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Juneau County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Juneau County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court for Juneau County |
| Filing office | Juneau County Register in Probate, also listed by the county as Register in Probate/Clerk of Juvenile Court |
| Courthouse address | 200 Oak Street, Rm 2300, Justice Center, Mauston, WI 53948 |
| Mailing address | No separate mailing address is published for this office. Use 200 Oak Street, Rm 2300, Justice Center, Mauston, WI 53948 unless the office gives different instructions. |
| Phone | 608-847-9346 |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. These are the general courthouse hours, so call before visiting if timing matters. |
| Estate case fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 when the property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value when it is more, paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2 and § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179, the minimum becomes $36 at $18,500 or less, with the 0.2 percent rate under Wis. Stat. § 814.66 continuing above that amount. |
| Local forms | Juneau County does not publish a county-specific probate form or checklist on its Register in Probate page or in its local circuit court rules. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents e-file in Wisconsin circuit court. Self-represented filers may opt in or may use traditional paper methods. The separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7), unless waived. |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Probate case types include PR for formal probate and IN for informal probate. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Register in Probate when a hearing is scheduled. Juneau County does not publish a probate-specific remote appearance rule in the local materials listed for this page. |
| Website | https://www.co.juneau.wi.gov/departments/clerk_of_court/register_in_probate_juvenile.php |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Wisconsin probate path, make a careful list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, co-owners, payable-on-death designations, real estate, and any medical assistance or long-term care benefits. The Juneau County Register in Probate can point you to the local filing counter, but the right estate settlement path depends on what exists and what passes outside the estate.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts, policies, retirement assets, and other property before forms are prepared. That early asset work is especially useful in Wisconsin because the estate fee is based on property subject to administration and is paid later with the inventory, not at the first filing.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File a Juneau County estate with the Juneau County Register in Probate at the Justice Center in Mauston when the decedent was domiciled in Juneau County at death. Wisconsin jurisdiction for a decedent's estate is based on the county of domicile at death for Wisconsin domiciliaries, and for a nonresident it is based on a Wisconsin county where the decedent's property is located (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
Juneau County is served locally through its own county circuit court and Register in Probate office. The Register in Probate/Clerk of Juvenile Court office handles decedents' estate matters along with guardianship, protective placement, civil mental health commitment proceedings, adoption, juvenile, and related matters.
The jurisdiction process
Identify the assets first. Separate property that is subject to administration from jointly held survivorship property, beneficiary-designated accounts, trust assets, and other nonprobate transfers. If there is a will, the person holding it has a Wisconsin duty to file it with the proper court or deliver it to the named personal representative within 30 days after learning of the death and the nomination (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)).
Choose the Wisconsin path and forms. Informal administration usually begins with PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration. Formal administration begins with PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration. Transfer by affidavit, summary settlement, and summary assignment are separate Wisconsin routes and each $50,000 figure must be tied to its own statute, Wis. Stat. § 867.03, § 867.01, or § 867.02.
File with the Juneau County Register in Probate at 200 Oak Street, Rm 2300, Justice Center, Mauston, WI 53948. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing. A self-represented filer may opt in to e-filing or file, serve, and receive paper documents by traditional methods under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b) and § 801.18(3)(c).
Plan for the fee at the inventory stage. Through October 31, 2026, the statewide estate case fee is $20 when the property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value when it is more, payable when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2 and § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179, the minimum becomes $36 at $18,500 or less, while the 0.2 percent rate under Wis. Stat. § 814.66 continues above that amount. If you e-file, the separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7), unless waived.
Complete notice and claims steps. In Wisconsin, the court in a formal administration, or the probate registrar in an informal administration, 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). Notice of that deadline is published under Wis. Stat. § 859.07, and medical assistance or long-term care benefits can trigger additional agency notice requirements.
Handle hearing scheduling locally. Informal administration may proceed administratively through the probate registrar if the statutory requirements are met. Formal administration and some summary procedures may require a hearing. Juneau County does not post a standing probate hearing day or a filing-to-hearing window, so use the instructions from the Register in Probate after filing and ask about any remote appearance option before the hearing date.
Receive authority before acting for the estate. When a personal representative is appointed and qualifies, Wisconsin uses Domiciliary Letters, form PR-1810, for both informal and formal administration. Those letters are the document banks, title companies, and other institutions usually ask for before they work with the personal representative.
Administer, inventory, distribute, and close. The personal representative files an inventory within a reasonable time and no later than six months after appointment unless the court changes the time (Wis. Stat. § 858.01). Informal administration can close with PR-1816, Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate, and the appointment terminates six months later if no proceeding is pending (Wis. Stat. § 865.16(2)). Formal administration closes through the court's final judgment and discharge forms.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Juneau County
Juneau County does not publish a county-specific probate form or local probate checklist on its Register in Probate page or in its local circuit court rules. Use the statewide Wisconsin circuit court probate forms in Category 26, then contact the Juneau County Register in Probate if you need to know how that office wants a particular filing delivered.
| Form group | Common statewide forms | Use in Juneau County |
|---|---|---|
| Informal administration | PR-1801, PR-1803, PR-1806, PR-1807, PR-1808, PR-1810, PR-1811, PR-1816, PR-1817 | Use for an informal administration filed with the Juneau County Register in Probate when the statutory requirements for informal administration are met. |
| Formal administration | PR-1901, PR-1902, PR-1903, PR-1905, PR-1910, PR-1912, PR-1915 | Use for a court-supervised formal administration. The court system's self-help guide says formal administration requires an attorney's assistance. |
| Transfer by affidavit | PR-1831 | Use only if the Wisconsin transfer by affidavit requirements are met, including the $50,000 gross-value test in Wis. Stat. § 867.03 and any required Department of Health Services notice. |
| Summary settlement or summary assignment | PR-1835 to PR-1837, PR-1840 to PR-1844 | Use for the separate Wisconsin summary procedures under Wis. Stat. § 867.01 and Wis. Stat. § 867.02. These are not interchangeable. |
Local nuance
Juneau County-specific considerations
Juneau County's local probate counter is a combined Register in Probate/Clerk of Juvenile Court office. The county lists that office as handling decedents' estate matters along with adoption, guardianship, protective placement, civil mental health commitment proceedings, juvenile, and related proceedings.
Juneau County local circuit court rules are available, but the local rules listed for this page are older and do not publish a probate-specific checklist, a Register in Probate fax number, or probate hearing days. Do not treat a general Clerk of Court fax rule as a Register in Probate filing rule unless the office tells you to use it.
Recent updates
Juneau County's available local probate materials do not announce a current local rule change for estate cases. Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Archetype | Likely Juneau County path | Local step | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse w/ co-owned home | First check whether the home passes outside administration through survivorship marital property, joint tenancy, a TOD designation, or another nonprobate transfer. If a court filing is needed, the Register in Probate in Mauston is the local filing office. | Ask whether the estate needs an administration filing or a real-estate title-clearing route. If a certificate, order, or abridgment must be recorded for Juneau County real estate, the recording step is separate from the Register in Probate filing. | Sunset helps identify accounts, real estate, debts, and beneficiary designations before the spouse chooses an estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child w/ small estate | Transfer by affidavit may be available only if the Wisconsin $50,000 gross-value test and the other requirements in Wis. Stat. § 867.03 are met. Summary settlement and summary assignment use different net-value tests under Wis. Stat. § 867.01 and § 867.02. | Call the Juneau County Register in Probate at 608-847-9346 before mailing paper filings to Room 2300. If e-filing is used, remember that self-represented filers opt in voluntarily and the separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7), unless waived. | Sunset helps gather institution details and prepare a packet so an out-of-state child can avoid repeated trips for missing information. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate often points toward formal administration or attorney review, especially if title, creditors, or family consent is uncertain. Wisconsin uses Domiciliary Letters, PR-1810, after appointment. | File through the Juneau County Register in Probate in Mauston and ask how the court will schedule any required hearing. If a final judgment, order, or certificate affects Juneau County real estate, plan for the separate register of deeds recording step. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, debt list, and document packet, then connects the family with a local probate attorney when the real estate sale needs counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Juneau County Register in Probate/Clerk of Juvenile Court | Local office for decedents' estate filings, with the office address, room number, phone, and case types. | https://www.co.juneau.wi.gov/departments/clerk_of_court/register_in_probate_juvenile.php, 608-847-9346 |
| Juneau County Circuit Court Rules | Local court rules on general topics. The listed rules are not probate-specific, so use them only for the topics they actually cover. | https://www.wisbar.org/Directories/CourtRules/Wisconsin%20Circuit%20Court%20Rules/Juneau%20County%20Circuit%20Court%20Rules.pdf |
| 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 hosted by the Wisconsin Court System. | 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 and general court resources. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| Circuit court probate forms | Statewide Wisconsin PR probate 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 | Statewide free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents. Let intake decide whether the issue fits its services. | https://legalaction.org/, 855-947-2529 |
| Wisconsin State Law Library, Juneau County legal resources | County legal resources index page. | https://wilawlibrary.gov/topics/county.php?c=Juneau&a=a&l=l&f=f&r=r |
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, while informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance, and summary settlement also does not require an attorney's assistance. Counsel is especially important if someone demands formal proceedings, a home must be sold, family members disagree, creditor or medical assistance recovery issues arise, or the Juneau County file needs court-supervised orders. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets
Sunset searches across 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and other property that can affect the Juneau County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet
Sunset turns the asset list, family information, and known debts into an organized probate packet so you can work from the correct Wisconsin PR forms and avoid missing basic information before contacting the Register in Probate.
Find a local probate attorney
If the estate needs formal administration, a real estate sale, a creditor dispute, or help interpreting Wisconsin probate rules, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families
Sunset is free for families. The goal is to make estate settlement clearer, reduce administrative work, and help you move from asset discovery to the right local filing path in Juneau County.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Juneau County?
File with the Juneau County Register in Probate at 200 Oak Street, Rm 2300, Justice Center, Mauston, WI 53948. The office phone is 608-847-9346.
Does Juneau County have its own probate forms?
Juneau County does not publish a county-specific probate form or local probate checklist on its Register in Probate page or in its local circuit court rules. Use the statewide Wisconsin circuit court PR forms, Category 26.
Can I e-file a Juneau County probate case?
Wisconsin circuit court e-filing covers probate case types. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use e-filing. Self-represented filers may opt in voluntarily or use traditional paper methods under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b) and § 801.18(3)(c). The separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7), unless waived.
What fee will the Juneau County Register in Probate charge?
The estate case fee is statewide. Through October 31, 2026, it is $20 when the property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value when it is more, paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2 and § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179, the minimum becomes $36 at $18,500 or less, with the 0.2 percent rate under Wis. Stat. § 814.66 continuing above that amount.
How long does it take to get a hearing in Juneau County?
Juneau County does not publish a standing probate hearing day or a filing-to-hearing window in the local materials listed for this page. The Register in Probate gives scheduling instructions after the filing is reviewed or after the court sets the matter.
Can I attend a Juneau County probate hearing remotely?
Ask the Juneau County Register in Probate when the hearing is scheduled. Juneau County does not publish a probate-specific remote appearance rule in the local materials listed for this page.
How do I look up a Juneau County probate case?
Use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Wisconsin probate case types include PR for formal probate and IN for informal probate. Do not assume that every document in the file can be viewed through the online case search.
Do I have to travel to Mauston for a Juneau County estate?
Not always. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing, and self-represented filers may choose e-filing or traditional paper methods. If a hearing is required, ask the Register in Probate whether the court will allow a remote appearance before making travel plans.
What is the creditor deadline in a Juneau County estate?
Wisconsin does not use a fixed deadline measured from death. The court in a formal administration, or the probate registrar in an informal administration, sets a 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).
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.