Back to Wisconsin
Marinette County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Topic | Marinette County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for Marinette County |
| Filing office | Marinette County Register in Probate |
| Courthouse address | Marinette County Courthouse, Room A125, 1926 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143 |
| Mailing address | 1926 Hall Avenue, Room A125, Marinette, WI 54143 |
| Phone | (715) 732-7475 |
| Fax | (715) 732-7461 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Estate 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 above that amount, collected when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. |
| Local forms | Marinette County uses the statewide PR probate forms and links readers to the informal administration guide, transfer by affidavit materials and the Department of Health Services Estate Recovery Program brochure. |
| Electronic filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use mandatory electronic filing. Self-represented parties may choose electronic filing or traditional paper 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 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Remote appearance | Call the Register in Probate before relying on phone or video participation. |
| Website | https://www.marinettecountywi.gov/departments/register-in-probate/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before choosing a probate path in Marinette County, make a practical list of what the person owned, how each asset was titled, what debts or liens exist, and whether any account has a beneficiary or surviving co-owner. Wisconsin fees, local inventory timing and the best estate settlement route all depend on what is actually subject to administration.
Sunset's asset discovery searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts, balances and possible nonprobate transfers before they prepare the Marinette County packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Marinette County Courthouse in Marinette serves probate filings for Marinette County. Marinette County is a single-county circuit in Wisconsin's 8th judicial administrative district, and it is not one of Wisconsin's three two-county circuits.
Wisconsin estate jurisdiction is based on the decedent's domicile at death. If the decedent was domiciled in Wisconsin, the estate is filed in the Wisconsin county where the decedent was domiciled when they died; if the decedent was not domiciled in Wisconsin, the case may be filed in a 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
- Start with the correct Wisconsin PR forms. Marinette County uses the statewide probate forms, and the county's estate page points readers to the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association guide for informal administration before they proceed.
- File with the Marinette County Register in Probate at the Marinette County Courthouse, Room A125, 1926 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143. The original will must be filed with the proper court within Wisconsin's 30 day will filing rule when that rule applies (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)).
- Choose paper or electronic filing based on who is filing. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use mandatory electronic filing, while a self-represented filer may register voluntarily or use traditional paper 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 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
- Expect the estate fee to be calculated from the property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, and collected when the inventory is filed. Through October 31, 2026, the fee is $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above that amount (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged.
- 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 months and not more than four months from the date of that order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01).
- If a hearing is needed, schedule it through the court process. Marinette County Rule 1502 covers written objections to probate of a will, and Rule 1503 covers objections to claims and the hearing that follows. Ask the Register in Probate before relying on phone or video participation.
- After appointment and qualification, the authority document is Domiciliary Letters, form PR-1810, for both informal administration and formal administration.
- File the inventory on Marinette County's local schedule. Rule 1504 sets the estate inventory deadline at 90 days from the date Domiciliary Letters are issued unless the court orders otherwise, and the inventory is the point when the estate fee is collected.
- Administer and close the estate. Marinette County Rule 1501 states that probate proceedings must close no later than 12 months after the petition is filed, with an 11 month warning letter and a show cause process if the estate remains open at 12 months.
Executor duties
In Wisconsin the fiduciary is the personal representative, even though many families search for executor duties. Marinette County adds two local timing duties to the statewide administration job: Rule 1504 sets the estate inventory deadline at 90 days from the date Domiciliary Letters are issued, and Rule 1501 sets a 12 month closing benchmark measured from the petition filing date.
If the estate is still open at 11 months, the Register in Probate sends a warning letter to the personal representative and attorney. If it remains open at 12 months, the attorney and personal representative must show cause before the court why it has not closed, and the court may impose sanctions listed in the local rule.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Marinette County
Marinette County uses the statewide Wisconsin PR probate form set rather than a separate county probate packet. The county's estate page also points readers to three outside self-help items by name: the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association personal representative guide, the State Bar of Wisconsin transfer by affidavit form and instructions, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Estate Recovery Program brochure.
| Need | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Informal administration | Statewide PR forms, beginning with PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration, and the court system's personal representative guide |
| Formal administration | Statewide PR forms, including PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration |
| Authority for the personal representative | PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters, used in informal and formal administration |
| Transfer by affidavit | PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit ($50,000 and Under), for the Wisconsin route under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 |
Timeline
- At opening, file the appropriate Wisconsin PR forms with the Marinette County Register in Probate and follow the notice order that applies to the chosen track.
- After Domiciliary Letters are issued, Marinette County Rule 1504 sets the estate inventory deadline at 90 days from the date those letters are issued unless the court orders otherwise.
- When the inventory is filed, the statewide estate fee is collected. Through October 31, 2026, the fee is $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above that amount (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged.
- At 11 months, if the estate has not closed, Marinette County Rule 1501 calls for a letter to the personal representative and attorney advising that the estate must be closed.
- At 12 months after the petition is filed, Marinette County Rule 1501 requires the attorney and personal representative to show cause if the estate is still open, and the court may impose sanctions listed in the rule.
Local nuance
Marinette County-specific considerations
| Local rule | What it means in Marinette County |
|---|---|
| Rule 1501 | Probate proceedings must close no later than 12 months after the petition is filed, with an 11 month warning letter and a show cause process if the estate remains open. |
| Rule 1502 | An objection to probate of a will must be filed in writing with the Register in Probate with the required fee, and the objector is responsible for moving the matter forward and giving notice to interested parties. |
| Rule 1503 | When an objection to a claim is filed, the personal representative or attorney sends notice to interested parties and schedules a hearing. If the claimant does not attend, the court may disallow the claim. |
| Rule 1504 | The estate inventory deadline is 90 days from the date Domiciliary Letters are issued unless the court orders otherwise, and the estate fee is collected when that inventory is filed. |
| Rule 7 | Certain papers not requiring a fee may be faxed to the Clerk of Circuit Court at (715) 732-7461, up to 15 pages unless a judge approves more. The fax is treated as the official filed document, and no duplicate copy should be mailed. |
Small-estate Alternatives
Marinette County's estate page adds one practical local reminder about Wisconsin's transfer by affidavit route: the transfer by affidavit form is not filed with the Register in Probate office. Under Wis. Stat. § 867.03, the $50,000 figure is measured by gross value of property subject to administration in Wisconsin, and the affidavit is presented to the property holder or recorded for real property as Wisconsin law requires.
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Marinette County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking title. If the home passes by survivorship marital property, joint ownership or another nonprobate transfer, the estate may need a recording or confirmation step rather than a full administration. If probate is needed, file with the Marinette County Register in Probate and watch the 90 day inventory deadline in Rule 1504. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title clues and beneficiary designations before the spouse chooses the estate settlement path. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | Compare the assets to Wisconsin's small-estate routes. Marinette County notes that a transfer by affidavit under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 is not filed with the Register in Probate office. If an administration is opened, use the Marinette County courthouse filing office and ask early about any hearing or appearance logistics. | Sunset helps gather institution records, generate a document checklist and connect the child with a local probate attorney if a court proceeding becomes necessary. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale often requires authority from an administration unless another Wisconsin title-clearing route applies. In Marinette County, plan around Rule 1504's 90 day inventory deadline and Rule 1501's 12 month closing benchmark. | Sunset helps organize assets and debts, prepare the probate packet and connect the parent with a vetted local attorney for formal administration or sale issues. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it helps with | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate | Statewide probate overview and links to forms and public resources | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Court-hosted guide for informal administration, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Circuit court probate forms | Statewide Wisconsin PR probate forms, Category 26 | https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Public circuit court case search for Wisconsin cases, including probate case types | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Directory of Wisconsin probate offices | County Register in Probate office directory maintained by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association | http://www.wripa.org/directory-of-wisconsin-probate-offices.html |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents, statewide intake (855) 947-2529 | https://legalaction.org/ |
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 formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney, while informal administration may be granted without one and summary settlement does not require attorney assistance. If the estate is contested, needs formal administration, involves a home sale, or is approaching Marinette County's 12 month closing benchmark, counsel makes sense. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset helps families locate accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property so the Marinette County probate packet starts with a clearer asset picture.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized estate settlement packet and points the family to the Wisconsin PR forms used by the Marinette County Register in Probate.
Find a local probate attorney. When formal administration, a dispute, a home sale or a court appearance calls for legal help, Sunset connects families with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Marinette County?
File with the Marinette County Register in Probate at the Marinette County Courthouse, Room A125, 1926 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143. The Register in Probate's phone number is (715) 732-7475.
Is Marinette County probate handled in circuit court?
Yes. Use the Circuit Court for Marinette County and the Marinette County Register in Probate as the filing office. Wisconsin defines the court for probate purposes as the circuit court or judge assigned to exercise probate jurisdiction (Wis. Stat. § 851.04).
Can I use electronic filing for a Marinette County estate?
Yes, but the rule depends on who is filing. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use mandatory electronic filing. A self-represented person may register voluntarily or use traditional paper 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 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
How much is the Marinette County estate fee?
The estate 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 above that amount, collected when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged.
How fast is the inventory due in Marinette County?
Marinette County Rule 1504 sets the estate inventory deadline at 90 days from the date Domiciliary Letters are issued unless the court orders otherwise. That is a local timing rule families should build into the estate settlement calendar.
Does Marinette County have local probate forms?
Marinette County uses the statewide Wisconsin PR probate forms. Its estate page also points readers to the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association guide, transfer by affidavit materials and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Estate Recovery Program brochure.
Can I look up a Marinette County probate case online?
Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate case types, are searchable through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Do not rely on that search for document access; call the Register in Probate if you need copies or filing guidance.
What are the Marinette County probate hearing days?
The local rules describe how objections to wills and claims are scheduled, but they do not provide a standing probate hearing calendar. Call the Marinette County Register in Probate at (715) 732-7475 before planning travel or arranging a remote appearance.
Do I have to travel to Marinette County for probate?
Not always. Some steps may be handled by paper filing or electronic filing, depending on the filer and the case. If a hearing is set, ask the Register in Probate before relying on phone or video participation.
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.