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Outagamie County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Outagamie County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court for Outagamie County |
| Filing office | Outagamie County Register in Probate |
| Courthouse address | Outagamie County Justice Center, 320 S. Walnut Street, Appleton, WI 54911 |
| Mailing address | Outagamie County Register in Probate, 320 S. Walnut Street, Appleton, WI 54911 |
| Phone | (920) 832-5601 for the Register in Probate. The clerk of circuit court has a different number. |
| Fax | (920) 832-5115 is the court fax. The county's fax rule is limited to short filings that do not require a fee. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office closes for a half hour in the middle of the day and is closed on county holidays. |
| Estate fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 where the value of property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value where it is more. Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the same 0.2 percent rate. The fee is paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a), as amended by 2025 Wis. Act 179; Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3). |
| Local forms | Outagamie County publishes informal probate guidelines, but it does not publish separate decedent estate forms. Use the statewide Wisconsin probate forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents are required to use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing. Other filers may opt in voluntarily or file by traditional methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)). The separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case, current as of August 2026 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Outagamie County tells personal representatives to monitor the case record for claims. |
| Remote appearance | If a hearing is set remotely, the court sends instructions. Outagamie County does not publish a standing probate remote-appearance procedure. |
| County website | https://www.outagamie.gov/County-Services/Register-In-Probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Outagamie County, identify the decedent's probate assets, debts, real estate, marital property interests, beneficiary designations and any out-of-county property. The inventory drives the Wisconsin estate fee, and the Outagamie County Register in Probate publishes a strict six-month inventory policy tied to the date the informal application was filed.
Sunset's estate settlement process searches more than 2,300 financial institutions for accounts and assets, which helps the family understand whether a court estate is needed, what belongs on the inventory, and whether an out-of-state personal representative should expect a bond issue before appointment.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File an Outagamie County estate with the Outagamie County Register in Probate at the Outagamie County Justice Center, 320 S. Walnut Street in Appleton. The county publishes one probate filing location and no satellite probate counter.
Wisconsin places a decedent's estate in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, the case may be filed in a Wisconsin county where the decedent had property, and the first Wisconsin county case controls (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
This local rule matters in Appleton. The City of Appleton states that it is in Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet counties. An Appleton mailing address does not by itself make the estate an Outagamie County case. Use the decedent's domicile at death, and for a home, check the county where the property was assessed and taxed.
Outagamie County includes communities such as Appleton, Grand Chute, Kaukauna, Little Chute, Kimberly, Combined Locks, Hortonville, Seymour and Shiocton. Some community names near county lines can be misleading, so the county of domicile controls the probate filing location.
The jurisdiction process
- Choose the correct Wisconsin path before preparing forms. Informal administration starts with the probate registrar, and in Outagamie County the Register in Probate is also identified by the county as the Probate Registrar and Probate Court Commissioner. A contested formal or informal probate matter is assigned to a circuit court branch.
- Prepare the statewide Wisconsin probate forms. For an informal administration, the usual starting point includes PR-1801 Application for Informal Administration, PR-1806 Proof of Heirship, waivers or notices as needed, PR-1807 Consent to Serve, and related service paperwork. Outagamie County asks that prepared forms be typed, but accepts legible handwritten court forms.
- File the original will or codicils with the Register in Probate if there is one. Wisconsin requires a person who has the will, or a person named to act as personal representative who knows of the death and nomination, to file the will in the proper court within 30 days (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)). Once the original will is filed, it is not returned.
- Submit the completed packet to the Outagamie County Register in Probate for review. If the documents are complete, the office contacts you to schedule a 30-minute appointment to sign and notarize the documents before filing. If the packet is incomplete, it is returned unfiled for correction.
- Use the correct filing method. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing. Other filers may opt in voluntarily or use traditional methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)). In Outagamie County, the local review and signing process means the original will and original signed documents still have to reach the office.
- Address the estate fee at the inventory stage. Through October 31, 2026, the statewide estate fee is $20 where the value of property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value where it is more. Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the same 0.2 percent rate. The fee is paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a), as amended by 2025 Wis. Act 179; Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3).
- Publish and serve notice. The claims deadline is a date set by order at not less than three nor more than four months from the date of that order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Outagamie County identifies the Appleton Post-Crescent as the official county newspaper for publication. Appointment waits until the affidavit of publication and the declaration of service are on file.
- Watch for remote instructions only if the court sends them. Outagamie County does not publish a standing remote probate procedure. If a hearing is set remotely, follow the court's instructions and contact the clerk of circuit court promptly if you need help connecting or need language assistance.
- Receive authority after appointment. The personal representative's authority is shown by Domiciliary Letters, PR-1810, in both informal and formal administration. In Outagamie County, an out-of-state personal representative is not appointed until a bond in the amount set by the judge, Probate Court Commissioner or Probate Registrar is filed with the court.
- Administer the estate and monitor the case. Outagamie County says the probate office will not notify the personal representative when a claim is filed. Monitor the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access case record and request claim copies from the Register in Probate when needed.
- Close the estate. Outagamie County requires the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Closing Certificate for Fiduciaries before closing, along with the final account and receipts from everyone who received estate assets. The county also publishes an 18-month closing deadline from filing unless the court grants an extension, and overdue cases move onto a judge's list under local court rules (Wis. Stat. § 863.35).
Executor duties
In Wisconsin, the personal representative is the person granted authority to administer the estate. Outagamie County adds several local duties and practice points to the statewide role:
- If the personal representative lives outside Wisconsin, file the bond set by the judge, Probate Court Commissioner or Probate Registrar before appointment. Outagamie County local rules say no appointment occurs until that bond is filed.
- Publish the required notice in the Appleton Post-Crescent, the official Outagamie County newspaper, and make sure the affidavit of publication is filed.
- File the declaration of service showing that notice was mailed to all interested persons. Outagamie County waits for both service proof and publication proof before appointment.
- Monitor the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access case record yourself. Outagamie County says the probate office will not notify you when a claim is filed.
- File the inventory on the county's published schedule. The Register in Probate publishes a six-month inventory policy measured from the date the application was filed and states that more time will not be provided.
- Close within 18 months of filing or petition for more time. A case that passes its closing date moves to a judge's list under the county's local rules and the dormant-estate statute (Wis. Stat. § 863.35).
- Obtain the Wisconsin Department of Revenue Closing Certificate for Fiduciaries and file the final account and receipts before the estate closes in Outagamie County.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Outagamie County
Outagamie County does not publish separate decedent estate forms. The county directs filers to the statewide Wisconsin circuit court probate forms and states that the Register in Probate office does not provide copies of forms to the public.
The local document to read is the Outagamie County Informal Probate Guidelines. It explains the county's review-before-signing process, the forms commonly used in an informal administration, the appointment windows, publication, inventory, claim monitoring and closing steps. Use the current statewide form titles and numbers from the Wisconsin Court System form set, not older form references in local handouts.
| Form source | Use in Outagamie County |
|---|---|
| Wisconsin circuit court probate forms | Use Category 26 probate forms, including PR-1801 Application for Informal Administration, PR-1806 Proof of Heirship, PR-1810 Domiciliary Letters, PR-1811 Inventory and PR-1816 Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate. |
| Outagamie County Informal Probate Guidelines | Use as the county's practical checklist for an informal administration, including review, appointment scheduling, publication and closing requirements. |
| Typed forms request | The office asks that prepared forms be typed, but accepts legible handwritten court forms. |
| Original will | File the original will with the Register in Probate. Keep your own copy before filing because the original is not returned. |
Timeline
- Before filing, gather the will, asset information, debt information, marital property information and the names and addresses of interested persons. This is especially important in Outagamie County because the packet is reviewed before it is signed.
- Submit the completed informal administration packet to the Register in Probate for review. Do not expect a same-day walk-up opening if the office has not reviewed the documents.
- If the packet is complete, attend the 30-minute signing and notarizing appointment. Outagamie County schedules these appointments on Tuesday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Late arrival can mean rescheduling.
- Publish notice in the Appleton Post-Crescent and file proof of publication and service. The personal representative is appointed after the date listed on the notice and after the affidavit of publication and declaration of service are filed.
- Track the claims deadline stated in the order and published notice. Wisconsin sets the claim date by order at not less than three nor more than four months from the date of the order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01), and Outagamie County tells the personal representative to monitor the case record for claims.
- File the inventory within the county's published six-month inventory window. Statewide, the inventory deadline runs no later than six months after appointment unless the court changes it (Wis. Stat. § 858.01). Outagamie County publishes that, for informal administration, it measures six months from the date the application was filed and will not provide more time.
- Close the estate within 18 months of filing unless the court grants an extension. Outagamie County publishes that failure to close without an extension may lead to removal, and the dormant-estate statute supplies the show-cause process (Wis. Stat. § 863.35).
Local nuance
Outagamie County-specific considerations
| Item | Outagamie County detail |
|---|---|
| Probate phone | Call the Register in Probate at (920) 832-5601. The clerk of circuit court line is different and is not the probate counter. |
| Midday closure | The Register in Probate is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Appleton county line issue | Appleton sits in Outagamie, Winnebago and Calumet counties. File based on the decedent's domicile at death, not the mailing city (Wis. Stat. § 856.01). |
| Uncontested matters | Outagamie County identifies the Register in Probate as the Probate Registrar and Probate Court Commissioner for uncontested probate matters. Contested formal and informal matters are assigned to a circuit court branch. |
| Review before signing | The office reviews completed paperwork before it is signed, then schedules a 30-minute signing and notarizing appointment if the packet is complete. |
| Real estate recording | Record Outagamie County real estate paperwork with the Outagamie County Register of Deeds. Court documents recorded there must be certified copies, and recording stops at 4 p.m. |
Recent updates
| Date | Local update |
|---|---|
| August 6, 2025 | Outagamie County circuit court local rules took effect. Section 7 includes probate rules on out-of-state personal representative bonds and special administration summaries. |
| February 1, 2026 | The court rules directory lists the Outagamie County local rules as last updated, and the county caseload distribution exhibit runs from February 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Outagamie County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home was titled and whether it was survivorship marital property. Wisconsin's inventory requires marital property identification (Wis. Stat. § 858.01). If a court estate is needed, file with the Outagamie County Register in Probate. If a recording step is needed for Outagamie County real estate, the Register of Deeds requires certified copies of court documents and stops recording at 4 p.m. | Sunset finds accounts, mortgages and liens so the family can decide whether a court estate is needed and organize the inventory and recording paperwork. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Plan around the local bond rule. In Outagamie County, a personal representative who lives outside Wisconsin is not appointed until a bond set by the judge, Probate Court Commissioner or Probate Registrar is filed. Also plan for the local sequence: prepare the packet, submit it for review, then attend a Tuesday afternoon or Thursday morning signing appointment if the packet is complete. | Sunset assembles the asset picture from a distance, which helps estimate the inventory, likely bond discussion and next steps before travel. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale-focused estate settlement has to stay on the county's clocks. Outagamie County publishes a six-month inventory policy from the application filing date and an 18-month closing deadline unless the court grants more time. Notice is published in the Appleton Post-Crescent, claims must be monitored on the case record, and real estate documents are recorded with the Register of Deeds. | Sunset finds accounts, debts and liens early so the inventory is accurate and the sale is not delayed by a late-discovered asset or claim. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps |
|---|---|
| Outagamie County Register in Probate | The local probate filing office, with hours, holiday closures and the probate phone number, (920) 832-5601. |
| Outagamie County Informal Probate Guidelines | The county's practical guide to its informal administration sequence, including packet review, appointment scheduling, publication, inventory and closing. |
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate | Statewide probate self-help page with links to forms, the informal administration guide and probate office information. |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Wisconsin Court System guide prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association and revised November 2025. It explains informal administration and sample documents. |
| Wisconsin circuit court probate forms | The statewide Category 26 PR form set. Outagamie County directs filers here and does not provide form copies. |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Statewide public case search. Outagamie County tells personal representatives to monitor the case record for claims. |
| Wisconsin circuit court e-filing | Registration and rules for electronic filing. The county directs system questions to the Wisconsin Courts eFiling Support Center at 1-800-462-8843. |
| Outagamie County Register of Deeds | Records Outagamie County real estate documents connected with estate settlement. Land records phone is (920) 832-5114, and the department email is [email protected]. |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents, with statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. Intake decides whether help is available for a specific problem. |
| State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral and Information Service | Attorney referral resource listed among Outagamie County public resources. |
When to hire an attorney
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 and that informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance. In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)); informal administration runs administratively before the probate registrar, and administrative action by the probate registrar is not action by the court (Wis. Stat. § 865.01). In Outagamie County, contested formal and informal probate matters are assigned to a circuit court branch, and the Register in Probate states that the office cannot provide legal advice. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney at no cost.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, debts and property before the probate packet is prepared. In Outagamie County, that matters because the inventory drives the estate fee, the office publishes a strict inventory timeline, and an out-of-state personal representative may need a bond before appointment.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the statewide Wisconsin PR forms and the inventory. That is especially useful where the Outagamie County Register in Probate reviews the packet before scheduling the signing and notarizing appointment.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate is contested, needs formal administration, involves a home sale, or raises bond, tax, creditor or marital property issues, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted probate attorney who understands Wisconsin practice and Outagamie County's local process.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools help families find assets, organize documents and understand next steps without charging the family for access.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Outagamie County?
File with the Outagamie County Register in Probate at the Outagamie County Justice Center, 320 S. Walnut Street, Appleton, WI 54911. The county publishes no room number for the probate counter. Call the Register in Probate at (920) 832-5601.
What is the difference between the Register in Probate and the clerk of circuit court in Outagamie County?
The Register in Probate is the probate filing office, and its phone number is (920) 832-5601. The clerk of circuit court is a separate court office with a separate phone number and handles other court business. For an estate, start with the Register in Probate.
What are the Outagamie County Register in Probate's hours?
The Register in Probate is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to noon and from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office closes during the half hour between noon and 12:30 p.m. and is closed on county holidays.
Do I need an appointment to open an estate in Outagamie County?
In practice, yes for the signing step. Outagamie County tells filers to submit the completed paperwork to the Register in Probate for review. If the documents are complete, the office calls to schedule a 30-minute appointment to sign and notarize the documents. Appointment blocks are Tuesday afternoons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
How much does probate cost in Outagamie County?
The estate fee is statewide, not set by Outagamie County. Through October 31, 2026, it is $20 where the value of property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value where it is more. Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the same 0.2 percent rate. The fee is paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a), as amended by 2025 Wis. Act 179; Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3). If the case is electronically filed, the separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case, current as of August 2026 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Can I file probate by mail or electronically in Outagamie County?
Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing. Other filers may opt in voluntarily or use traditional methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)). Outagamie County's local sequence still requires the original will and original signed, notarized documents to reach the office. The county also has a fax rule for short documents that do not require a fee, but that is not the way to open an estate with an original will.
Does Outagamie County have its own probate forms?
No separate decedent estate forms are published by Outagamie County. Use the statewide Wisconsin circuit court Category 26 probate forms. The county does publish Informal Probate Guidelines, and the Register in Probate states that the office does not provide form copies.
How do I look up an Outagamie County probate case?
Use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Outagamie County tells personal representatives to monitor the case record because the probate office will not notify them when a claim is filed. If you need a copy of a filed claim, request it from the Register in Probate.
How long does an Outagamie County estate have to be finished?
Outagamie County publishes two important clocks. The Register in Probate publishes a six-month inventory policy measured from the date the informal application was filed. The county also publishes that the estate must be closed within 18 months of filing unless the court grants more time. Wisconsin's dormant-estate statute supplies the show-cause process when an estate is not closed on time (Wis. Stat. § 863.35).
Do I need a lawyer for probate in Outagamie County?
The Wisconsin Court System's self-help guide states that formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney and that informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance. In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)). Outagamie County also states that the Register in Probate cannot give legal advice, and contested probate matters are assigned to a circuit court branch.
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.