Brown County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Two court counters share the courthouse | Estate filings go to the Brown County Register in Probate in Room 160 at (920) 448-4275. The Clerk of Circuit Court at (920) 448-4155 is a different county department. |
| The probate counter closes at midday | The Register in Probate is open 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. |
| Mail uses the PO Box | Walk-ins go to Room 160 at 100 South Jefferson Street, Green Bay. Mail goes to P.O. Box 23600, Green Bay, WI 54305-3600. |
| The county publishes its own probate FAQ | Brown County's FAQ says the original will must be filed within 30 days of death and that a person named in a will has no authority until domiciliary letters are granted. |
| Local circuit court rules add no probate part | Brown County publishes nine parts of local circuit court rules, and none adds a probate packet, probate hearing day or local probate form. |
| Real estate paperwork goes across town | The Brown County Register of Deeds is in the Northern Building, Room 260, 305 E. Walnut Street, and that office has different hours, including a Friday close at 11:30 a.m. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Brown County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating the estate side from the title side. The Register in Probate is in Room 160 of the courthouse, while real estate paperwork is recorded at the Register of Deeds in the Northern Building. Wisconsin also has a summary confirmation route for some survivorship marital property interests at the register of deeds counter (Wis. Stat. § 867.046(2)). | Sunset identifies accounts and title clues so the spouse can see whether a court administration is needed, then helps assemble the packet for the correct Brown County office. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the Brown County Register in Probate at (920) 448-4275 before mailing. A self-represented filer may use paper by traditional methods rather than e-filing (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c)); if the case is e-filed, the e-filing fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). Transfer by affidavit is a statewide route for property subject to administration that does not exceed $50,000 in gross value (Wis. Stat. § 867.03). | Sunset helps from wherever the child lives, finds the assets, builds the estate settlement checklist and generates the probate packet for Green Bay. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale often points toward formal administration and counsel. Brown County's FAQ says authority does not exist until domiciliary letters are granted, and in a formal proceeding those letters issue after a hearing before a circuit judge or court commissioner. Real estate closing paperwork may later be recorded with the Register of Deeds, including PR-1913 after formal closing. | Sunset assembles the asset picture, prepares the family for the Room 160 filing, and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale and court-facing parts of the estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Brown County Register in Probate | Room number, direct phone and fax, courthouse address, PO Box, split office hours and the county's description of the office. | https://www.browncountywi.gov/departments/register-in-probate/general-information/ |
| Brown County Register in Probate FAQ | County answers on filing the original will, intestacy, attorney questions, domiciliary letters, the personal representative role and public probate records. | https://www.browncountywi.gov/departments/register-in-probate/general-information/faq/ |
| Brown County Circuit Court Rules | The county's local circuit court rules, including case assignment and the clerk of circuit court fax rule. The rules contain no probate part. | https://www.browncountywi.gov/departments/clerk-of-circuit-court/general-information/local-court-rules/ |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Plain-language informal administration guide prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association and hosted by the Wisconsin Court System. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate | The statewide court self-help page for probate, with links to the guide, forms, county offices and library resources. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| Circuit court probate forms | The statewide PR form set for probate, including informal administration, formal administration and summary routes. | https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA | The statewide public case search for Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate cases at the case level. | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Brown County Legal Clinic | A free clinic listed by the Wisconsin Court System where attorneys provide legal information about court procedures and forms. Call Casa ALBA Melanie at (920) 445-0104 to confirm the current schedule. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/countylegalresources.pdf |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents, with statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. | https://legalaction.org/ |
| Brown County Register of Deeds | The county office where real estate paperwork after a death is recorded, in the Northern Building rather than the courthouse. | https://www.browncountywi.gov/departments/register-of-deeds/ |
When to hire an attorney
In a Wisconsin court proceeding a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)). Informal administration under Wis. Stat. ch. 865 runs administratively before the probate registrar rather than as a proceeding in court, which is why the Wisconsin Court System publishes a personal representative's guide to informal estate administration and why probate registrar staff have a statutory duty to advise, within their competence, on preparing those documents (Wis. Stat. § 865.065(2)). The court system's self-help guide, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association, states that a formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney, that informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance, and that summary settlement does not require an attorney's assistance; Brown County's Register in Probate FAQ says the same and adds that the office cannot give legal advice. Summary settlement and summary assignment also carry their own express right to appear in person (Wis. Stat. § 867.01(5), § 867.02(5)). Counsel is especially useful when Brown County real estate must be sold, an heir objects, a claim is disputed, or the personal representative lives outside Wisconsin. Sunset connects the family to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families locate accounts, balances and clues before a Brown County filing is prepared.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset picture, family information and will details into an organized estate settlement packet aimed at the Brown County Register in Probate in Room 160.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs formal administration, a home sale, court hearing support or dispute help, Sunset connects the family with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement, find assets, prepare next steps and get connected to professional help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Brown County?
File with the Brown County Register in Probate, Room 160, Brown County Courthouse, 100 South Jefferson Street, Green Bay, WI 54301. Mail goes to P.O. Box 23600, Green Bay, WI 54305-3600, and the office's direct phone is (920) 448-4275. Wisconsin places an estate administration in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
Is the Brown County Register in Probate the same office as the Clerk of Circuit Court?
No. The Register in Probate handles estates, trusts, guardianships, protective placements and civil commitments, and answers at (920) 448-4275. The Clerk of Circuit Court is a separate county department with a different main number. For an estate, start with the Register in Probate.
When is the Brown County Register in Probate open?
The Brown County Register in Probate is open 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The midday closure is specific to this counter, so call (920) 448-4275 before traveling if timing matters.
What do I do with the original will in Brown County?
Brown County's FAQ says the original will must be filed with the Register in Probate within 30 days of death even if no probate is required. If an administration is opened, the original will can be filed with the initial probate documents (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)).
What does it cost to open an estate in Brown County?
The estate fee is statewide, not a Brown County charge. Through October 31, 2026, it is $20 where the value of property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value where it is more (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 where that value is $18,500 or less, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. The fee is paid when the inventory or other value document is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3). If e-filing applies, the separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Can I mail a probate filing to Brown County, or do I have to e-file?
Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must e-file, but a self-represented filer may choose paper filing by traditional methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). Mail probate papers to the Brown County Register in Probate at P.O. Box 23600, Green Bay, WI 54305-3600, or deliver them to Room 160 during the office's published hours.
Does Brown County have its own probate forms?
No Brown County probate packet, cover sheet or county-created probate form is published. Use the statewide Wisconsin Court System PR forms, Category 26, and call the Register in Probate at (920) 448-4275 if you need to ask which form the office expects for a particular filing.
Can I look up a Brown County estate case online?
Yes, use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Brown County's own court page describes WCCA as providing access to certain public records of Wisconsin circuit courts, and Brown County's Register in Probate FAQ says probate records are open to the public unless sealed by court order. WCCA should be used for case lookup, not as a promise about any specific document.
Do I need a lawyer for a Brown County estate?
The Wisconsin Court System self-help guide says formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney, while informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance. Brown County's Register in Probate FAQ says the same and adds that the office cannot give legal advice. A contested issue, a formal hearing, a real estate sale or a disputed claim is a strong reason to involve counsel.
Where do I record paperwork for a Brown County house after someone dies?
Real estate paperwork is recorded with the Brown County Register of Deeds, Northern Building, Room 260, 305 E. Walnut Street, Green Bay, WI 54301, not at the Register in Probate counter. That office is open 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Friday, and it states that personal checks are not accepted. Recording a document is $30.00 per document under Wis. Stat. § 59.43(2)(ag).
Is there free legal help for a Brown County estate?
The Wisconsin Court System lists a Brown County Legal Clinic at Casa ALBA Melanie, 314 S. Madison Street, Green Bay, where attorneys provide legal information about court procedures and forms; call (920) 445-0104 to confirm the current schedule. Legal Action of Wisconsin also has statewide intake for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents at (855) 947-2529. Neither listing promises help with every estate question.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.