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Iron County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Iron County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for Iron County, with estate filings handled through the Iron County Register in Probate. |
| Courthouse address | 300 Taconite Street, Hurley, WI 54534. |
| Mailing address | Use 300 Taconite Street, Hurley, WI 54534 unless the Register in Probate gives you different mailing instructions. |
| Probate phone | (715) 561-3434 for the Iron County Register in Probate. |
| Fax | No fax number is published for the Register in Probate. Iron County's local rules allow certain fax filings with the Clerk of Court under Rule 4.02. |
| Hours | Register in Probate: Monday through Friday, 8 am to 11:45 am. Call before an afternoon visit. |
| Estate fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 if the value subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value if it is more, paid when the inventory or value statement is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. |
| Local forms | No Iron County-specific probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist is published on the county pages reviewed for the Register in Probate, Clerk of Courts, or Judicial Courts. Use the statewide PR-series probate forms. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use the Wisconsin circuit court electronic filing system. Self-represented filers may opt in but may use traditional paper filing methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), § 801.18(3)(b), § 801.18(3)(c)). The electronic filing fee is $35 per party per case when it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access: https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Probate cases use circuit court case numbers, including PR for Formal Probate and IN for Informal Probate case types. |
| Remote appearance | No Iron County probate remote appearance procedure is published on the county Register in Probate page. Ask the office before assuming a remote option is available. |
| Website | Iron County Registrar in Probate page: https://www.co.iron.wi.gov/232/Registrar-in-Probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a form or call the Iron County Register in Probate, list the assets, debts, titled property, beneficiary designations, and any accounts that may pass outside court administration. Wisconsin's estate fee is based on property subject to administration after encumbrances, liens or charges, and it is paid later with the inventory, so a careful asset list shapes both the process and the cost.
Sunset can support that first estate settlement step by searching across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing what you find into a practical packet for the Iron County filing office or for a local probate attorney.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Iron County courthouse is in Hurley, and the Iron County Register in Probate handles estate filings for a decedent domiciled anywhere in Iron County. Wisconsin places jurisdiction for administration of a decedent's estate in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, the proceeding may be filed in any 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
- Identify the property that actually needs Wisconsin court administration. Separate probate assets from jointly held survivorship property, trust assets, beneficiary-designated accounts, and real estate that may need a recording step with the Iron County Register of Deeds.
- Choose the Wisconsin path that fits the estate. Informal administration starts with PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration. Formal administration starts with PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration. A transfer by affidavit may be available under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 when property subject to administration in Wisconsin does not exceed $50,000 in gross value.
- Download the statewide PR-series forms from the Wisconsin Court System probate forms index at https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All. Iron County does not publish a county-specific probate packet on the county pages reviewed for the probate office, so start with the statewide forms and call the Register in Probate if you are unsure which local cover information the office wants.
- File with the Iron County Register in Probate at 300 Taconite Street in Hurley. The Register in Probate's published hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 11:45 am. If you plan to mail papers or arrive later in the day, call (715) 561-3434 first.
- Use electronic filing only if it fits your role. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use the statewide electronic filing system, while self-represented filers may opt in or may use traditional paper filing methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), § 801.18(3)(b), § 801.18(3)(c)). If electronic filing applies, the fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
- Plan for the estate fee at the inventory stage. Through October 31, 2026, the statewide fee is $20 if the property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value if it is more (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises 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 other value statement is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3).
- Give notice as ordered. In an informal administration the probate registrar sets the claim deadline by order, and in a formal administration the court sets it by order, at a date not less than three nor more than four months from the date of that order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Notice of the deadline is published, and medical assistance or long-term care benefits can trigger agency notice duties (Wis. Stat. § 859.07).
- Attend any hearing the court schedules. Informal administration often proceeds administratively before the probate registrar, while formal administration is a court proceeding. Iron County does not publish a probate remote appearance procedure on the Register in Probate page, so ask the office before relying on a remote appearance.
- After appointment, use PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters, as the authority document for the personal representative. Then inventory assets, manage creditor claims, record any real estate documents with the Iron County Register of Deeds when Wisconsin law requires recording, distribute property, and close the estate through the correct informal or formal closing forms.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Iron County
Iron County uses Wisconsin's statewide court-approved PR-series probate forms. The probate forms index is https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Start informal administration | PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration |
| Show family relationships | PR-1806, Proof of Heirship (Informal and Formal Administration) |
| Show appointment authority | PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters (Informal and Formal Administration) |
| Inventory estate property | PR-1811, Inventory (Informal and Formal Administration) |
| Close an informal administration | PR-1816, Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate (Informal Administration) |
| File a claim against an estate | PR-1819, Claim Against Estate (Informal and Formal Administration) |
| Use transfer by affidavit | PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit ($50,000 and Under), for the Wis. Stat. § 867.03 route |
| Start formal administration | PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration |
No Iron County-specific probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist is published on the county pages for the Register in Probate, Clerk of Courts, or Judicial Courts. The Wisconsin Court System notes that some counties add local forms where no standard form exists, so call the Iron County Register in Probate before you file if your situation does not match a statewide PR form.
Local nuance
Iron County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to plan for |
|---|---|
| Morning probate counter hours | The Iron County Register in Probate publishes hours of Monday through Friday, 8 am to 11:45 am. The Clerk of Courts and Judicial Courts pages publish longer general courthouse hours, but estate filers should plan around the probate office's morning schedule. |
| Separate courthouse offices | The Register in Probate, Clerk of Courts, Judicial Courts, and Register of Deeds are separate courthouse offices at 300 Taconite Street. Estate filings start with the Register in Probate, while real estate recordings go to the Register of Deeds. |
| Fax filing rule | Iron County's local circuit court Rule 4.02 allows certain fax filings with the Clerk of Court. The rule limits faxed documents to 8.5 by 11 inch pages and no more than 15 pages excluding the cover sheet unless authorized, treats a fax received after the court's regular 8 am to 4 pm hours as filed the next business day, and makes the faxed document the official court record. Because this rule is not probate-specific, call the Register in Probate before using it for an estate filing. |
| Iron County real estate | The Iron County Register of Deeds is at 300 Taconite Street, Suite 102, Hurley, WI 54534, phone (715) 561-2945. Real estate steps such as recording a transfer by affidavit involving land, a summary settlement or summary assignment order involving land, or an abridgment of final judgment are recording matters, not probate counter filings. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Iron County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking how the home is titled and whether it is survivorship marital property or otherwise passes outside administration. If a recording is needed for Iron County real estate, the courthouse step may be with the Iron County Register of Deeds rather than the Register in Probate. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title clues, and beneficiary designations so the spouse does not open a court administration for assets that pass another way. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the Iron County Register in Probate before traveling, because the office's published hours are 8 am to 11:45 am. If Wisconsin property subject to administration does not exceed $50,000 in gross value, the transfer by affidavit route under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 may avoid opening a full administration, but real property and medical assistance notice rules can add steps. | Sunset organizes the asset list, helps generate the right packet, and can connect the child with a Wisconsin attorney if the facts do not fit the transfer by affidavit route. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the child owned an Iron County home that must be sold, the family may need a personal representative with PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters, or another Wisconsin real estate probate route before title can be cleared. Formal administration should be discussed with counsel if a court-supervised sale, disagreement, or title issue is involved. | Sunset helps find financial accounts, debts, and title information, then connects the parent with a vetted local probate attorney when a sale or formal court step is likely. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it gives | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Iron County Registrar in Probate | Local probate office address, phone, and morning-only published hours. | https://www.co.iron.wi.gov/232/Registrar-in-Probate, (715) 561-3434 |
| Iron County Clerk of Courts | General court office contact information at the same courthouse. | https://www.co.iron.wi.gov/250/Clerk-of-Courts |
| Iron County Circuit Court Rules | Local court rules effective August 14, 2008, including the fax filing rule. | https://www.wisbar.org/Directories/CourtRules/Wisconsin%20Circuit%20Court%20Rules/Iron%20County%20Circuit%20Court%20Rules.pdf |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | The Wisconsin Court System's self-help guide for informal administration, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate | Statewide probate self-help information and links. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| Circuit court probate forms | The statewide PR-series probate form set. | https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Statewide circuit court case search for case-type-level lookup. | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents. Let intake decide whether the matter fits the program. | https://legalaction.org/, (855) 947-2529 |
When to hire an attorney
In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)). The Wisconsin Court System's self-help guide to informal estate administration, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association, states that formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney and that informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance. Summary settlement and summary assignment also carry their own express right to appear in person (Wis. Stat. § 867.01(5), § 867.02(5)). Counsel makes sense in Iron County when the estate involves a home sale, conflict among interested persons, unclear title, creditor problems, or a 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 institutions that may affect an Iron County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the information you provide into an organized probate packet using the Wisconsin PR-series forms and the local filing details for the Iron County Register in Probate.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs formal administration, a home sale, or legal advice, Sunset connects the family with a vetted probate attorney who can handle the Wisconsin court process.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset does not charge families to start organizing estate settlement, find assets, generate documents, or request an attorney connection.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Iron County?
File with the Iron County Register in Probate at 300 Taconite Street in Hurley. The probate office's published hours are Monday through Friday, 8 am to 11:45 am, and the direct probate phone is (715) 561-3434.
What are the Iron County Register in Probate hours?
The Iron County Register in Probate publishes hours of Monday through Friday, 8 am to 11:45 am. Those hours are shorter than the general Clerk of Courts hours, so call before planning an afternoon visit.
Does Iron County have its own probate forms?
Iron County does not publish a county-specific probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist on the county pages for the Register in Probate, Clerk of Courts, or Judicial Courts. Use the statewide PR-series probate forms at https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All.
Do self-represented people have to use electronic filing in Iron County probate?
No. Wisconsin requires attorneys and high-volume filing agents to use the electronic filing system, but self-represented filers may opt in or may use traditional paper filing methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), § 801.18(3)(b), § 801.18(3)(c)). If electronic filing applies, the fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
What does probate cost in Iron 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 of that value if it is more (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2). The fee is paid when the inventory or value statement is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged.
Can I look up an Iron County probate case online?
Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate cases, are searchable through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. An estate case may carry a PR case-type code for Formal Probate or an IN case-type code for Informal Probate. Do not assume that every document in the file is viewable online.
Does Iron County publish probate hearing days or wait times?
No probate hearing day or filing-to-hearing schedule is published on the Iron County Register in Probate page. If your filing requires a hearing, ask the Register in Probate how scheduling works for your case.
Are remote probate appearances available in Iron County?
Iron County does not publish a probate remote appearance procedure on the Register in Probate page. If a hearing is scheduled and travel to Hurley is difficult, ask the Register in Probate or your attorney whether the court will allow a remote appearance.
Do I have to travel to Hurley to handle an Iron County estate?
Not always. Some filings may be mailed, attorneys use electronic filing, and self-represented filers may choose electronic filing if they register and opt in. Because the original will and some estate documents may need special handling, call the Iron County Register in Probate at (715) 561-3434 before deciding whether a trip is necessary.
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.