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Green Lake County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Green Lake County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court for Green Lake County |
| Filing office | Green Lake County Register in Probate |
| Courthouse address | 571 County Road A, Green Lake, WI 54941 |
| Mailing | No separate mailing address is published on the Register in Probate page. Call 920-294-4044 before mailing a first filing. |
| Phone | 920-294-4044 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 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, payable when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). From November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents e-file. Self-represented filers may use e-filing voluntarily or file by traditional paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). As of August 2026, the e-filing fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m); Wis. Stat. § 801.18(7)). |
| Local forms | No Green Lake County probate cover sheet, checklist, or county-specific probate form is listed on the Register in Probate page. Use the statewide Wisconsin Court System PR forms. |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Remote appearance | The Circuit Court page provides remote hearing guidance. Ask the Register in Probate how that applies to a scheduled probate matter. |
| Website | https://www.greenlakecountywi.gov/departments/register-in-probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Green Lake County probate path, identify the accounts, real estate, vehicles, debts, beneficiary designations, and jointly held property. Wisconsin estate settlement depends on which assets are subject to administration, not simply on what the person owned.
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they prepare a probate packet or decide whether the Green Lake County Register in Probate is the next step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Green Lake County probate matters are filed at the Green Lake County Register in Probate, 571 County Road A, Green Lake, WI 54941. Green Lake County is a single-county circuit and is not the same jurisdiction as Green County, which is a different Wisconsin county.
For a decedent who was domiciled in Wisconsin, the estate is administered in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, the filing may be in a Wisconsin county where the decedent had property, and the first court to exercise jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Wisconsin path before preparing forms. Informal administration uses the statewide PR-1801 application and is handled administratively by the probate registrar. Formal administration uses PR-1901 and proceeds before the circuit court.
- Use the statewide Wisconsin Court System probate forms. Green Lake County's Register in Probate page links to the statewide forms and does not list a county-specific probate cover sheet or probate checklist.
- File with the Green Lake County Register in Probate at 571 County Road A, Green Lake, WI 54941. The office does not publish a preferred first-filing channel, so call 920-294-4044 before mailing documents or bringing a first packet to the counter.
- Handle e-filing correctly. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents e-file under Wisconsin's statewide circuit court e-filing system. A self-represented filer may use e-filing voluntarily or file by traditional paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). As of August 2026, the e-filing fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m); Wis. Stat. § 801.18(7)).
- Plan for the statewide estate fee at the inventory stage. Through October 31, 2026, the fee 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 (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2). From November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. The fee is paid when the inventory or equivalent value document is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3).
- Give notice as required by the Wisconsin forms and orders. In an administration, 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 date of that order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01).
- Follow any hearing instructions from the Green Lake County Circuit Court. The county's Circuit Court page provides guidance for remote court hearings, but it does not publish a probate-specific request form or procedure, so ask the Register in Probate how to handle a scheduled hearing.
- After appointment, use Domiciliary Letters, PR-1810, as the authority document for the personal representative, the person appointed to administer the estate. PR-1810 is used for both informal and formal administration.
- Administer and close the estate. In an informal administration, the personal representative may close by filing PR-1816, and the appointment terminates six months later if no proceeding is pending (Wis. Stat. § 865.16(2)). A formal administration closes through the formal judgment and discharge forms.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Green Lake County
Green Lake County uses the statewide Wisconsin Court System probate forms. The county's Register in Probate page links to the statewide probate form set and the statewide informal estate administration guide, and it does not list a Green Lake County probate cover sheet, checklist, or county-specific probate form.
Common statewide forms include PR-1801 for informal administration, PR-1901 for formal administration, PR-1810 for Domiciliary Letters, PR-1811 for the inventory, and PR-1816 for closing an informal administration. Use the official Wisconsin Court System probate forms page for current form versions.
Local nuance
Green Lake County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means |
|---|---|
| Green Lake County is not Green County | Green Lake County estates are handled in Green Lake. Green County is a separate Wisconsin county with its county seat in Monroe. |
| The office cannot give legal advice | The Green Lake County Register in Probate page states that the office cannot provide legal advice and directs people with legal questions to an attorney or to the State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral Service at 800-362-9082. |
| Remote-hearing guidance exists | The Circuit Court page provides guidance for remote court hearings, but no probate-specific written request procedure or form is published. Ask the Register in Probate how remote appearance works for your scheduled matter. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| November 2025 | The informal estate administration guide linked from the Green Lake County Register in Probate page was updated. |
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Action of Wisconsin and Judicare Legal Aid merged into one statewide organization, Legal Action of Wisconsin, with statewide intake at 855-947-2529. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Green Lake County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home is titled and whether Wisconsin marital property or survivorship marital property rules keep it outside a full administration. If a court filing is needed, the local filing office is the Green Lake County Register in Probate at 571 County Road A. | Sunset helps gather asset information, flag accounts and title issues for attorney review, and organize the estate settlement tasks before a packet is prepared. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call 920-294-4044 before sending anything because the office does not publish a preferred first-filing channel. A self-represented filer may use paper methods rather than voluntary e-filing (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c)). | Sunset helps locate financial accounts, prepare a document checklist, and connect the family with a Wisconsin probate attorney if the path is unclear. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate often points toward legal help. The Green Lake County Register in Probate page says the office cannot give legal advice and directs people with legal questions to an attorney or the State Bar Lawyer Referral Service. | Sunset helps organize asset discovery, title questions, and next steps so the parent can speak with a vetted probate attorney with a clearer estate settlement picture. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Green Lake County Register in Probate | Local office address, phone, hours, case types handled, and links to statewide probate resources. | https://www.greenlakecountywi.gov/departments/register-in-probate/ |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Statewide self-help guide for informal administration, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association and linked by the county. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate | State probate self-help page with links to forms, the guide, and other probate resources. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| Circuit court probate forms | Official statewide Wisconsin PR form set. | https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Statewide public case search for Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate case types. | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents through statewide intake at 855-947-2529. | https://legalaction.org/ |
| State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral Service | Lawyer referral resource listed by the Green Lake County Register in Probate page for people seeking legal guidance. | https://www.wisbar.org/forPublic/INeedaLawyer/Pages/LRIS.aspx |
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, states that formal administration requires an attorney's assistance and that informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance. Counsel is especially important when family members disagree, real estate must be sold, creditor issues are unclear, or the case may move from informal to formal administration. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, balances, and possible estate assets before you choose a Wisconsin probate path.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for the statewide Wisconsin forms and the Green Lake County filing office, reducing rework during estate settlement.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Green Lake County estate needs legal advice, a real estate sale, or formal administration, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, find assets, prepare for probate, and understand next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Green Lake County?
File with the Green Lake County Register in Probate at 571 County Road A, Green Lake, WI 54941. Call 920-294-4044 before mailing a first filing because the office does not publish a preferred first-filing channel.
What is the phone number for the Green Lake County Register in Probate?
The Green Lake County Register in Probate phone number is 920-294-4044.
When is the Green Lake County Register in Probate open?
The published hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. No separate midday closure or filing cutoff is published for the office.
Is Green Lake County the same as Green County?
No. Green Lake County is served in Green Lake. Green County is a different Wisconsin county with its county seat in Monroe.
What does it cost to open an estate in Green Lake County?
The estate fee is statewide. Through October 31, 2026, the fee 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 (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2). From November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. The fee is paid when the inventory or equivalent value document is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3).
Does Green Lake County have its own probate forms?
The Green Lake County Register in Probate page links to the statewide Wisconsin Court System probate forms and does not list a Green Lake County probate cover sheet, checklist, or county-specific probate form.
Can I look up a Green Lake County estate case online?
Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate case types, are searchable through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Use WCCA for case lookup, but do not assume that every document in an estate file can be viewed there.
Can I appear remotely in a Green Lake County probate hearing?
The Green Lake County Circuit Court page provides remote hearing guidance. Ask the Register in Probate how remote appearance applies to your scheduled probate hearing.
Do I need a lawyer for a Green Lake County estate?
Formal administration requires an attorney's assistance under the court system's self-help guide prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association. Informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance, but a contested issue or court proceeding can change the analysis because a personal representative appears by attorney in a Wisconsin court proceeding (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)).
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.