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Ozaukee County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Ozaukee County information |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for Ozaukee County. Estate filings go through the Ozaukee County Register in Probate. |
| Probate office | Ozaukee County Register in Probate, Ozaukee County Justice Center, 1201 S. Spring Street, Room 201, Port Washington, WI 53074 |
| Mailing address | Ozaukee County Register in Probate, P.O. Box 994, Port Washington, WI 53074 |
| Phone | (262) 284-8370 |
| Fax | (262) 284-8491. Fax filing is limited by local Rule 103.3 to a filer who is not e-filing, ten pages or fewer excluding the cover sheet, and no fee due. |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday |
| Estate proceeding fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 where the 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, paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500; the 0.2 percent rate does not change. |
| Local forms | Yes. Ozaukee County publishes an Affidavit of No Probate for filing an original will when no estate case is needed, plus county guidelines for each procedure. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents e-file under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a). Self-represented filers may opt in voluntarily or use traditional paper methods under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c). The separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Remote appearance | Local Rule 203.1 allows telephone or other electronic appearances with prior court approval. A written request is made 48 hours before the hearing unless there is an emergency. |
| Website | https://www.ozaukeecounty.gov/2859/Probate-Guardianship |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before filing anything in Ozaukee County, identify the assets, debts, beneficiary designations, survivorship interests, real estate and any will. That asset picture determines whether the Room 201 probate counter is needed, whether a real estate recording belongs at the Register of Deeds in Room 120 at 121 W. Main Street, or whether a statewide shortcut may fit.
Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they choose an estate settlement path. In Ozaukee County, that preparation also helps you pick the right county guideline and avoid bringing the wrong packet to Port Washington.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Circuit Court for Ozaukee County serves estates for decedents domiciled in Ozaukee County at death. 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, the case may be 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).
Port Washington is the courthouse city. Ozaukee County includes communities such as Cedarburg, Mequon, Port Washington, Grafton, Saukville, Thiensville, Belgium and Fredonia, and a community that crosses a county line should be checked by the decedent's actual address before filing. Ozaukee County is one circuit with three branches, but estate filings are handled at one local counter, the Ozaukee County Register in Probate in Room 201 of the Justice Center.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the asset and debt list. Read the Ozaukee County general information sheet and the county guideline for the procedure that appears to fit the estate settlement.
- File the original will with the Ozaukee County Register in Probate within 30 days after death, if the decedent left one. Ozaukee County accepts only the original will, not a copy, and states that there is no charge for filing that original will under the death filing duty in Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1). If no estate case is needed, the county's notarized Affidavit of No Probate goes in with the original will.
- Choose the opening form for the track. Informal administration starts with PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration. Formal administration starts with PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration. File with the Register in Probate in Room 201, use the Wisconsin circuit court e-filing system if applicable, or call (262) 284-8370 before sending a first paper filing by mail.
- Include proof of heirship where the county guideline requires it. PR-1806, Proof of Heirship (Informal and Formal Administration), appears in the county's opening materials, and Ozaukee County local Rule 403.2 requires it with the opening documents for a summary settlement or summary assignment.
- The court, 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 (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Read the actual date from the order and the published notice.
- Give required notice and publish where the statewide rules require publication. If the decedent or the decedent's spouse received medical assistance or long-term care benefits, follow the Department of Health Services notice requirements; Ozaukee County instructs filers to serve the agency notice and file only the proof of service with the probate office.
- If a hearing is needed, obtain the hearing date and time before filing the petition or motion, and file within five days after the date is obtained under local Rule 204.01. Documents to be considered at a hearing are filed at least 48 hours before the hearing under local Rule 103.2. If all interested parties file waivers, local Rule 403.4 says a court hearing is not required and the proposed order goes in with the waivers.
- If a remote appearance is needed, make the written request 48 hours before the hearing unless there is an emergency. Ozaukee County uses local Rule 203.1, and the statewide form is GF-306, Request to Appear Remotely.
- After appointment and qualification, the authority document is PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters (Informal and Formal Administration), on both tracks. Use that document with banks, brokers and other holders of estate property.
- File the inventory, PR-1811, no later than six months after appointment unless the court changes the time, and pay the statutory estate proceeding fee when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 858.01, § 814.66(1)(a)3).
- Close the estate using the correct county guideline. Ozaukee County local Rule 403.6 requires a Wisconsin closing certificate for fiduciaries before closing any estate unless the court exempts it. Informal estates close with PR-1816, Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate, and the county asks for that statement within 18 months of opening. Formal estates close through the final judgment and discharge forms, including PR-1912 and PR-1915.
Executor duties
| Local duty | What to do in Ozaukee County |
|---|---|
| Original will | File the original will on paper within 30 days after death. If no estate case is needed, include the county's notarized Affidavit of No Probate. |
| Nonresident personal representative | Local Rule 403.3 requires a nonresident personal representative to have a resident agent and ordinarily requires bond in an amount set by the court. The rule identifies three appointment routes for a nonresident: a Wisconsin resident co-personal representative, being the only person interested in the estate, or retaining a Wisconsin attorney. |
| Document format | Use eight and a half by eleven inch paper for documents other than wills and codicils, put the case number and caption on every document, and leave a two and a half to three inch top margin on proposed orders for the court's electronic signature. |
| Hearing preparation | Get a hearing date before filing a petition or motion that needs one, file within five days after the date is obtained, and file documents for the hearing at least 48 hours before the hearing. |
| Agency notice | When the Department of Health Services notice is required, serve the notice and file only the proof of service with the probate office. |
| Closing certificate | Obtain and file the Wisconsin closing certificate for fiduciaries before the estate closes unless the court exempts the estate under local Rule 403.6. |
| Extensions | If the estate cannot close on time, file the petition and proposed order for an extension. Local Rule 403.7 lists grounds that ordinarily support a single six month extension, including a pending estate tax audit, a pending Wisconsin closing certificate after timely income tax returns, or pending litigation. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Ozaukee County
Ozaukee County uses the statewide Wisconsin PR probate forms and adds one local probate form. The local form is the county's Affidavit of No Probate, used with an original will when no estate case is being opened. The form is signed under oath and notarized.
| Form or resource | How it is used in Ozaukee County |
|---|---|
| Affidavit of No Probate | County-specific form filed with the original will when no probate proceeding is needed. |
| County procedure guidelines | Ozaukee County publishes written guidelines for opening and closing formal administration, opening and closing informal administration, special administration, summary assignment, summary settlement and transfer by affidavit. |
| Statewide PR forms | Wisconsin's probate forms are Category 26 on the Wisconsin circuit court forms site. Ozaukee County local Rule 204.001 requires a completed standard state form where one exists. |
| PR-1801 | Application for Informal Administration. |
| PR-1806 | Proof of Heirship (Informal and Formal Administration). |
| PR-1810 | Domiciliary Letters (Informal and Formal Administration), the authority document on both tracks. |
| PR-1811 | Inventory (Informal and Formal Administration). |
| PR-1816 | Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate (Informal Administration). |
| PR-1901 | Petition for Formal Administration. |
Fees
| Charge | Amount and timing |
|---|---|
| Estate proceeding fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 where the 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, paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500; the 0.2 percent rate does not change. |
| Ozaukee County forms packet | The county's formal probate opening guideline revised October 3, 2025 states that a packet of forms is available from the Register in Probate for $5.00. The same statewide forms can also be accessed online. |
| Copies and certificates | Copies are $1.00 per page under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(h)1. A certificate is $3.00 through October 31, 2026 and $10.00 effective November 1, 2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179 and Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(g). |
| Claim against estate | Filing a claim against an estate is $3.00 through October 31, 2026 and $10.00 effective November 1, 2026 under 2025 Wis. Act 179 and Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(i). |
| E-filing fee | The separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case, and is not charged if a waiver of costs and fees is granted (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7), § 814.29(1)). |
Timeline
- Within 30 days after death, file the original will with the Ozaukee County Register in Probate if the decedent left one (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)).
- When an administration is opened, the court or the probate registrar sets the claim deadline by order at a date not less than three nor more than four months from the date of that order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01).
- For a hearing, obtain the date and time before filing the petition or motion, file within five days after the date is obtained, and file documents to be considered at the hearing at least 48 hours before the hearing under Ozaukee County local Rules 204.01 and 103.2.
- Formal probate hearings are heard on stacked dates, usually Mondays at 8:45 a.m., with appearances taken on a first come first served basis.
- The inventory is due no later than six months after appointment unless the court changes the time, and the estate proceeding fee is paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 858.01, § 814.66(1)(a)3).
- Ozaukee County asks for PR-1816, the personal representative's statement to close an informal estate, within 18 months of opening. Local Rule 403.7 describes the extension procedure if more time is needed.
Local nuance
Ozaukee County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Two Port Washington buildings | The Register in Probate is in Room 201 of the Justice Center at 1201 S. Spring Street. The Register of Deeds is in Room 120 at 121 W. Main Street, where probate documents affecting local real estate may need to be recorded. |
| County guidelines | Ozaukee County publishes a written guideline for each probate procedure, plus its Affidavit of No Probate. Read the guideline for the path before preparing the packet. |
| Nonresident personal representative | Local Rule 403.3 requires a resident agent for all nonresident personal representatives and ordinarily requires bond, with appointment routes tied to a Wisconsin co-personal representative, being the only person interested, or retaining a Wisconsin attorney. |
| Waivers can avoid a hearing | Local Rule 403.4 says a court hearing is not required when all interested parties file waivers, and the proposed order should be submitted with the waivers. |
| Closing certificate | Local Rule 403.6 requires a Wisconsin closing certificate for fiduciaries before any estate closes unless the court exempts the estate. |
| Limited fax filing | A filer who is not e-filing may fax a document to (262) 284-8491 only if it is ten pages or fewer excluding the cover sheet and no fee is due. |
| Room 201 records terminals | The same room as the filing counter has public access computer terminals for case information and review of open records documents, with copies available for purchase. |
Small-estate Alternatives
Ozaukee County adds two local requirements to the statewide summary settlement and summary assignment paths. Proof of heirship, PR-1806, must be filed with all opening documents, and the fee is paid before the court issues its order or certificate, based on the value of the property subject to the proceeding (Ozaukee County local Rule 403.2).
The county publishes separate guidelines for summary settlement, summary assignment and transfer by affidavit. A transfer by affidavit is not filed with the court, but if the decedent left a will, the original will still goes to the Register in Probate.
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Ozaukee County local court rules approved July 8, 2026 | The current local rules include the county's probate rule family, including rules on wills and the Affidavit of No Probate, summary procedures, nonresident personal representatives, bond, waivers, closing certificates and extensions. |
| Formal probate opening guideline revised October 3, 2025 | The county's current formal probate opening guideline is the document that states a packet of forms is available from the Register in Probate for $5.00 as of that guideline date. |
| Legal aid merger effective January 1, 2026 | Legal Action of Wisconsin and Judicare Legal Aid merged into one organization, Legal Action of Wisconsin, with statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. |
Page last reviewed: August 2026.
Scenarios
| Scenario | Local path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with the Ozaukee County Register in Probate in Room 201 if a court filing is needed, but remember that the real estate recording counter is the Register of Deeds at 121 W. Main Street, Room 120. A surviving spouse's route may involve summary confirmation of an interest in property, including survivorship marital property, through the Register of Deeds route described in Wis. Stat. § 867.046(2). If all interested parties sign waivers, local Rule 403.4 says a hearing is not required and the proposed order goes in with the waivers. | Sunset identifies accounts, ownership details and beneficiary designations before filing, then prepares the packet for the Room 201 counter when estate settlement requires a court case. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Ozaukee County local Rule 403.3 matters immediately. A nonresident personal representative needs a resident agent and ordinarily bond, and the rule ties appointment to a Wisconsin resident co-personal representative, being the only person interested, or retaining a Wisconsin attorney. A self-represented filer may choose to opt in to e-filing, but the original will still has to reach the probate office on paper. | Sunset finds accounts from wherever the adult child lives, builds the Ozaukee County packet, and connects the family to a Wisconsin probate attorney if the resident agent, bond or hearing issues make counsel the practical answer. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale often points toward formal administration and an attorney. Locally, get the hearing date before filing, file within five days after receiving the date, and get hearing documents in at least 48 hours before the hearing. Formal probate hearings are heard on stacked dates, usually Mondays at 8:45 a.m. Closing also has a local gate: the Wisconsin closing certificate for fiduciaries must be filed before the estate closes unless the court exempts it. | Sunset assembles the asset picture and document set the petition needs, supports the estate settlement plan, and connects the family with a local probate attorney for the sale and formal hearing. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Ozaukee County Register in Probate | Local probate office page with the direct phone, fax and probate office information. | https://www.ozaukeecounty.gov/2859/Probate-Guardianship |
| Ozaukee County Estate and Trusts page | County page linking the local procedure guidelines and the Affidavit of No Probate. | https://www.ozaukeecounty.gov/2860/Estate-and-Trusts |
| Ozaukee County local circuit court rules | Local rules for filing, fax filing, remote appearances, scheduling, waivers, nonresident personal representatives and estate closing. | https://www.ozaukeecounty.gov/DocumentCenter/View/27528 |
| Wisconsin Court System probate self-help page | State court self-help page for probate, with statewide forms and public guidance. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Plain-language guide to informal administration prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association and hosted by the Wisconsin Court System. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Wisconsin circuit court probate forms | Statewide PR probate forms, including informal administration, formal administration, inventory, Domiciliary Letters and closing forms. | https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Statewide public circuit court case search for case-level information. | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Room 201 public access terminals | Ozaukee County page describing public access terminals in Room 201 and copy request options. | https://www.ozaukeecounty.gov/190/Access-Court-Records |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents, with statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. | https://legalaction.org/ |
| Ozaukee County self-represented litigants page | County page pointing self-represented litigants to Wisconsin court, law library and public legal information resources. | https://www.ozaukeecounty.gov/2777/Self-Represented-Litigants |
When to hire an attorney
In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)). Informal administration under Wis. Stat. ch. 865 runs administratively before the probate registrar rather than as a proceeding in court, which is why the Wisconsin Court System publishes a personal representative's guide to informal estate administration and why probate registrar staff have a statutory duty to advise, within their competence, on preparing those documents (Wis. Stat. § 865.065(2)). The court system's self-help guide, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association, states that formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney, informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance, and summary settlement does not require an attorney's assistance. Summary settlement and summary assignment also carry their own express right to appear in person (Wis. Stat. § 867.01(5), § 867.02(5)). In Ozaukee County, counsel is especially useful when real estate must be sold, an heir objects, a claim is disputed, or the personal representative lives outside Wisconsin because local Rule 403.3 makes retaining a Wisconsin attorney one route for nonresident appointment and ordinarily requires bond. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney at no cost.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, balances and ownership details before a family files in Ozaukee County. That gives the personal representative a clearer estate settlement picture before choosing between an administration, a summary path or a real estate recording step.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family's information into an organized probate packet for the Ozaukee County Register in Probate, using the statewide Wisconsin PR forms and the county's local requirements where they apply.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs formal administration, a real estate sale, a response to an objection, or help with Ozaukee County's nonresident personal representative rule, Sunset connects the family with a vetted local probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset's estate settlement tools are free for families. Sunset can help you understand what exists, assemble the next filing packet and decide when local counsel should step in.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Ozaukee County?
File with the Ozaukee County Register in Probate in Room 201 of the Ozaukee County Justice Center, 1201 S. Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074. Mail should be addressed to the Ozaukee County Register in Probate, P.O. Box 994, Port Washington, WI 53074. Wisconsin places the case in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (Wis. Stat. § 856.01), so an Ozaukee County decedent's estate is handled in Port Washington.
Which building is the Ozaukee County Register in Probate in?
The probate counter is in the Justice Center at 1201 S. Spring Street, Room 201. The county administration building at 121 W. Main Street is where the Ozaukee County Register of Deeds sits in Room 120, which matters when a probate document affecting real estate must be recorded.
When is the Ozaukee County Register in Probate open?
The office is open 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. No midday closure or filing cutoff is published for the probate counter. Call the direct probate line, (262) 284-8370, before travelling with a time sensitive filing.
Can I file an Ozaukee County probate case without going to Port Washington?
Attorneys and high-volume filing agents e-file under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a). A self-represented filer may opt in voluntarily or use traditional paper methods under Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c). Ozaukee County publishes in-person filing at the Justice Center and electronic filing as its case filing channels, and local Rule 103.3 allows a narrow fax route for a filer who is not e-filing, ten pages or fewer, where no fee is due. The original will must reach the office on paper, and you should call (262) 284-8370 before sending a first paper filing.
What does it cost to open an estate in Ozaukee County?
The statutory estate proceeding fee is statewide. Through October 31, 2026, it is $20 where the 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, paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500; the 0.2 percent rate does not change. Ozaukee County's formal probate opening guideline revised October 3, 2025 also states that the Register in Probate has a forms packet for $5.00, and the separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Does Ozaukee County have its own probate forms?
Yes. Ozaukee County publishes one county-specific probate form, the Affidavit of No Probate, used with an original will when no estate case is needed. The rest of the probate forms are the statewide Wisconsin PR forms, and the county publishes its own guideline for each procedure.
Do I have to attend a hearing in an Ozaukee County estate?
Not always. Ozaukee County local Rule 403.4 says a court hearing is not required when all interested parties file waivers, and the proposed order should be submitted with the waivers. A hearing may still be set depending on the circumstances, and formal probate hearings are heard on stacked dates, usually Mondays at 8:45 a.m.
Can I appear remotely in an Ozaukee County probate hearing?
Possibly, if the court approves it. Local Rule 203.1 allows telephone or other electronic appearances with prior court approval, and the written request is made 48 hours before the hearing unless there is an emergency. The statewide form is GF-306, Request to Appear Remotely.
Can I look up an Ozaukee County estate case online?
Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate cases, are searchable through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ Ozaukee County also publishes public access computer terminals in Room 201 of the Justice Center for case information and review of open records documents, with copies available for purchase.
I live out of state. Can I serve as personal representative in Ozaukee County?
Ozaukee County local Rule 403.3 allows a non-Wisconsin resident to be appointed in the court's discretion if a Wisconsin resident is appointed as co-personal representative, the nonresident is the only person interested in the estate, or the nonresident has retained a Wisconsin attorney. The rule also requires every nonresident personal representative to have a resident agent and says a nominated nonresident is ordinarily required to post bond in an amount determined by the court.
Do I need a lawyer for an Ozaukee County estate?
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, informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance, and summary settlement does not require an attorney's assistance. In Ozaukee County, an attorney is especially important for a real estate sale, a dispute, a contested claim or a nonresident personal representative issue under local Rule 403.3.
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.