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Menominee County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Menominee County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for Menominee County. Menominee and Shawano counties share one circuit under Wis. Stat. § 753.06(9)(h). |
| Probate filing office | Menominee/Shawano County Register in Probate, 311 N. Main Street, Shawano, WI 54166. |
| Menominee County clerk | Menominee County Clerk of Court, W3269 Courthouse Lane, Keshena, WI 54135-0279. Mailing address: P.O. Box 279, Keshena, WI 54135-0279. |
| Phone | Register in Probate: (715) 526-8631. Menominee County Clerk of Court: (715) 799-3313. |
| Fax | Register in Probate: (715) 526-8622. Menominee County Clerk of Court: (715) 799-1322. |
| Hours | Register in Probate: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Menominee County Clerk of Court: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Hearings | Hearings on Menominee County cases take place at the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main Street, Shawano, WI 54166. |
| Estate inventory fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 if the property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value if more, payable when the inventory is filed under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2 and § 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 | No Menominee County-specific or Shawano County-specific probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist appears in the county probate materials. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR-series forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing. Self-represented parties may opt in or file by traditional methods. The separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. |
| Remote appearance | Hearings are held in Shawano. Ask the Register in Probate before the hearing if a remote appearance is needed. |
| Websites | Menominee County Clerk of Court: https://www.co.menominee.wi.us/departments/?department=fc7a717f2fdd. Shawano County Register in Probate serving Menominee County estates: https://www.co.shawano.wi.us/departments/register-in-probate/. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Menominee County, list what the decedent owned, how each asset is titled, what debts exist, and whether any real estate is in Menominee County. That first inventory determines whether the estate settlement can stay informal, needs formal administration, or may fit a transfer or summary route under Wisconsin law.
Because Menominee County estate filings go through the combined Register in Probate in Shawano while the county clerk sits in Keshena, call the Register in Probate before traveling with an original will or a first estate packet. Sunset can help you search across more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets before you choose the next estate settlement step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Menominee County's circuit-court clerk is in Keshena, and the combined Menominee/Shawano County Register in Probate in Shawano handles estate filings for Menominee County decedents. Keshena is the county seat. Menominee County is coextensive with the Menominee Indian Reservation, and the Menominee Tribal Court is a separate system from the Wisconsin state circuit court process covered here.
Wisconsin places jurisdiction for administration of a decedent's estate in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, jurisdiction is in any Wisconsin county where the decedent's property is located, and the court that first exercises jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction under Wis. Stat. § 856.01.
The jurisdiction process
- Collect the death certificate, original will if there is one, asset information, debt information, and the names and addresses of persons interested in the estate.
- Choose the Wisconsin track. Informal administration starts with PR-1801. Formal administration starts with PR-1901 and generally belongs with counsel. If property subject to administration does not exceed $50,000 in gross value, review transfer by affidavit under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 before opening a full administration.
- File the original will promptly if one exists. Wisconsin requires a will holder to file the will with the proper court within 30 days after learning of the death and the will holder's duty under Wis. Stat. § 856.05. The combined Register in Probate's FAQ says the original will is filed with the probate office and no fee is charged for that will filing.
- File the estate papers with the Menominee/Shawano County Register in Probate at 311 N. Main Street, Shawano. If you are unsure whether to bring an original document to Keshena or Shawano first, call the Register in Probate at (715) 526-8631 before traveling.
- Plan for the estate inventory fee rather than a charge at opening. Through October 31, 2026, the fee is $20 if the property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value if more, payable when the inventory is filed under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2 and § 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.
- Give required notices. 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 under Wis. Stat. § 859.01. Notice of the deadline is published, and certain agency notices may be required when medical assistance or long-term care benefits were received.
- Attend any required hearing in Shawano. Informal administration is handled administratively by the probate registrar when the requirements are met. Formal administration and other matters requiring a hearing are heard at the Shawano County Courthouse.
- After appointment, use PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters, as the authority document for the personal representative. The same form is used in informal and formal administration.
- Administer the estate, file the inventory, address claims, sell or transfer property as authorized, and keep receipts and account information. If Menominee County real estate is transferred through a court order or affidavit route, a recording step with the Menominee County Register of Deeds may be needed.
- Close the estate under the correct Wisconsin procedure. Informal administration closes with the personal representative's sworn statement, PR-1816, and the appointment terminates later if no challenge is pending. Formal administration closes through court orders and final judgment forms.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Menominee County
Menominee County uses the statewide Wisconsin PR-series probate forms. The Menominee County Clerk of Court and the combined Menominee/Shawano County Register in Probate do not publish a county-specific probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist in their probate materials.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| 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-1819 | Claim Against Estate. |
| PR-1831 | Transfer by Affidavit for property subject to administration that does not exceed $50,000 in gross value under Wis. Stat. § 867.03. |
| PR-1901 | Petition for Formal Administration. |
Use the Wisconsin Court System probate forms index at https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All. If a filing involves a situation not covered by a standard form, call the Menominee/Shawano County Register in Probate before filing.
Local nuance
Menominee County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Menominee County estate |
|---|---|
| Two office locations | The Menominee County Clerk of Court is in Keshena, but estate filings go through the combined Menominee/Shawano County Register in Probate in Shawano. |
| Hearings in Shawano | Hearings on Menominee County circuit court cases take place at the Shawano County Courthouse, 311 N. Main Street, Shawano, WI 54166. |
| Shared circuit | Menominee and Shawano counties share one circuit with two branches under Wis. Stat. § 753.06(9)(h). Shawano County's local rules refer to the combined court as the Menominee-Shawano Circuit Court. |
| Tribal court is separate | Menominee Tribal Court is a separate court system. The information here covers Wisconsin state circuit court estate administration only. |
| Fax rule | Local rules for the Menominee-Shawano Circuit Court allow certain fax filings through the Clerk of Court at (715) 526-4915 and state that the faxed document is considered the original. Because the rule is not written as probate-specific, call the Register in Probate before faxing an estate filing. |
| Real estate recordings | Menominee County keeps its own Register of Deeds. If local real estate is transferred through a transfer by affidavit, summary order, confirmation, or recorded judgment, ask the local Register of Deeds about the recording step. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| January 4, 2016 | Menominee County began accepting electronically filed family, small claims, and civil case types according to the county clerk's information. |
| July 2018 | Wisconsin's statewide e-filing rollout covered Formal Probate (PR) and Informal Probate (IN) for mandatory attorney e-filing. |
| January 1, 2026 | Legal Action of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Judicare merged into one statewide civil legal aid organization. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by checking how the home is titled and whether it is survivorship marital property or otherwise passes outside administration. If a Menominee County real estate recording is needed, the Register of Deeds step is local even though the estate filing office is in Shawano. | Sunset helps identify accounts, title clues, debts, and whether a full estate settlement is likely before you call the Register in Probate. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If property subject to administration in Wisconsin does not exceed $50,000 in gross value, transfer by affidavit under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 may avoid opening a full administration. If an estate file is needed, use the combined Register in Probate in Shawano and ask before traveling with original documents. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, generate the probate packet when filing is needed, and connect you with local counsel when the facts do not fit a simple path. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale often requires clear authority, title review, and recording steps in Menominee County. If formal administration is needed, hearings take place at the Shawano County Courthouse and counsel should be involved. | Sunset helps find accounts, prepare a clean estate settlement file, and connect the family to a vetted probate attorney for the sale and court work. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Menominee County Clerk of Court | Gives the county's Keshena clerk contact information and states that Menominee County hearings take place in Shawano. | https://www.co.menominee.wi.us/departments/?department=fc7a717f2fdd |
| Shawano County Register in Probate | The combined probate office serving Menominee County estates. | https://www.co.shawano.wi.us/departments/register-in-probate/ |
| Register in Probate FAQ | Explains will filing, informal and formal probate questions, claims, standard forms, and public file review. | https://www.co.shawano.wi.us/departments/register-in-probate/general-information/faq/ |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Wisconsin Court System guide for informal administration, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Wisconsin Court System probate self-help | State court self-help overview for probate. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| Circuit court probate forms | Statewide PR-series probate forms. | https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Statewide public circuit court case search for checking case status and deadlines. | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents. Intake decides whether help is available for the situation. | https://legalaction.org/ and (855) 947-2529 |
When to hire an attorney
In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney under Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2). The Wisconsin Court System's informal administration guide says formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney, while informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance. Summary settlement and summary assignment also carry express rights to appear in person under Wis. Stat. § 867.01(5) and § 867.02(5). The combined Menominee/Shawano Register in Probate FAQ gives the same practical boundary and points people who need legal advice to the State Bar of Wisconsin lawyer referral line. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions and helps families build a clearer asset picture before filing in Menominee County or Shawano.
Generate the probate packet. Once the facts are organized, Sunset helps prepare the Wisconsin probate forms and supporting information needed for the estate settlement path that fits the family.
Find a local probate attorney. If the case needs formal administration, a home sale, a dispute, or advice about the Menominee County and Shawano filing arrangement, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools, asset search, packet support, and attorney connection without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for a Menominee County estate?
Estate filings for Menominee County go to the combined Menominee/Shawano County Register in Probate at 311 N. Main Street, Shawano, WI 54166. The Menominee County Clerk of Court remains in Keshena for the county's own circuit-court office, but the probate filing office is in Shawano.
Why does a Menominee County probate hearing take place in Shawano?
Menominee and Shawano counties share one circuit under Wis. Stat. § 753.06(9)(h). Menominee County's own clerk information states that hearings on Menominee County circuit court cases take place at the Shawano County Courthouse.
Is the Menominee Tribal Court part of the Wisconsin probate process?
No. The Menominee Tribal Court is a separate court system. The information here covers Wisconsin state circuit court estate administration only, and tribal court probate or inheritance procedures are outside what is covered here.
Do I file the original will in Keshena or Shawano?
Wisconsin requires a will holder to file the will with the proper court within 30 days after learning of the death and the duty to file under Wis. Stat. § 856.05. The combined Register in Probate FAQ says the original will is filed with the probate office and no fee is charged for that will filing. Because Menominee County has both a Keshena clerk office and a Shawano probate office, call the Register in Probate before traveling with the original will.
Can I e-file a Menominee County probate case?
Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing, and probate has been covered statewide for attorneys since July 2018. A self-represented party may opt in voluntarily or file by traditional 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).
What is the Menominee County probate fee?
The estate inventory fee is statewide. Through October 31, 2026, it is $20 if the property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value if more, payable when the inventory is filed under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2 and § 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.
Are there Menominee County probate forms?
Menominee County and the combined Menominee/Shawano Register in Probate do not publish a separate local probate packet in their probate materials. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR-series forms at https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All.
Can I look up a Menominee County probate case online?
Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate cases, are searchable through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Menominee County probate case numbers use Wisconsin circuit court case-type codes such as PR for Formal Probate and IN for Informal Probate. For file review or copies, contact the Register in Probate.
Can I appear remotely for a Menominee County probate hearing?
Hearings are held at the Shawano County Courthouse. If travel is difficult, ask the Register in Probate about the procedure before the hearing date.
Do I need an attorney for Menominee County probate?
In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney under Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2). The Wisconsin Court System's informal administration guide says formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney, while informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance. The combined Register in Probate FAQ gives the same practical boundary.
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.