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Burnett County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Burnett County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court for Burnett County |
| Filing office | Burnett County Register in Probate, Burnett County Government Center, 7410 County Road K, Siren, WI 54872. The county materials place probate functions in the Government Center, with Clerk of Court and Register in Probate rooms listed as nearby sub-offices. |
| Phone | (715) 349-2147 |
| Fax | (715) 349-7659. Burnett County local Rule 803.02 says a signed probate document may be faxed only to show the court that the document is complete. The original still must be filed. |
| Hours | 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. |
| Estate fee | Through October 31, 2026: $20 if the value of property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent above that amount. From November 1, 2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179: $36 if that value is $18,500 or less, and 0.2 percent above that amount. The fee is paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing. Self-represented filers may use e-filing voluntarily or file and receive papers by traditional methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). As of the July 13, 2026 Wisconsin circuit court fee tables, the e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7). |
| Local forms | Burnett County local Rule 810 says 10th judicial administrative district case-management forms, guidelines and checklists are used when appropriate, but they do not replace the statewide forms created under Wis. Stat. § 758.18. |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Use it for case lookup, not as a promise that every probate document is viewable online. |
| Remote appearance | Local Rule 217 allows videoconferencing in circuit court proceedings when the court permits it. Ask the Register in Probate how to request permission for a particular hearing. |
| Websites | Clerk of Courts / Register in Probate; About Register in Probate; Local court rules |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Wisconsin probate track, list the assets, debts, beneficiaries, and any real estate. Burnett County local rules make that early inventory work especially important because the estate inventory is due no later than four months after Domiciliary Letters issue, together with the statutory fee.
Sunset's estate settlement platform can search more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts and assets before you prepare the Burnett County packet or decide whether counsel is needed.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Burnett County probate filings go to the Burnett County Register in Probate in Siren. Burnett County is a single-county circuit, not a shared circuit with another county.
For a decedent who was domiciled in Wisconsin, administration is filed in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. For a decedent with no Wisconsin domicile, it 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 jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct Wisconsin path before filing. Informal administration starts with an application, formal administration starts with a petition, and smaller estates may have a statewide alternative covered on the Wisconsin page. If Burnett County real estate is involved, gather deeds, mortgage information, marital property information, and any will before you call the Register in Probate.
- Prepare the statewide PR forms and any Burnett County or 10th judicial administrative district materials the office directs you to use. Local Rule 810 says district case-management forms, guidelines and checklists are used when appropriate, but they do not replace the statewide forms.
- File with the Burnett County Register in Probate at the Government Center in Siren. Local Rule 803.01 directs probate documents to the Register in Probate office unless they are filed with the court during a hearing.
- Deliver the original will if there is one. Local Rule 805.01 says only original wills are accepted for filing, except when an attorney can prove the validity of a copy. State law also requires a person holding a will to file it or deliver it to the person named to act as personal representative within 30 days after learning of the death and the person's role (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)).
- Do not rely on fax for signed probate documents. Under local Rule 803.02, a faxed signed document may show that the document is complete, but the original still must be filed. The transmitting party is responsible for timely and complete receipt.
- Pay the estate fee when the inventory is filed, not when the case opens. Through October 31, 2026, the fee is $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above that value; from November 1, 2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179, it is $36 at $18,500 or less and 0.2 percent above that value (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3).
- Complete notice and claims steps. In Wisconsin, the court or the probate registrar sets the claim deadline by order at a date not less than three nor more than four months from the date of the order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Publication and any required agency notices must follow the Wisconsin rules described on the state page.
- Schedule hearings through the correct Burnett County office. Local Rule 804 says the Register in Probate schedules probate cases on the judge's probate calendar, and uncontested probate matters are scheduled with the Register in Probate.
- Ask early if you want to appear by video. Local Rule 217 allows videoconferencing when the court permits it, but the rule leaves the decision to the court.
- After appointment, use Domiciliary Letters as the authority document. PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters, is the Wisconsin authority document for both informal and formal administration.
- File the inventory within Burnett County's local deadline. Local Rule 805.08 requires the estate inventory no later than four months after Domiciliary Letters issue, with the statutory fee.
- Administer and close the estate. Burnett County local rules require receipts from heirs or beneficiaries and documentation that residual beneficiaries or heirs were advised of personal representative and attorney fees before closing. Local Rule 805.09 also requires a Wisconsin closing certificate for fiduciaries and, if applicable, a federal estate tax closing letter before closing unless the court approves waiver.
Executor duties
In Wisconsin, the first-reference term is personal representative. In Burnett County, local rules add several practical duties to the statewide estate settlement work.
| Local duty | What Burnett County requires |
|---|---|
| Original documents | Signed probate documents that are faxed still require the original to be filed under local Rule 803.02. |
| Proof of heirship | Local Rule 805.02 requires Proof of Heirship to be filed with all opening papers for a summary settlement or summary assignment petition. |
| Inventory timing | Local Rule 805.08 requires the inventory no later than four months after Domiciliary Letters issue, with the statutory fee. |
| Closing materials | Local Rules 805.09 and 805.10 require tax closing materials unless waived, signed receipts from heirs or beneficiaries, and documentation that residual beneficiaries or heirs were advised of the personal representative's and attorney's fees. |
| Nonresident nominee | Local Rule 805.04 says only Wisconsin residents may be appointed personal representative unless, at the court's discretion, a nominated nonresident secures a resident agent and posts a bond. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Burnett County
Use Wisconsin's statewide PR probate forms for Burnett County filings. Common statewide forms include PR-1801 for informal administration, PR-1901 for formal administration, PR-1806 for Proof of Heirship, PR-1810 for Domiciliary Letters, PR-1811 for the inventory, and PR-1816 for an informal closing statement.
Burnett County local Rule 810 adds that case-management forms, guidelines and checklists created by the 10th judicial administrative district Registers in Probate are used when appropriate. The same rule says those local materials do not replace the statewide forms created under Wis. Stat. § 758.18.
For Burnett County summary settlement or summary assignment opening papers, local Rule 805.02 specifically requires Proof of Heirship to be filed with the opening papers.
Timeline
- Before filing, gather the will, asset information, debts, interested-person information, and any Burnett County real estate details. If a document requires an original signature, local Rule 803.02 means fax does not replace the original filing.
- When the case opens, the court or the probate registrar sets the creditor claim deadline by order at a date not less than three nor more than four months from the order date (Wis. Stat. § 859.01).
- After Domiciliary Letters issue, Burnett County local Rule 805.08 requires the inventory no later than four months later, with the statutory fee.
- For hearings, local Rule 804 places probate scheduling with the Register in Probate. Uncontested matters are scheduled with that office.
- Burnett County local Rules 805.12 and 809.01 set a 10th judicial administrative district benchmark for estate actions to be disposed of within twelve months from the date the petition or application to open the estate is filed.
- Before closing, local Rules 805.09 and 805.10 require required tax closing materials unless waived, receipts from heirs or beneficiaries, and documentation that residual beneficiaries or heirs were advised of the personal representative's and attorney's fees.
Local nuance
Burnett County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to know |
|---|---|
| Where probate papers go | Local Rule 803.01 directs probate documents to the Burnett County Register in Probate unless they are filed with the court during a hearing. |
| Fax is limited | Local Rule 803.02 allows faxing a signed document only to show that it is complete. The original still must be filed. |
| Scheduling | Local Rule 804 says the Register in Probate schedules probate cases on the judge's probate calendar, and uncontested matters are scheduled with the Register in Probate. |
| Inventory | Local Rule 805.08 sets a four-month inventory deadline after Domiciliary Letters issue. |
| Closing benchmark | Local Rules 805.12 and 809.01 set a twelve-month benchmark from filing the petition or application to opening the estate. |
| Remote proceedings | Local Rule 217 allows videoconferencing when the court permits it. Ask the Register in Probate how to request permission for your case. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Action of Wisconsin and Judicare Legal Aid merged into one statewide organization, Legal Action of Wisconsin. Statewide intake is (855) 947-2529. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Burnett County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying whether the home is part of the probate estate, survivorship marital property, or another nonprobate transfer. If a court filing is needed, file with the Burnett County Register in Probate in Siren. A summary confirmation route for survivorship marital property may avoid administration in some cases (Wis. Stat. § 867.046). | Sunset helps gather account and asset information, organize deed and title questions for attorney review, and assemble an estate settlement plan before papers are filed. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the Burnett County Register in Probate at (715) 349-2147 before mailing originals. Local Rule 803.02 means a signed application or petition cannot be completed by fax alone. A self-represented filer may use e-filing voluntarily or traditional paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c)). | Sunset helps identify accounts, sort the Wisconsin small-estate options, prepare a document checklist, and connect the family with a local attorney if the facts do not fit a simple route. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale often makes counsel important. In Burnett County, plan around local Rule 805.08's four-month inventory deadline after Domiciliary Letters issue and the twelve-month estate-action benchmark in local Rules 805.12 and 809.01. | Sunset helps locate assets, organize sale-related documents, prepare the probate packet, and connect the parent with a vetted local probate attorney. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it gives | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Burnett County Clerk of Courts / Register in Probate | Local office address, phone, fax, and hours. | Open resource |
| About Register in Probate | Burnett County's description of the Register in Probate office and the types of case filings it manages. | Open resource |
| Local Court Rules for Burnett County | Burnett County local circuit court rules, including Part 8, Probate Practice, and the virtual proceedings addendum. | Open resource |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | The statewide self-help guide prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association and hosted by the Wisconsin Court System. | Open resource |
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate | The Wisconsin Court System's probate self-help page. | Open resource |
| Circuit court probate forms | The statewide Wisconsin PR probate form set. | Open resource |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Statewide public circuit court case search. | Open resource |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents, with statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. | Open resource |
When to hire an attorney
In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)). The court system's self-help guide, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association, says formal administration requires an attorney's assistance and informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance. In Burnett County, counsel is especially useful when a will is contested, a claim is objected to, a nonresident is nominated as personal representative, real estate must be sold, or the estate cannot meet local closing requirements on time. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build a clearer picture of what the estate owns before they file in Burnett County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Wisconsin PR forms and Burnett County estate settlement steps, including the inventory, notice, and closing checklist items.
Find a local probate attorney. When formal administration, a home sale, a contested claim, or a nonresident personal representative issue makes counsel important, Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, find assets, and get connected with help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Burnett County?
File with the Burnett County Register in Probate at the Burnett County Government Center, 7410 County Road K, Siren, WI 54872. Local Rule 803.01 directs probate documents to the Register in Probate office unless they are filed with the court at a hearing.
What is the phone number for the Burnett County Register in Probate?
Call the Burnett County Register in Probate at (715) 349-2147. The office fax is (715) 349-7659, but local Rule 803.02 does not let fax replace the original filing of signed probate documents.
When is the Burnett County Register in Probate open?
The posted hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Can I fax probate documents to Burnett County?
Fax is limited in Burnett County probate matters. Local Rule 803.02 says a signed document may be faxed to show that it is complete, but the original still must be filed. The person sending the fax is responsible for timely and complete receipt.
How soon is the inventory due in a Burnett County estate?
Burnett County local Rule 805.08 requires the inventory no later than four months after Domiciliary Letters issue, together with the statutory fee. Through October 31, 2026, that fee is $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above that value; from November 1, 2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179, it is $36 at $18,500 or less and 0.2 percent above that value (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3).
How long does it take to close a Burnett County estate?
Burnett County local Rules 805.12 and 809.01 set a 10th judicial administrative district benchmark for estate actions to be disposed of within twelve months from the date the petition or application to open the estate is filed. The actual timeline depends on assets, claims, taxes, real estate, family agreement, and whether the required closing materials are ready.
What does it cost to open an estate in Burnett County?
The estate fee is statewide, not Burnett-specific, and is paid when the inventory is filed. Through October 31, 2026, it is $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above that value; from November 1, 2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179, it is $36 at $18,500 or less and 0.2 percent above that value (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). As of the July 13, 2026 Wisconsin circuit court fee tables, the e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7).
Can I appear remotely in a Burnett County probate hearing?
Possibly. Burnett County local Rule 217 allows videoconferencing in circuit court proceedings when the court permits it. Ask the Register in Probate how to request permission for the specific hearing.
Do I need a lawyer for a Burnett County estate?
In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)). The Wisconsin Court System's self-help guide says formal administration requires an attorney's assistance and informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance. If the estate involves a dispute, a home sale, a nonresident nominee, or missed Burnett County deadlines, talk with counsel before filing.
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.