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Crawford County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Crawford County probate information |
|---|---|
| Court and filing office | The Circuit Court for Crawford County. Estate filings go through the Crawford County Register in Probate / Juvenile Court. |
| Courthouse address | 220 N. Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821. |
| Mailing address | Use 220 N. Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821. |
| Register in Probate phone | (608) 326-0206. The county also publishes (608) 326-1187 for the office. |
| Fax | (608) 326-1149. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on state and county holidays. Arrive in time to complete all business by 4:30 p.m. |
| Estate fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 if the property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent above that amount, paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Starting November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 at $18,500 or less; the 0.2 percent rate does not change. |
| Local forms | Yes. Crawford County publishes a Non-Probate of Filed Will Affidavit and probate guideline documents, in addition to the statewide PR forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must e-file. Self-represented filers may use the Wisconsin circuit court e-filing system voluntarily or file by traditional paper methods. The separate e-filing charge is $35 per party per case as of August 2026 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. |
| Remote appearance | Crawford County local rules allow video proceedings when permitted by law, on request or at the presiding official's discretion. Request video within a reasonable time before the hearing. |
| Website | https://www.crawfordcountywi.gov/departments/register |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a form or ask for domiciliary letters, list the assets, debts, title documents, beneficiary designations, and any real estate. In Crawford County, that early inventory matters because the estate fee is tied to the value of property subject to administration, not to assets that pass outside probate.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families identify accounts before they start estate settlement at the Prairie du Chien courthouse. A clearer asset list also helps you decide whether a Crawford County will must be probated, whether the county's Non-Probate of Filed Will Affidavit is enough for a will with no administration, or whether an attorney should review the path.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Probate for a decedent domiciled anywhere in Crawford County is filed in Prairie du Chien with the Crawford County Register in Probate at 220 N. Beaumont Road. Crawford County has its own circuit with one branch, and the county's court services page describes one full-time circuit court judge and one family court commissioner with limited hours.
Wisconsin jurisdiction for administration of a decedent's estate is in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, jurisdiction may be in any Wisconsin county where the decedent's property is located, and the court that first exercises jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction under that subsection (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Crawford 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.
- Gather the will, death certificate, asset list, debt list, real estate information, and beneficiary information before contacting the Crawford County Register in Probate.
- Choose the correct statewide PR form set for the path. Informal administration generally begins with PR-1801, formal administration with PR-1901, and transfer by affidavit uses PR-1831 when the Wis. Stat. § 867.03 requirements are met.
- File with the Crawford County Register in Probate at 220 N. Beaumont Road in Prairie du Chien. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must e-file; self-represented filers may use paper filing methods unless they opt in to e-filing (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)).
- Plan for the statewide estate fee. Through October 31, 2026, the fee is $20 at $10,000 or less, or 0.2 percent above that amount, based on property subject to administration less encumbrances, liens or charges, and paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Starting November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 at $18,500 or less, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged.
- Handle notice. The court, or the probate registrar in informal administration, sets the claim deadline by order at a date not less than three and not more than four months from the order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Publication and any required agency notices must follow Wisconsin law.
- Attend or request any hearing that applies. Crawford County local rules allow video proceedings when permitted by law and when requested within a reasonable time or ordered by the presiding official.
- After appointment, use the issued domiciliary letters, PR-1810, as the authority document for the personal representative. In informal administration, the Register in Probate oversees the file as probate registrar.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory, pay or resolve claims, distribute assets, use Crawford County's local resources for will-only filings when no administration is opened, and complete the closing form or court closing steps for the chosen estate settlement path.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Crawford County
Crawford County uses Wisconsin's statewide PR probate forms and also publishes local materials on the county Register in Probate pages. The statewide form set includes PR-1801 for informal administration, PR-1806 for proof of heirship, PR-1810 for domiciliary letters, PR-1811 for inventory, PR-1816 for informal closing, PR-1831 for transfer by affidavit under Wis. Stat. § 867.03, and PR-1901 for formal administration.
Crawford County's local Wills page publishes a Non-Probate of Filed Will Affidavit for a decedent's will when no probate administration will be started. The county's Register in Probate Forms page also makes available Summary Assignment Guidelines, Summary Settlement Guidelines, and Special Administration Guidelines documents.
If a will exists, Wisconsin law has a separate duty to file the will with the proper court after death even when no administration is opened (Wis. Stat. § 856.05). Crawford County's local affidavit is the county-specific document to review for that situation.
Timeline
- Counter timing: the Crawford County Register in Probate is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and the county asks visitors to arrive in time to complete all business by 4:30 p.m.
- Remote timing: Crawford County local rules say a party requesting a video proceeding should make the request within a reasonable time before the hearing.
- Estate case goal: Crawford County local circuit court rules, effective June 3, 2024, set a goal of disposing of 90 percent of estate cases within 18 months from filing to final disposition. This is a case-processing goal, not a promise for a specific estate.
Local nuance
Crawford County-specific considerations
Crawford County's Register in Probate website is more detailed than many county pages. It has separate pages for informal administration, formal administration, miscellaneous probate topics, wills, local forms, guardianship, and powers of attorney.
The county's Informal Probate page states that informal matters are overseen by the Register in Probate, generally do not require formal court hearings, and are often done without attorney assistance. The page also advises readers with questions to confer with an attorney. This local statement fits Wisconsin's statewide rule that probate registrar staff advise, within their competence, on preparation of informal-administration documents (Wis. Stat. § 865.065(2)).
The county's Miscellaneous Probate page links resources for an estate EIN, a Closing Certificate for Fiduciaries, Wisconsin Estate Recovery Program materials, and federal tax assistance. Those are practical estate settlement items to review before selling real estate or closing a file.
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| June 3, 2024 | Crawford County local circuit court rules were restated, including a goal of disposing of 90 percent of estate cases within 18 months from filing to final disposition. |
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Action of Wisconsin and Judicare Legal Aid merged into Legal Action of Wisconsin, with statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with title and beneficiary information before opening a case. If the home passed outside administration and the will does not need to be probated, Crawford County still provides a Non-Probate of Filed Will Affidavit for filing the will with the Register in Probate under Wis. Stat. § 856.05. | Sunset identifies accounts and titled assets so the spouse can see whether a full estate settlement is needed or whether the work is limited to filing the will and clearing title issues. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the Crawford County Register in Probate at (608) 326-0206 before mailing papers or planning travel. A self-represented filer may use paper filing methods and is not forced into Wisconsin circuit court e-filing (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c)). Review Wisconsin's transfer by affidavit route under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 and the county's estate recovery materials if long-term care or medical assistance may be involved. | Sunset finds accounts remotely, organizes the asset list, and helps assemble a packet for the Prairie du Chien counter. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale often points toward formal administration. Crawford County's Formal Probate page says formal proceedings require court appearances and are more complicated, and the statewide guide says formal administration requires an attorney's assistance. The county's miscellaneous resources on EIN requests and fiduciary closing certificates may matter once real estate is sold and the estate is ready to close. | Sunset gathers the asset picture, prepares the probate packet, and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale, closing certificate questions, and the final steps of estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Crawford County Register in Probate / Juvenile Court | Local probate contact page with links for informal administration, formal administration, wills, forms, fees, and miscellaneous probate topics. | https://www.crawfordcountywi.gov/departments/register |
| Crawford County Circuit Court services | County court services page with courthouse information and a link to the local court rules. | https://www.crawfordcountywi.gov/departments/circuitcourtservices |
| Crawford County local circuit court rules | Local rules, effective June 3, 2024, including the estate case-processing goal and video appearance rule. | https://www.crawfordcountywi.gov/media/departments/circuit_court/Crawford_County_Circuit_Court_Rules.pdf |
| Wisconsin Court System probate self-help | Statewide probate overview, forms link, and informal administration guide. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Statewide guide for informal administration, 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 |
| Circuit court probate forms | Statewide Wisconsin PR probate forms, Category 26. | https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA | Statewide circuit court case search for Wisconsin court cases, including probate case types. | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid for eligible Wisconsin residents, with statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. | https://legalaction.org/ |
When to hire an attorney
In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)). Informal administration runs administratively before the probate registrar rather than as a proceeding in court, and Crawford County's own Informal Probate page says those matters are often done without attorney assistance while still encouraging attorney review for questions. The Wisconsin Court System's informal-administration guide says formal administration requires an attorney's assistance, and summary settlement and summary assignment carry their own express right to appear in person (Wis. Stat. § 867.01(5), § 867.02(5)). If the estate involves a dispute, a real estate sale, formal administration, tax closing questions, or unclear heirs, Sunset connects families 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 find bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, insurance, and other assets that may belong in the estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset list, family information, and will details into an organized probate packet for the correct Wisconsin path and the Crawford County Register in Probate.
Find a local probate attorney. When formal administration, a real estate sale, a dispute, or a court appearance calls for counsel, Sunset connects families with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, prepare for the court process, and get connected with help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Crawford County?
File with the Crawford County Register in Probate at 220 N. Beaumont Road, Prairie du Chien, WI 53821. The correct county is generally the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
What is the phone number for the Crawford County Register in Probate?
The Register in Probate's direct phone number is (608) 326-0206. The county also publishes (608) 326-1187 for the office. Do not use the Clerk of Court number if you are trying to reach the probate counter.
When is the Crawford County Register in Probate open?
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed on state and county holidays. Crawford County asks visitors to arrive in time to complete all business by 4:30 p.m.
How long does an estate take to close in Crawford County?
Crawford County's local circuit court rules set a goal of disposing of 90 percent of estate cases within 18 months from filing to final disposition. That is a local case-processing goal, not a guaranteed timeline for a particular estate.
What does it cost to open an estate in Crawford County?
The estate fee is statewide. Through October 31, 2026, it is $20 if the property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent above that amount, paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Starting November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 at $18,500 or less; the 0.2 percent rate does not change.
Does Crawford County have its own probate forms?
Yes. Crawford County publishes a Non-Probate of Filed Will Affidavit for filing a decedent's will when no administration is opened. It also publishes probate guideline documents. The statewide Wisconsin PR forms still control the main probate paths.
Can I look up a Crawford County estate case online?
Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate case types, are searchable through WCCA at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Use WCCA for case lookup, not as a promise that every probate document can be viewed online.
Do I need a lawyer for a Crawford County estate?
Formal administration requires an attorney's assistance under the Wisconsin Court System's informal-administration guide. Informal administration may be granted without attorney assistance, and Crawford County's own Informal Probate page says those matters are often done without attorney assistance. A contested issue, real estate sale, formal administration, or court appearance is a strong reason to speak with counsel.
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.