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Kewaunee County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Kewaunee County detail |
|---|---|
| Court and filing office | Circuit Court for Kewaunee County, Kewaunee County Register in Probate |
| Courthouse address | Kewaunee County Courthouse, 613 Dodge Street, Kewaunee, WI 54216-1398 |
| Mailing address | 613 Dodge Street, Kewaunee, WI 54216-1398 |
| Phone | 920-388-7143 |
| Fax | 920-388-0852 |
| Hours | Courthouse general hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Call the Register in Probate before you go because department-specific counter hours were not separately published. |
| Estate fee | Through October 31, 2026, the statewide estate proceeding 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)). 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500 effective November 1, 2026; the 0.2 percent rate remains the same. |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing in probate. People without counsel may opt in or file by 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. |
| Local forms | No Kewaunee County add-on probate forms are posted on the Register in Probate probate page. Use the statewide PR forms. |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Register in Probate before any scheduled hearing. |
| Website | Kewaunee County Register in Probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Wisconsin probate path, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, marital property questions, beneficiaries, possible creditors, and any real estate. In Kewaunee County, that list also tells you whether later recording will be needed at the Register of Deeds, which is at 810 Lincoln Street rather than in the courthouse at 613 Dodge Street.
Sunset's estate settlement tools help families search across more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organize what was found before the probate packet is prepared. That preparation matters because Wisconsin's estate fee is based on property subject to administration when the inventory is filed, not on everything the person owned.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Circuit Court for Kewaunee County and the Kewaunee County Register in Probate serve probate filings for Kewaunee County communities from the courthouse in the city of Kewaunee. Kewaunee County is its own county circuit and is not one of Wisconsin's shared two-county circuits.
Wisconsin estate jurisdiction is county based: if the decedent was domiciled in Wisconsin, administration belongs in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death; if the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, it may be in a Wisconsin county where the decedent's property is located, and the first court to act has exclusive jurisdiction for that nonresident estate (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the right Wisconsin path before filing. Informal administration is handled administratively by the probate registrar under Wis. Stat. ch. 865 when the will permits it and the required consents or nominations line up. Formal administration is a court proceeding before a circuit judge. Summary settlement, summary assignment, and transfer by affidavit are statewide alternatives when their statutory tests fit.
- Use statewide Wisconsin PR forms. For informal administration, the starting form is PR-1801. For formal administration, the starting form is PR-1901. Kewaunee County does not post a county add-on probate form on its Register in Probate probate page.
- File with the Kewaunee County Register in Probate at 613 Dodge Street in Kewaunee. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use the Wisconsin circuit court e-filing system; people without counsel may opt in or use traditional paper methods. If a fax filing is appropriate under Kewaunee County Circuit Court Rule 3, send it to the Register in Probate fax line at 920-388-0852 and keep it within the local 15-page limit, excluding the cover sheet.
- File the original will when Wisconsin law requires it. A person with custody of a will, or a person named in the will to act as personal representative who knows of that role and the death, has a 30-day duty to file the will in the proper court unless it has already been deposited with the court (Wis. Stat. § 856.05).
- Plan for the statewide estate fee at the inventory stage. Through October 31, 2026, the fee is $20 at $10,000 or less in property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, and 0.2 percent above that amount (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)). 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500 effective November 1, 2026. The e-filing fee, when it applies, is separate and is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7).
- Give notice and watch the claims order. In Wisconsin, 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 the order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Publication and any required agency notices are part of estate settlement planning.
- Schedule hearings when the chosen path requires one. Kewaunee County Circuit Court Rule 17 lists the probate calendar call as each Friday at 8:30 a.m., as scheduled. Ask the Register in Probate how your specific matter will be placed on the calendar and whether any appearance method has been approved.
- Obtain Domiciliary Letters when a personal representative is appointed. Wisconsin uses Domiciliary Letters, form PR-1810, for both informal and formal administration as evidence of the personal representative's authority.
- Administer the estate, file the inventory, address claims, and close the case using the correct Wisconsin closing route. In informal administration, the personal representative uses PR-1816 and the appointment terminates six months after the sworn statement is filed if no challenge or other proceeding is pending (Wis. Stat. § 865.16(2)). In formal administration, closing runs through final judgment and discharge forms.
- Record real-estate documents when required. Kewaunee County local rules require recording and proof of recording when a final judgment assigns an interest in real property, assigns a debt secured by real property, or shows the termination of a life estate or joint tenancy interest. For Kewaunee County real estate, the Register of Deeds is at 810 Lincoln Street in Kewaunee.
Executor duties
Wisconsin calls the person appointed to administer the estate the personal representative. Kewaunee County local rules add two practical duties to keep on the checklist.
| Local duty | What to do in Kewaunee County |
|---|---|
| Bond handling in informal administration | Kewaunee County Circuit Court Rule 17 states that when a will waives bond, the probate registrar still requires a personal signature bond of at least $1,000 when an attorney represents the personal representative, and requires either a surety bond or a personal signature bond with a stipulation for reduction when no attorney is involved. |
| Recording after real-estate assignments or terminations | When a final judgment affects real property as described in the local rule, the personal representative records the final judgment, a certified copy, or a certified abridgement with the register of deeds in each county where the property lies, then files proof of recording. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Kewaunee County
Use Wisconsin's statewide probate forms in the PR series. The main statewide forms page is the circuit court probate category, Category 26, and Kewaunee County's Register in Probate probate page does not post a separate local probate form packet.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Start informal administration | PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration |
| Start formal administration | PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration |
| Show appointment authority | PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters |
| Inventory | PR-1811, Inventory |
| Close informal administration | PR-1816, Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate |
| Transfer by affidavit | PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit ($50,000 and Under), for the gross-value route under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 |
Timeline
- Before filing, call the Kewaunee County Register in Probate at 920-388-7143 if you need current counter guidance or have a time-sensitive filing.
- For matters that need a probate calendar setting, Kewaunee County Circuit Court Rule 17 lists probate calendar call as each Friday at 8:30 a.m., as scheduled.
- If a fax filing is used under the local fax rule, a filing completed after regular business hours is treated as filed the next business day under the local rule and Wis. Stat. § 801.16(2)(c).
- After appointment, calendar Wisconsin statewide deadlines separately, including the inventory deadline tied to appointment and the creditor claim date set by order under Wis. Stat. § 859.01.
Local nuance
Kewaunee County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Direct probate phone | Call the Kewaunee County Register in Probate at 920-388-7143. The Clerk of Circuit Court has a different courthouse line. |
| Fax filing rule | Kewaunee County Circuit Court Rule 3 allows certain fax filings to the Register in Probate at 920-388-0852 when the local conditions are met, including the 15-page limit excluding the cover sheet, a plain-paper receiving machine in the office, and a document that does not require a fee. |
| Probate calendar call | Kewaunee County Circuit Court Rule 17 lists probate calendar call each Friday at 8:30 a.m., as scheduled. |
| Real-estate recording address | The Register of Deeds is at 810 Lincoln Street in Kewaunee, separate from the 613 Dodge Street courthouse. Use the correct office when recording a final judgment, certified copy, certified abridgement, or other probate-related real-estate instrument. |
Recent updates
| Local update | What changed for readers |
|---|---|
| Kewaunee County local probate rules | The current local rules made available for Kewaunee County include probate-specific practices for fax filing, bond handling in informal probate, real-estate recording after final judgment, and a Friday 8:30 a.m. probate calendar call. The rules document carries internal effective dates through March 1, 2013, so call the Register in Probate before relying on an old local practice for a time-sensitive filing. |
| Statewide fee change already enacted | Through October 31, 2026, the estate proceeding fee remains $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above that amount under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a). 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500 effective November 1, 2026. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Kewaunee County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by identifying how title is held and whether a Wisconsin survivorship, marital property, or probate route is needed. If a court order or certificate must be recorded for Kewaunee County real estate, use the Register of Deeds at 810 Lincoln Street after the court step. | Sunset helps gather account and asset information, organize title questions for counsel or the Register in Probate, and prepare the estate settlement checklist before forms are selected. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Call the Kewaunee County Register in Probate before traveling. If the estate fits transfer by affidavit, the $50,000 gross-value test is under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 and may avoid opening a court administration. If a court route is needed, ask how paper filings, e-filing opt-in, and any hearing setting will work. | Sunset helps identify accounts across institutions, sort what may be outside probate, and connect the family with a Wisconsin attorney if the matter turns formal or contested. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of real estate usually requires careful track selection, authority documents, and recording steps. Kewaunee County local rules require recording and proof of recording when a final judgment assigns real-property interests or shows certain terminations. | Sunset helps build a clean asset list, generate the probate packet, and coordinate estate settlement tasks with a local attorney when a sale or formal administration is involved. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Kewaunee County Register in Probate | Local filing office for Kewaunee County probate matters. | Register in Probate |
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate | State court self-help page for probate topics and statewide resources. | Probate self-help |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Court-hosted guide prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association for informal estate administration. | Informal administration guide |
| Circuit court probate forms | Statewide probate forms in Category 26. | Probate forms |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Statewide circuit court case search for Wisconsin cases, including probate case types. | WCCA |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid intake for eligible Wisconsin residents. Let intake decide whether the issue fits its services. | Legal Action of Wisconsin |
| Wisconsin State Law Library, Kewaunee County legal resources | County legal resource page maintained by the Wisconsin State Law Library. | Kewaunee County legal resources |
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, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association, states that informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance and that formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney. If a Kewaunee County estate is contested, needs formal administration, involves a home sale, has creditor or medical assistance issues, or raises marital property questions, counsel can prevent costly missteps. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help identify bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement accounts, and other assets that may matter for Kewaunee County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Once the asset picture is clearer, Sunset helps organize the information needed for the Wisconsin PR forms and the local filing steps at the Kewaunee County Register in Probate.
Find a local probate attorney. When the estate needs formal administration, court appearances, real-estate sale guidance, creditor work, or a contested issue, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools, asset search, probate packet support, and attorney connection at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Kewaunee County?
File with the Kewaunee County Register in Probate at the Kewaunee County Courthouse, 613 Dodge Street, Kewaunee, WI 54216-1398. Call 920-388-7143 for the probate counter.
Does Kewaunee County have its own probate forms?
Kewaunee County's Register in Probate probate page does not post a separate county probate form packet. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR forms in the circuit court probate forms category, Category 26.
Can I e-file a Kewaunee County probate case?
Wisconsin circuit court e-filing covers probate. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use it, while people without counsel may opt in or 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.
What number should I call for Kewaunee County probate questions?
Call the Kewaunee County Register in Probate at 920-388-7143. The Clerk of Circuit Court's line is different, so use the probate office number for probate filing questions.
When are probate matters heard in Kewaunee County?
Kewaunee County Circuit Court Rule 17 lists probate calendar call each Friday at 8:30 a.m., as scheduled. Ask the Register in Probate how your specific matter will be scheduled.
Can I look up a Kewaunee County probate case online?
Use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at wcca.wicourts.gov. Wisconsin probate cases are circuit court case types, but a case search does not guarantee that any particular document is viewable online.
What is the Kewaunee County probate fee?
The estate proceeding 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, payable when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)). 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500 effective November 1, 2026.
Do I have to travel to Kewaunee for every step?
Not always. Some filings can be handled by e-filing, mail, or, if the local fax rule fits, fax to the Register in Probate. Hearings and calendar settings depend on the matter, so call the Register in Probate before making travel plans.
Where do I record Kewaunee County real-estate probate documents?
Use the Kewaunee County Register of Deeds at 810 Lincoln Street in Kewaunee for recording real-estate documents. That office is separate from the courthouse where the Register in Probate is located.
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.