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Oconto County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Oconto County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for Oconto County |
| Filing office | Oconto County Register in Probate |
| Courthouse address | Oconto County Courthouse, 301 Washington Street, Oconto, WI 54153 |
| Mailing address | 301 Washington Street, Oconto, WI 54153 |
| Register in Probate phone | (920) 834-6838 |
| Fax | No fax number is published specifically for the Register in Probate |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., using the Clerk of Courts published courthouse office hours because the Register in Probate page does not separately list hours |
| Estate fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 when the value of property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent above that amount, assessed 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. |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing. Self-represented filers may opt in or use traditional paper methods. The e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and Wis. Stat. § 801.18(7), subject to waiver under Wis. Stat. § 814.29(1). |
| Local forms | Oconto County uses the statewide Wisconsin PR probate forms and links the personal representative guide. Its Register in Probate page does not publish a separate Oconto-only probate form set. |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Remote appearance | Oconto County Local Rule 18 allows video proceedings when permitted by law or court discretion, and a location used for a video appearance is treated as an extension of the courtroom. |
| Website | Oconto County Register in Probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a probate path in Oconto County, identify what the decedent owned, how each asset was titled, whether there are secured debts, and whether any beneficiary, trust, transfer on death, or survivorship designation keeps an asset outside the estate case. That asset map drives whether the estate settlement needs informal administration, formal administration, a summary route, or a noncourt transfer.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families locate accounts, insurance, retirement assets, debts, and other property before paperwork is filed with the Oconto County Register in Probate. That preparation matters locally because Oconto County's rules set an inventory deadline of 90 days from the date domiciliary letters are issued.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File an Oconto County estate matter with the Oconto County Register in Probate at the Oconto County Courthouse in Oconto. Probate matters are handled in the Circuit Court for Oconto County, and Oconto County has its own circuit in the 8th judicial administrative district.
Wisconsin jurisdiction is based on the decedent's domicile at death. If the decedent was domiciled in Wisconsin, administration belongs in the Wisconsin county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, administration may be in a Wisconsin county where the decedent's property is located, and the court that first exercises jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction under that rule (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the Wisconsin path before filing. Informal administration is handled administratively by the probate registrar under Wis. Stat. ch. 865, while formal administration is a court proceeding. The Wisconsin Court System self-help guide says formal administration requires an attorney's assistance, while informal administration may be granted without one.
- Prepare the correct statewide PR forms. Oconto County uses the Wisconsin circuit court probate form set, including PR-1801 for informal administration, PR-1901 for formal administration, PR-1810 for Domiciliary Letters, PR-1811 for the inventory, and closing forms that match the administration track.
- File with the Oconto County Register in Probate at 301 Washington Street in Oconto. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing. Self-represented filers may opt in or use traditional paper methods under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b) and § 801.18(3)(c).
- Handle the will and opening notices. A person holding the original will has a Wisconsin duty to file it with the proper court or deliver it to the person named to act as personal representative within 30 days after learning of the death and the will-related role (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)).
- Account for fees at the inventory stage. Through October 31, 2026, the statewide estate fee is $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above that amount, based on property subject to administration less encumbrances, liens or charges, under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2. Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. The fee is assessed when the inventory is filed under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3.
- Follow the notice and claims order. In Wisconsin, the court, or the probate registrar in an informal administration, sets the creditor claim deadline by order at a date not less than three and not more than four months from the date of the order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Publication and any required agency notices are part of the estate administration process.
- Schedule hearings through the Register in Probate when a hearing is needed. Oconto County Local Rule 1602 directs an objector to the probate of a will to file the written objection and fee with the Register in Probate and then contact that office to schedule further proceedings. Rule 1603 uses the same office for scheduling a hearing on an objection to a claim.
- Use Oconto County's video procedure if the court allows remote participation. Local Rule 18 permits video proceedings at a party's request or at the presiding official's discretion, and a self-represented party may submit papers by facsimile for a video proceeding.
- Obtain authority before administering assets. The authority document in both informal and formal administration is Domiciliary Letters, PR-1810, issued after appointment and qualification of the personal representative.
- Administer and close under both Wisconsin law and Oconto County rules. Oconto County Local Rule 1604 sets a local inventory deadline of 90 days from the date Domiciliary Letters are issued, Rule 1606 requires a Final Accounting before an estate can close in both formal and informal matters, and Rule 1601 requires probate proceedings to close no later than 12 months after the petition is filed unless the matter remains pending under the rule.
Executor duties
Wisconsin calls the person appointed to administer an estate the personal representative. In Oconto County, local rules add practical duties to the statewide role. Rule 1604 sets a local inventory deadline of 90 days from the date Domiciliary Letters are issued. If the inventory is not filed, the Register in Probate sends a delinquency notice, and if the inventory is still not filed by the six-month mark, the court orders a show-cause hearing.
Oconto County Local Rule 1606 also requires a Final Accounting before an estate can close in both formal and informal administration matters, with any additional fee paid if necessary. Rule 1601 requires probate proceedings to close no later than 12 months after the petition is filed, followed by a warning letter at 11 months and a show-cause process if the estate remains open under the rule.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Oconto County
Oconto County uses the statewide Wisconsin circuit court PR probate forms. The Oconto County Register in Probate page links the personal representative guide, and the statewide form index is the Wisconsin Court System probate category, Category 26.
| Need | Common Wisconsin form |
|---|---|
| Open informal administration | PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration |
| Open formal administration | PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration |
| Show authority to act | 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, for property subject to administration in Wisconsin that does not exceed $50,000 in gross value under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 |
| Summary settlement | PR-1835, PR-1836, and PR-1837 under Wis. Stat. § 867.01 |
| Summary assignment | PR-1840 through PR-1844 under Wis. Stat. § 867.02 |
Timeline
- After Domiciliary Letters are issued, Oconto County Local Rule 1604 sets a local inventory deadline of 90 days from the date those letters are issued.
- If the inventory is not filed on time, the Register in Probate sends a delinquency notice under Local Rule 1604.
- If the inventory is still not filed by six months after Domiciliary Letters are issued, Local Rule 1604 directs the court to order a show-cause hearing.
- Oconto County Local Rule 1601 says all probate proceedings must close no later than 12 months after the petition is filed.
- If the estate is not closed at 11 months, the Register in Probate sends a letter to the personal representative and attorney advising that the estate must be closed.
- If the estate is still not closed by 18 months, the attorney and personal representative must show cause before the court, and the court may impose sanctions listed in Local Rule 1601.
Local nuance
Oconto County-specific considerations
| Local rule | What it means in Oconto County |
|---|---|
| Rule 1601, closing | Probate proceedings must close no later than 12 months after the petition is filed. The Register in Probate sends an 11-month warning letter, and a show-cause process applies if the estate remains open at 18 months. |
| Rule 1602, will objections | A written objection to the probate of a will is filed with the Register in Probate with the required fee. The objector then contacts the Register in Probate, not the judge directly, to schedule further proceedings and is responsible for notice to interested parties. |
| Rule 1603, claim objections | An objection to a claim requires notice to interested parties and a hearing scheduled with the Register in Probate. If the claimant fails to attend, the court may disallow the claim. |
| Rule 1604, inventory | The estate inventory must be filed within 90 days from the date Domiciliary Letters are issued unless the court orders otherwise. |
| Rule 1606, final accounting | Before an estate can close, a Final Accounting must be filed in both formal and informal administration matters, with any additional fee paid if necessary. |
| Rule 18, video proceedings | A video appearance location is treated as an extension of the courtroom. A self-represented party may submit papers by facsimile for a video proceeding. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Oconto County local rules effective June 1, 2024 | The Oconto County Circuit Court Rules include Rule 16 for probate practice and Rule 18 for video conferencing, including the local 90-day inventory deadline from issuance of Domiciliary Letters and the video-proceeding procedure. |
| State estate fee change effective November 1, 2026 | Through October 31, 2026, the estate fee is $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above that amount under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2. Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Oconto County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying how the Oconto County home is titled. Wisconsin marital property, survivorship marital property, transfer on death designations, and joint tenancy can change whether a full estate administration is needed. If a court filing is needed, file with the Oconto County Register in Probate. | Sunset helps find accounts, title clues, debts, and beneficiary designations so the spouse does not open a larger estate settlement than the assets require. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | If Wisconsin property subject to administration does not exceed $50,000 in gross value, transfer by affidavit under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 may avoid opening an estate case. If a case is needed, the child can work with the Oconto County Register in Probate and ask about video appearance under Local Rule 18 when a hearing is scheduled. | Sunset organizes the asset list, helps identify whether accounts can be transferred outside a full case, and prepares the family to use the correct Wisconsin form path. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale of Oconto County real estate usually requires careful title review and may require formal administration, informal administration, or another Wisconsin real-property route depending on title and beneficiaries. Oconto County's local rules make early inventory work important because Rule 1604 sets a 90-day inventory deadline from issuance of Domiciliary Letters. | Sunset helps gather financial information, organize creditor and property details, and connect the parent with a local probate attorney when the home sale or court proceeding calls for counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Oconto County Register in Probate | Local filing office for estate matters in the Oconto County Courthouse. | Oconto County Register in Probate |
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate | Statewide court self-help page for probate topics, forms, and public guidance. | 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 administration. | Personal representative guide |
| Circuit court probate forms | Statewide Wisconsin PR probate forms, Category 26. | Probate forms |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Public case search for Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate case types. | WCCA |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents. The intake team determines whether help is available for the problem presented. | Legal Action of Wisconsin |
When to hire an attorney
Attorney help is most important when an Oconto County estate is contested, must proceed by formal administration, involves a real estate sale, has creditor disputes, or is not closing within the local-rule timeline. In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)); the court system's self-help guide says formal administration requires an attorney's assistance, while informal administration may be granted without one. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across 2,300 financial institutions and helps identify accounts, insurance, retirement assets, debts, and property details that shape the Oconto County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized packet for the Wisconsin path that fits the estate, including the forms and supporting details a personal representative can review before filing with the Oconto County Register in Probate.
Find a local probate attorney. When formal administration, a contested issue, a home sale, or an Oconto County show-cause problem calls for counsel, Sunset connects the family with a vetted probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize estate settlement tasks, locate assets, prepare for probate, and get attorney introductions without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Oconto County?
File estate papers with the Oconto County Register in Probate at the Oconto County Courthouse, 301 Washington Street, Oconto, WI 54153. The court is the Circuit Court for Oconto County.
What phone number should I call for the Oconto County Register in Probate?
Call the Oconto County Register in Probate at (920) 834-6838. The courthouse has separate phone numbers for other offices, so use the Register in Probate number for estate filing questions.
Does Oconto County have its own probate forms?
Oconto County uses the statewide Wisconsin PR probate forms, Category 26, and its Register in Probate page links the personal representative guide. The local Register in Probate page does not publish a separate Oconto-only probate form set.
Can I e-file an Oconto County probate case?
Wisconsin circuit court e-filing applies to probate. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use e-filing, while self-represented filers may opt in or use traditional paper methods under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b) and § 801.18(3)(c). The e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and Wis. Stat. § 801.18(7), subject to waiver under Wis. Stat. § 814.29(1).
What is the Oconto County estate fee?
The amount is statewide. Through October 31, 2026, the estate fee is $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above that amount, based on property subject to administration less encumbrances, liens or charges, under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2. Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. The amount is assessed when the inventory is filed under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3.
Does Oconto County allow remote probate appearances?
Oconto County Local Rule 18 allows video proceedings when permitted by statute, case law, or the court's discretion. A party may request video within a reasonable time before the hearing, and a self-represented party may submit papers by facsimile for a video proceeding.
How soon is the inventory due in Oconto County?
Oconto County Local Rule 1604 sets a local inventory deadline of 90 days from the date Domiciliary Letters are issued unless the court orders otherwise. If the inventory is late, the Register in Probate sends a delinquency notice, and the court orders a show-cause hearing if it remains unfiled by six months after issuance of Domiciliary Letters.
Can I look up an Oconto 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 WCCA for access to every document in the court file.
Do I have to travel to Oconto for probate?
Not always. Some filings can be handled through e-filing or traditional paper methods, depending on who is filing and the case status. If a hearing is set, Oconto County Local Rule 18 gives the court a video procedure, but the judge decides whether a video appearance is allowed for the proceeding.
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.