Back to Wisconsin
Kenosha County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Kenosha County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for Kenosha County |
| Probate filing office | Kenosha County Register in Probate, in the Probate and Juvenile Office |
| Courthouse address | Kenosha County Courthouse, 912 56th Street, Kenosha, WI 53140 |
| Mailing address | Kenosha County Register in Probate, 912 56th Street, Kenosha, WI 53140 |
| Register in Probate phone | (262) 653-2678 |
| Probate and Juvenile Office probate line | (262) 653-2675 |
| Fax | (262) 653-2435, clerk of circuit court fax. Call the Register in Probate before faxing anything for an estate. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on county holidays |
| Estate fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 if the value of 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, payable when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500 effective November 1, 2026, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. |
| Electronic filing fee | $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7), as reflected in the July 13, 2026 Wisconsin circuit court fee tables, unless waived under Wis. Stat. § 814.29(1) |
| Local probate forms | Kenosha County does not publish its own probate court form for a decedent's estate. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. |
| Electronic filing | Required for attorneys and high-volume filing agents. Voluntary for self-represented litigants under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Remote appearance | Request with statewide forms GF-306 and GF-307. If the court permits a virtual appearance, Kenosha County circuit court rule CR 02-13 applies. |
| County website | https://www.kenoshacountywi.gov/118/Clerk-of-Courts |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before opening a Kenosha County estate, identify what the decedent owned, what had a beneficiary or survivorship transfer, what debts exist, and whether Kenosha County real estate is involved. That work matters because Wisconsin's estate fee is calculated later from the inventory value of property subject to administration, not from every asset the person owned.
Sunset's estate settlement process starts with asset discovery across more than 2,300 financial institutions, then helps organize accounts, debts, beneficiary designations, real estate, and paperwork so you know whether the Kenosha County Register in Probate, the Kenosha County Register of Deeds, or both offices are involved.
Which court handles jurisdiction
One courthouse serves Kenosha County probate matters: the Kenosha County Courthouse at 912 56th Street in the city of Kenosha. The county lists the City of Kenosha, the Towns of Brighton, Paris, Randall and Wheatland, the Town and Village of Somers, and the Villages of Bristol, Genoa City, Paddock Lake, Pleasant Prairie, Salem Lakes and Twin Lakes.
Wisconsin estate jurisdiction is based on the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, a Wisconsin estate may be opened in any Wisconsin county where the decedent's property is located, and the court that first exercises jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction for that estate (Wis. Stat. § 856.01). Kenosha County's Illinois border makes out-of-state family involvement common, but domicile and Wisconsin property still control where the case belongs.
The jurisdiction process
- Start by listing assets, debts, beneficiaries, survivorship interests, and any Kenosha County real estate. The inventory value will later determine the statewide estate charge under Wis. Stat. § 814.66.
- If there is a will, file the original will with the proper court or deliver it to the person named to act as personal representative within the 30 day statutory duty after learning of the death and of the will appointment (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)).
- Open the estate with the Kenosha County Register in Probate at the Kenosha County Courthouse, 912 56th Street, Kenosha. Use the statewide PR forms, including PR-1801 for informal administration or PR-1901 for formal administration.
- Prepare papers to match Kenosha County circuit court rule CR 02-5. Papers filed or submitted electronically must use 8 1/2 by 11 inch white paper, one-sided printing for paper filings, 12 point font, and no printed material in the top one inch of any page.
- File on paper or electronically as allowed. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must e-file, while self-represented litigants may choose electronic filing or traditional paper filing under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3).
- Watch for the claims 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 that order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Notice is published under Wis. Stat. § 859.07(1) and § 879.05(4).
- After appointment and qualification, use PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters, as the document showing the personal representative's authority in either informal or formal administration.
- In an informal administration, give each interested person the will and list of interested persons, or the list alone if there is no will, within 10 days after appointment (Wis. Stat. § 865.08(5)).
- If an electronically filed document asks for a hearing date or other court action, contact the clerk for the assigned branch within ten days after filing so the matter can be scheduled or brought to the court's attention under Kenosha County circuit court rule CR 02-11.
- File PR-1811, Inventory, within a reasonable time and no later than six months after appointment unless the court orders a different time (Wis. Stat. § 858.01). Pay the estate charge under Wis. Stat. § 814.66 when the inventory is filed.
- Record any deed, assignment order, certificate, or abridgment affecting Kenosha County real estate with the Kenosha County Register of Deeds at 1010 56th Street, Kenosha. That office records real estate documents until 4:30 p.m.
- Close the estate through the correct track. Informal administration closes by the personal representative's sworn statement, PR-1816, and appointment terminates six months later if no challenge is pending (Wis. Stat. § 865.16(2)). Formal administration closes through final judgment, PR-1912, and an order discharging the personal representative, PR-1915.
Executor duties
Wisconsin uses the term personal representative for the person appointed to administer a decedent's estate. In Kenosha County, the statewide duties come with several local court-rule expectations:
| Local duty | What Kenosha County requires |
|---|---|
| Stay current on deadlines | The Register in Probate must notify the judge assigned to the matter when any duty is more than 30 days late in being performed under Kenosha County circuit court rule CR 06-1. |
| Format filings correctly | Every paper filed or submitted electronically must meet the court's format rule, including paper size, font, exhibit tabs, and a blank top inch under CR 02-5. |
| Follow scheduling steps | An e-filer who files something needing a court date or other court action must contact the clerk for the assigned branch within ten days after filing under CR 02-11. |
| Disclose AI use | Any person filing a document must disclose the use of artificial intelligence in writing or preparing it, with the certification required by CR 02-12. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Kenosha County
Kenosha County uses the statewide Wisconsin probate forms for a decedent's estate, and the county's own probate link points to the Wisconsin Court System's probate self-help page. The county's Court Resources section sends users to the Wisconsin Court System forms site, and the county does not publish a separate local probate packet for opening or closing a decedent's estate.
| Form or form set | Use in Kenosha County |
|---|---|
| Statewide PR forms | Use Category 26, probate, on the Wisconsin Court System circuit court forms index: https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All |
| PR-1801 | Application for Informal Administration |
| PR-1806 | Proof of Heirship for informal and formal administration |
| PR-1810 | Domiciliary Letters for informal and formal administration |
| PR-1811 | Inventory for informal and formal administration |
| PR-1816 | Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate for informal administration |
| PR-1901 | Petition for Formal Administration |
| GF-306 and GF-307 | Statewide request and order forms for a remote appearance |
| Register of Deeds real estate forms | The Kenosha County Register of Deeds publishes real estate forms, including a Termination of Decedent's Property Interest form, for recording work at 1010 56th Street. |
Fees
The estate fee is statewide and statutory. What is local in Kenosha County is where the money is paid and what the county's Register of Deeds charges when an estate includes Kenosha County real estate.
| Charge | Amount and timing | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Estate charge through October 31, 2026 | $20 if the value of 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, payable when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3) | Kenosha County Register in Probate |
| Estate charge effective 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 | Kenosha County Register in Probate |
| Electronic filing charge | $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7), as reflected in the July 13, 2026 Wisconsin circuit court fee tables, unless waived under Wis. Stat. § 814.29(1) | Wisconsin circuit court electronic filing system |
| Recorded real estate document | $30 as of August 2026 for recording any document entitled to be recorded with the register of deeds (Wis. Stat. § 59.43(2)(ag)) | Kenosha County Register of Deeds |
| Register of Deeds copies | $2 for the first page and $1 for each additional page as of August 2026, plus $1 to certify a copy, under Wis. Stat. § 59.43(2)(b)2 | Kenosha County Register of Deeds |
| Register in Probate copies and certificates | $1 per page for copies as of August 2026 under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(h)1, and $3 to certify a document as of August 2026 under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(g), changing to $10 on November 1, 2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179 | Kenosha County Register in Probate |
Local nuance
Kenosha County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Use the probate phone lines | The Kenosha County Register in Probate line is (262) 653-2678, and the Probate and Juvenile Office probate line is (262) 653-2675. |
| Courthouse hours run to 5 p.m. | The courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed on county holidays. |
| Local circuit court rules are current | Kenosha County's circuit court rules were revised as of January 12, 2026 and include rules on document format, scheduling contact, AI disclosure, virtual proceedings, and late duties. |
| Late duties are reported | Under CR 06-1, the Register in Probate notifies the assigned judge when any duty is more than 30 days late in being performed. |
| Estate cases have a court time standard | CR 01-4 lists a 12 month time standard from filing to final disposition for estate cases. It is a court standard, not a promise that every estate will finish in that time. |
| AI use must be disclosed | CR 02-12 requires any person filing a document to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in writing or preparing it and to certify review of AI-generated content. |
| Virtual proceedings have local rules | If the court permits a virtual appearance, CR 02-13 treats it as an in-court, on-the-record proceeding and expects video where the technology is available. |
| Real estate recording is in a different building | The Kenosha County Register of Deeds is at 1010 56th Street, not the courthouse, and real estate documents are recorded until 4:30 p.m. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 2026 | Kenosha County circuit court rules were revised as of January 12, 2026 and filed January 14, 2026. The rules include CR 02-12 on disclosure of artificial intelligence use in filed documents and CR 02-13 on virtual proceedings. |
| November 1, 2026 | 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the estate charge under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2 from the through October 31, 2026 figures of $20 at a $10,000 threshold and 0.2 percent above that threshold to $36 at an $18,500 threshold, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Kenosha County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying whether the home passes by survivorship marital property, transfer on death designation, or through the estate. If a recordable document is needed for Kenosha County real estate, the Register of Deeds at 1010 56th Street handles recording, not the courthouse. | Sunset helps gather deeds, mortgage information, account data, beneficiary information, and estate settlement documents so the family can separate court filings from real estate recording steps. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Kenosha County's Illinois border makes out-of-state family involvement common. Jurisdiction still turns on the decedent's Wisconsin domicile or Wisconsin property under Wis. Stat. § 856.01. A self-represented filer may use paper filing or opt into electronic filing under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3), and remote appearance requests use GF-306. | Sunset helps identify assets, organize the statewide PR forms or non-court transfer documents, and flag when a local attorney should review the path before a filing is made. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A house sale usually makes the inventory, title work, and Register of Deeds recording steps central. The statewide estate charge is paid when the inventory is filed and is based on property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, under Wis. Stat. § 814.66. Kenosha County rule CR 06-1 also makes late estate duties visible to the assigned judge after more than 30 days. | Sunset helps build an asset and debt picture, collect real estate information, prepare the estate settlement packet, and connect the family with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney when a sale, mortgage, or disagreement makes counsel important. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Kenosha County Register in Probate | Filing office for decedent estates in the Kenosha County Courthouse. | 912 56th Street, Kenosha, WI 53140. (262) 653-2678. Probate and Juvenile Office probate line: (262) 653-2675. |
| Wisconsin Court System probate self-help | Statewide probate self-help resource used by Kenosha County's own probate link. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Court-hosted guide prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association for informal administration. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Statewide probate forms | Official Wisconsin PR forms for informal administration, formal administration, claims, inventory, closing, transfer by affidavit under Wis. Stat. § 867.03, and related probate filings. | https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Statewide circuit court case search. Use it to look up Kenosha County circuit court cases by browser search, without assuming document access. | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Kenosha County Court Resources | County court links, including statewide forms, case classification codes, local circuit court rules, and self-help resources. | https://www.kenoshacountywi.gov/123/Court-Resources |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents, with statewide intake after the January 1, 2026 merger with Judicare Legal Aid. Estate administration help is not promised by the program list, so intake decides fit. | https://legalaction.org/ and (855) 947-2529 |
| State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral Service | Statewide lawyer referral for people who need a Wisconsin attorney. | https://www.wisbar.org/forPublic/INeedaLawyer/pages/lrs.aspx |
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 for personal representatives, 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. Informal administration runs administratively before the probate registrar rather than as a proceeding in court (Wis. Stat. § 865.01), and probate registrar staff have a statutory duty to advise, within their competence, on preparing informal administration documents (Wis. Stat. § 865.065(2)). Summary settlement and summary assignment carry their own express right to appear in person (Wis. Stat. § 867.01(5), § 867.02(5)). If a Kenosha County estate is contested, needs a formal administration, includes a house sale, or involves a missed deadline, Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney at no cost.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families identify accounts, insurance, investments, debts, and real estate that shape a Kenosha County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for Wisconsin PR forms, the inventory, notices, and closing documents, then helps keep Kenosha County's format and scheduling rules in view.
Find a local probate attorney. When a formal administration, disagreement, real estate sale, tax issue, or court appearance calls for legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, understand next steps, and get attorney connections without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Kenosha County, Wisconsin?
File with the Kenosha County Register in Probate at the Kenosha County Courthouse, 912 56th Street, Kenosha, WI 53140. The Register in Probate phone is (262) 653-2678, and the Probate and Juvenile Office probate line is (262) 653-2675.
What is the phone number for the Kenosha County Register in Probate?
Call (262) 653-2678 for the Kenosha County Register in Probate. The county also publishes (262) 653-2675 as the probate line for the Probate and Juvenile Office.
What are the Kenosha County courthouse hours for probate filings?
The Kenosha County Courthouse is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on county holidays. No separate daily cutoff for Register in Probate filings is published, so call (262) 653-2678 before going close to the end of the day.
Do I have to file electronically in a Kenosha County estate?
Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must e-file Wisconsin probate case types. Self-represented litigants may choose electronic filing, but may also use traditional paper filing under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3). The electronic filing charge is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7), as reflected in the July 13, 2026 Wisconsin circuit court fee tables, unless waived under Wis. Stat. § 814.29(1).
How do I get a hearing date in a Kenosha County probate case?
Kenosha County circuit court rule CR 02-11 says that a party who electronically files a document requesting a hearing date or other court action must contact the clerk for the assigned branch within ten days after filing. The rule does not publish a probate hearing day or a typical wait.
Can I appear remotely in a Kenosha County probate hearing?
Use statewide form GF-306 to request a remote appearance and GF-307 for the court's order. The court decides the request. If an appearance is virtual, Kenosha County circuit court rule CR 02-13 applies, including video where technology is available and courtroom conduct rules.
How long does an estate take in Kenosha County?
Kenosha County circuit court rule CR 01-4 lists a 12 month time standard from filing to final disposition for estate cases. That is a court time standard, not a guarantee. Statewide deadlines still matter, including the inventory due within a reasonable time and no later than six months after appointment unless the court orders otherwise (Wis. Stat. § 858.01).
What happens if I fall behind on a duty in a Kenosha County estate?
Under Kenosha County circuit court rule CR 06-1, the Register in Probate must notify the judge assigned to the matter when any duty is more than 30 days late in being performed. The rule does not state a specific sanction, but it means late duties do not simply sit unnoticed.
Do I have to tell the Kenosha County court if I used AI to prepare a document?
Yes. Kenosha County circuit court rule CR 02-12 requires any person filing a document to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in writing or preparing it. The disclosure must identify the tool, briefly describe how it was used, state relevant limitations or potential biases, and certify that the filer reviewed the accuracy and appropriateness of AI-generated content.
Are there Kenosha County probate forms, or do I use the statewide forms?
Use the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. Kenosha County does not publish its own probate court form for a decedent's estate, and its probate link points to the Wisconsin Court System probate self-help resource.
What does it cost to open an estate in Kenosha County?
The estate charge is set by Wisconsin statute and is paid when the inventory is filed. Through October 31, 2026, it is $20 if the value of 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, § 814.66(1)(a)3). 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500 effective November 1, 2026, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged.
Where do I record a deed or court order affecting Kenosha County real estate?
Record real estate documents with the Kenosha County Register of Deeds at 1010 56th Street, Kenosha, WI 53140. The office records real estate documents Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. As of August 2026, recording a document entitled to be recorded costs $30 under Wis. Stat. § 59.43(2)(ag).
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.