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Jefferson County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Jefferson County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for Jefferson County. Estate filings go through the Jefferson County Register in Probate. |
| Courthouse address | Jefferson County Courthouse, 311 S. Center Avenue, Jefferson, WI 53549 |
| Filing office | Jefferson County Register in Probate, Room C1110 |
| Mailing address | Register in Probate, 311 S. Center Avenue, Room C1110, Jefferson, WI 53549 |
| Phone | (920) 674-7245 |
| Fax | (920) 675-0134. Fax filing is limited by local rule and should be sent to the Register in Probate, not directly to the courts. |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding published courthouse holidays. |
| Estate fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 where the 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, payable when the inventory or value document 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 and the threshold to $18,500; the 0.2 percent rate does not change. |
| Local forms | Yes. Jefferson County publishes an Affidavit of No Probate and an Informal Administration Checklist, plus local form packets built around the statewide PR forms. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court electronic filing. Self-represented people may opt in or file, serve and receive paper documents by traditional methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). The separate electronic filing fee is $35 per party per case where it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Remote appearance | Video and telephone appearances are available only in the discretion of the assigned or presiding court official under Jefferson County local rules. |
| Website | https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/courts___legal_services/register_in_probate/index.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Jefferson County, identify the assets, debts, real estate, marital property questions, and any accounts that pass outside probate. In Wisconsin, the estate fee is based on the net value of property subject to administration and is paid when the inventory or value document is filed, not at the opening filing (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions so the family can understand what belongs in the estate settlement before choosing a path.
Jefferson County adds local filing details that are worth checking before the first packet goes to Room C1110. The local rules require uniform circuit court forms where available, proposed orders as separate documents, and specific paper formatting, and the county's Informal Administration Checklist shows the office's preferred opening and closing sequence. Call the Jefferson County Register in Probate at (920) 674-7245 before mailing or faxing a first filing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Circuit Court for Jefferson County serves decedents domiciled in Jefferson County, including communities such as Jefferson, Fort Atkinson, Watertown, Whitewater, Lake Mills, Waterloo and Johnson Creek. Wisconsin places administration of a decedent's estate in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death; if the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, the case may be in a Wisconsin county where the decedent's property is located, and the first court to exercise jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction for that estate (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
Jefferson County is its own single-county circuit and does not share its Register in Probate counter with another county. Estate filings go to the Jefferson County Register in Probate in Room C1110 of the courthouse in Jefferson. Real estate recording steps, such as recording an order or an abridgment of final judgment, go to the Jefferson County Register of Deeds in Room C1030 of the same courthouse.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Jefferson County is the right county. File in Jefferson County if the decedent was domiciled in Jefferson County at death, or if a nonresident decedent had property in Jefferson County and no Wisconsin court has already exercised jurisdiction (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
- Find the original will and file it with the proper court when required. Wisconsin gives the person holding the will a 30-day duty after learning of the death to file it or deliver it to the person named to act as personal representative (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)). If no probate case will follow in Jefferson County, the county requires its Affidavit of No Probate with the original will.
- Choose the Wisconsin path before assembling forms. Informal administration starts with the probate registrar process under Wis. Stat. ch. 865. Formal administration is a judicial proceeding. Summary settlement, summary assignment, transfer by affidavit, termination, confirmation and descent routes are statewide paths, but Jefferson County publishes local packets and instructions for several of them.
- Use the statewide PR forms and Jefferson County's local documents. Jefferson County local rules require uniform circuit court forms where available. The county also publishes an Informal Administration Checklist and an Affidavit of No Probate.
- Prepare the packet in the local format. Papers should be typed or legibly handwritten, on 8.5 by 11 inch paper printed on one side only, except testamentary documents. Proposed orders are separate documents, and electronically submitted proposed orders are in Word format under the local rules.
- File with the Jefferson County Register in Probate, not the clerk of circuit court. Use Room C1110 at 311 S. Center Avenue, Jefferson, WI 53549. You may file in person, by mail, through the statewide electronic filing system where used, or by fax to the Register in Probate at (920) 675-0134 if the fax fits the county's local rule. Case-related information is not accepted by email.
- Handle fee payment at the right time and with the right office. The estate fee under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2 is paid when the inventory or other value document is filed under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3. Jefferson County accepts probate payments in Room C1110, by mail, online through the county's vendor, or by phone using probate pay code a004n8; checks for probate fees are payable to the Register in Probate.
- Give notice and follow the claim-deadline order. In Wisconsin, the court in a formal administration, or the probate registrar in an informal administration, 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). Notice is published under Wis. Stat. § 859.07 and § 879.05(4). Agency notice may also be required for medical assistance, long-term care, institutional or government claims.
- Attend hearings only when the case requires them. Jefferson County states that a formal administration requires a minimum of two hearings, one to open and one to close. Its local rules say a hearing is not required when waivers are filed for all interested parties, but the court may still order a hearing.
- Receive Domiciliary Letters when the personal representative is appointed and qualified. The authority document is PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters, for both informal and formal administration.
- Administer and close the estate. File the inventory, pay allowed claims and expenses, distribute property, record any real estate documents with the Jefferson County Register of Deeds when required, and meet Jefferson County's local closing rules. The county requires estates to close within fourteen months of the opening filing unless an extension is granted, and in an informal administration PR-1816 must be the last document filed.
Executor duties
Jefferson County adds several local duties to the statewide work of a personal representative.
| Local duty | What it means in Jefferson County |
|---|---|
| Close within fourteen months | Every estate must be closed within fourteen months of filing the Petition for Formal Administration or Application for Informal Administration, unless a Petition for Extension and proposed order are filed and granted. |
| File the closing certificate unless waived | Jefferson County local probate rules require a Wisconsin Closing Certificate for Fiduciaries before closing unless the court waives the requirement on petition. |
| Use the local informal closing sequence | In an informal administration, no final account is required by local rule. PR-1816, Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate, is not accepted unless all other closing documents are filed before it or with it, and it must be the final document filed. |
| Handle proposed orders separately | Proposed orders are filed as separate documents. If submitted electronically, they are submitted in Word format. The filing party is responsible for distributing signed orders unless a specific statutory directive says otherwise. |
| Track special administration status | A special administrator who controls assets files an inventory and pays the statutory fee, unless the matter converts to a formal or informal administration. The special administrator or attorney also files a status letter every six months. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Jefferson County
Jefferson County uses the statewide Wisconsin probate forms and adds local probate documents. The statewide probate form index is the Wisconsin Court System circuit court forms page, Category 26, at https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All. Jefferson County local rules also require uniform circuit court forms where available.
| Form or packet | How Jefferson County uses it |
|---|---|
| Statewide PR forms | Common forms include PR-1801 Application for Informal Administration, PR-1806 Proof of Heirship, PR-1810 Domiciliary Letters, PR-1811 Inventory, PR-1816 Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate, PR-1831 Transfer by Affidavit under Wis. Stat. § 867.03, PR-1835 Petition for Summary Settlement under Wis. Stat. § 867.01, PR-1840 Petition for Summary Assignment under Wis. Stat. § 867.02, and PR-1901 Petition for Formal Administration. |
| Jefferson County Affidavit of No Probate | This county form is filed with an original will, codicil or other testamentary document when no probate proceeding will follow. Jefferson County local rules say leaving it out may result in the Register in Probate refusing the filing. |
| Jefferson County Informal Administration Checklist | The county checklist organizes the opening and closing documents for an informal administration under Wis. Stat. ch. 865. |
| County probate form packets | The county groups forms into packets for formal administration, informal administration, special administration, summary assignment, summary settlement and adult adoption. Use the official statewide PR form titles when preparing the packet. |
| Local formatting rules | Papers are typed or legibly handwritten on 8.5 by 11 inch paper, printed on one side only except testamentary documents. Proposed orders are separate documents and electronically submitted proposed orders are in Word format. |
Fees
The statewide estate fee appears in the at-a-glance table. Jefferson County also publishes practical local charges and recording costs that matter during estate settlement.
| Charge | Amount and timing | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Copies of probate records | As of August 2026, $1.00 per page. This matches the statewide copy charge for records in the custody of registers in probate (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(h)1). | Jefferson County Register in Probate, Room C1110 |
| Certification of a probate record | Through October 31, 2026, $3.00 per document under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(g). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises the certificate charge to $10. | Jefferson County Register in Probate, Room C1110 |
| Recording an estate-related real estate document | As of August 2026, $30.00 per document, except plats. | Jefferson County Register of Deeds, Room C1030 |
| Copies of recorded documents | As of August 2026, $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page, plus $1.00 if a certified copy is requested. | Jefferson County Register of Deeds, Room C1030 |
| Electronic filing fee | As of August 2026, $35 per party per case where the statewide electronic filing fee applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). | Wisconsin circuit court electronic filing |
Timeline
- Open the file with the Jefferson County Register in Probate. An informal administration begins with the office's ch. 865 process, and Jefferson County requires a Proof of Heirship with opening documents for a special administration, summary settlement or summary assignment.
- Plan for hearings only if the path requires them. Jefferson County states that a formal administration requires at least two hearings, one to open and one to close. The local rules say a court hearing is not required when waivers are filed for all interested parties, although the court may order one.
- File the inventory on the statewide schedule. The inventory is due within a reasonable time but no later than six months after appointment unless the court extends or shortens the time (Wis. Stat. § 858.01). The estate fee is paid when the inventory or value document is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3).
- Meet Jefferson County's local closing deadline. Every estate must be closed within fourteen months of filing the Petition for Formal Administration or Application for Informal Administration, unless a Petition for Extension and proposed order are filed and granted.
- File the closing statement last in an informal administration. Jefferson County will not accept PR-1816 unless every other closing document has already been filed or is filed with it, and PR-1816 must be the final document filed.
Local nuance
Jefferson County-specific considerations
| Local practice | What it means |
|---|---|
| Two counters in one courthouse | Estate filings go to the Register in Probate in Room C1110 at (920) 674-7245. The clerk of circuit court is a separate office in Room C1080. |
| Mail, fax, paper and electronic filing | You may file in person or by mail to Room C1110. Fax filing is allowed only within the local rule, is capped at fifteen pages excluding the cover sheet, and goes to the Register in Probate fax. Case-related information is not accepted by email. |
| Local document format | Papers are typed or legibly handwritten, use 8.5 by 11 inch paper, and are printed on one side only except testamentary documents. Proposed orders are separate documents, and electronic proposed orders are in Word format. |
| Affidavit of No Probate | If an original will, codicil or other testamentary document will not be part of a probate proceeding, Jefferson County requires its Affidavit of No Probate with the filing. |
| Closing requirements | Jefferson County requires a Wisconsin Closing Certificate for Fiduciaries before closing unless waived, a fourteen-month local closing deadline unless extended, and PR-1816 as the final informal closing document. |
| Probate payment code | Probate fees may be paid in Room C1110, by mail, online through the county's vendor, or by phone using probate pay code a004n8. Checks for probate fees are payable to the Register in Probate. |
| Remote appearances | Video or telephone appearance is at the discretion of the assigned or presiding court official. A virtual appearance is still a court appearance on the record. |
| Power of attorney filings | The county's Register in Probate page states that health care powers of attorney may be filed there for safekeeping, while durable financial powers of attorney are not accepted for safekeeping and are normally handled as civil matters, although Jefferson County hears those actions on the probate side. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2023 | Jefferson County Circuit Court Rules of Court took effect, replacing prior rules. The current rules include a probate section with local requirements for document preparation, the Affidavit of No Probate, hearings and waivers, estate closing, and the fourteen-month closing deadline. |
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Action of Wisconsin and Judicare Legal Aid merged into one organization, Legal Action of Wisconsin. Jefferson County readers use Legal Action of Wisconsin's statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Jefferson County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with the Jefferson County Register in Probate in Room C1110, then expect the real estate step to land at the Register of Deeds in Room C1030 if title needs to be recorded. Wisconsin's summary confirmation route may let certain survivorship marital property interests be handled at the register of deeds counter under Wis. Stat. § 867.046(2), depending on the property and documents. If a will exists but no probate proceeding will follow, Jefferson County's Affidavit of No Probate is filed with the original will. | Sunset finds accounts and assets before anything is filed, helps the spouse understand what is actually part of the estate settlement, and assembles a packet for the Room C1110 counter. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Jefferson County's filing channels matter. The adult child can mail papers to Room C1110, use electronic filing if they opt in, or ask the office about fax filing under the fifteen-page local rule. Email is not accepted for case-related information. Transfer by affidavit under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 is not filed with or managed by the Register in Probate, and the statewide tests for small-estate routes should be checked before choosing a path. | Sunset searches for accounts across more than 2,300 institutions, organizes the estate settlement packet, and connects the family with a Wisconsin probate attorney if the matter shifts toward a hearing or dispute. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale often makes counsel and a court-supervised path more likely. Jefferson County states that formal administration requires at least two hearings, while an informal administration may require none. Proposed orders are separate documents, signed orders must be distributed by the filing party unless a specific rule says otherwise, the Wisconsin Closing Certificate for Fiduciaries is required before closing unless waived, and real estate recording steps go to the Register of Deeds in Room C1030. | Sunset builds the asset picture, prepares the packet, and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale, real estate recording steps, and the final estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Jefferson County Register in Probate | Room, phone, fax, hours, fee table, payment routes, local route descriptions, form packets and local rules. | https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/courts___legal_services/register_in_probate/index.php |
| Jefferson County Circuit Court Rules of Court | Local rules for document preparation, fax filing, remote appearances, probate hearings, closing, extensions and the Affidavit of No Probate. | https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/Register%20in%20Probate/Forms/Local%20Court%20Rules.pdf |
| Jefferson County Affidavit of No Probate | County form used when an original will is filed but no probate proceeding will follow. | https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/Register%20in%20Probate/Forms/Affidavit%20of%20No%20Probate.pdf |
| Jefferson County Informal Administration Checklist | County checklist for opening and closing an informal administration. | https://www.jeffersoncountywi.gov/Register%20in%20Probate/Forms/Informal%20Administration%20Checklist.pdf |
| Wisconsin Court System probate self-help page | Statewide probate self-help page with links to the guide, statewide forms and probate resources. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Court system self-help guide prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association for informal administration. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Circuit court probate forms | Statewide Wisconsin PR form set, Category 26. | 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, with statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. Intake decides whether help is available for a particular issue. | 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 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 formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney, informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance, and summary settlement does not require an attorney's assistance; the Jefferson County Register in Probate page says formal administration requires the personal representative to retain legal counsel and takes at least two hearings, while informal administration does not require retained counsel. 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 locally when real estate must be sold, an heir objects, a claim is disputed, or the personal representative lives out of state, and Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney at no cost.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, balances and assets that might otherwise be missed. That asset picture helps decide whether Jefferson County needs an administration, a recording step, or a narrower statewide route.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Wisconsin probate forms and Jefferson County's local filing sequence, including the Room C1110 filing office, the county checklist, and the local rule that PR-1816 is filed last in an informal administration.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs formal administration, a real estate sale, a contested hearing, or help with Jefferson County's closing requirements, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools, asset discovery and attorney matching are free for families. Sunset is not part of the court and does not replace the Jefferson County Register in Probate, the probate registrar, or legal advice from an attorney.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Jefferson County?
File with the Jefferson County Register in Probate at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 311 S. Center Avenue, Room C1110, Jefferson, WI 53549. Wisconsin places administration in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
What is the phone number for the Jefferson County Register in Probate?
The probate line is (920) 674-7245. That is the Register in Probate office in Room C1110.
When is the Jefferson County Register in Probate open?
The office publishes hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding courthouse holidays. No separate probate filing cutoff is published, so call (920) 674-7245 before travelling with a time-sensitive filing.
Can I mail or fax a probate filing to Jefferson County, or do I have to use electronic filing?
You may file in person or by mail to Room C1110. Jefferson County local rules also allow fax filing to the Register in Probate within limits, including a fifteen-page cap excluding the cover sheet, and documents faxed directly to the courts are not accepted for filing. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use the statewide electronic filing system; a self-represented person may opt in or use traditional paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). The separate electronic filing fee is $35 per party per case where it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Does Jefferson County have its own probate forms or local probate rules?
Yes. Jefferson County publishes its own Affidavit of No Probate and Informal Administration Checklist, groups statewide PR forms into local packets, and has local circuit court rules effective March 1, 2023 with a dedicated probate section. The local rules also require uniform circuit court forms where available.
What is the Jefferson County Affidavit of No Probate, and when do I need one?
It is a county form filed with an original will, codicil or other testamentary document when no probate proceeding will follow. Jefferson County's local rule says the affidavit must give information such as the decedent's name, date of death, date of birth, address at death, the date of the testamentary document, the filer's interest, and the reason no probate proceeding is needed. Leaving it out may result in the Register in Probate refusing the filing.
How long do I have to close an estate in Jefferson County?
Jefferson County local probate rules require every estate to close within fourteen months of filing the Petition for Formal Administration or Application for Informal Administration. If the estate cannot close in that time, a Petition for Extension and proposed order are filed, and the Register in Probate decides whether a hearing is needed. This is a local outer limit before an extension is needed, not a promise that every estate takes fourteen months.
What does it cost to open an estate in Jefferson County?
The estate fee is statewide. 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). It is paid when the inventory or value document is filed, not with the first petition (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; the 0.2 percent rate does not change. If electronic filing is used, the separate fee is $35 per party per case where it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Will I have to go to a hearing in a Jefferson County estate, and can I appear remotely?
Jefferson County states that formal administration requires at least two hearings, one to open and one to close, while informal administration may or may not require a hearing. The local rules say a hearing is not required when waivers are filed for all interested parties, but the court may order one. Video and telephone appearances are at the discretion of the assigned or presiding court official, and a virtual proceeding is still on the court record.
Can I look up a Jefferson County estate case online?
Yes. Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate case types, are searchable through WCCA at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ by party name or case number. For an older Jefferson County file, the Register in Probate notes that probate records are also kept on microfilm and microfiche and with the Wisconsin State Historical Society in Madison and the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Golda Meir Library.
Do I need a lawyer for a Jefferson County estate?
Formal administration requires attorney help according to the Wisconsin Court System's self-help guide and the Jefferson County Register in Probate page. Informal administration may be granted without attorney assistance, but a contested issue or court-supervised turn can change the analysis. In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)); summary settlement and summary assignment carry their own right to appear in person (Wis. Stat. § 867.01(5), § 867.02(5)).
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.