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Pepin County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Pepin County detail |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for Pepin County |
| Filing office | Pepin County Register in Probate |
| Courthouse address | 740 7th Avenue West, Durand, WI 54736 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 39, Durand, WI 54736-0039 |
| Phone | (715) 672-8859 |
| Fax | (715) 672-8521 |
| Hours | Courthouse office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call the Register in Probate before going to the courthouse. |
| 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, payable when the inventory or other value statement is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. |
| Local forms | The county court page does not post a Pepin County probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist. Use the statewide PR-series forms and call the Register in Probate about any local cover requirements. |
| E-filing status | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing. A self-represented filer may opt in voluntarily or file by traditional paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), § 801.18(3)(b), § 801.18(3)(c)). The e-filing fee is $35 per party per case where it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Remote appearance | Call the Pepin County Register in Probate before any hearing. The county court page does not post a probate remote appearance procedure. |
| Website | https://www.co.pepin.wi.us/cc-clerk |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a filing path in Pepin County, make a working list of the decedent's probate assets, nonprobate transfers, debts, real estate, and whether any property is marital property. Wisconsin's estate fee is assessed later from the inventory value, so asset discovery is part of the estate settlement plan, not just a closing task.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery helps families find accounts, insurance, retirement assets, and liabilities before they ask the Pepin County Register in Probate which form set fits the estate. That early asset map also helps you decide whether a Wisconsin shortcut, informal administration, or formal administration is the right next step.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Pepin County filing office is the Pepin County Register in Probate at 740 7th Avenue West in Durand. Pepin and Buffalo counties share one Wisconsin judicial circuit under Wis. Stat. § 753.06(7)(am), but each county keeps its own courthouse and its own Register in Probate office. A Pepin County estate is handled in Durand.
Use Pepin County when the decedent was domiciled in Pepin County at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, a Wisconsin estate may be filed in a county where the decedent's property is located, and the court that first exercises jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction for that proceeding (Wis. Stat. § 856.01). Pepin County communities referenced by the county include Durand, Pepin, Stockholm, and the towns that make up the rest of the county.
The jurisdiction process
- Start with the will, death information, asset list, debt list, and names and addresses of persons interested in the estate. Anyone holding the original will has a 30-day Wisconsin duty to file it with the proper court or deliver it to the person named to act as personal representative (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)).
- Decide whether the estate will proceed by informal administration, formal administration, or a statewide shortcut. Informal administration uses the probate registrar process under Wis. Stat. ch. 865; formal administration is a court proceeding. The Wisconsin Court System's informal administration guide says formal administration requires attorney assistance, while informal administration may be granted without attorney assistance.
- Prepare the statewide PR-series forms. Common starting forms include PR-1801 for informal administration and PR-1901 for formal administration. If a transfer by affidavit is appropriate, use PR-1831 with the Wis. Stat. § 867.03 requirements.
- File with the Pepin County Register in Probate at 740 7th Avenue West in Durand, mail to P.O. Box 39, Durand, WI 54736-0039, or use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing if you are registered and opted in. Pepin County Local Court Rule 2007-02 permits fax filing with the Clerk of Circuit Court, subject to a 15-page limit including the cover sheet. Ask the Register in Probate before using fax for any document that must be filed as an original.
- Account for the estate fee at the inventory stage. 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 (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged.
- Follow the notice order. In Wisconsin, the claim deadline is a date set by order, by the court in a formal administration and by the probate registrar in an informal administration, at not less than three and not more than four months from the date of that order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Notice of that deadline is published under Wis. Stat. § 859.07 and § 879.05(4).
- If the decedent or the decedent's spouse received medical assistance or long-term care benefits, or if another agency notice rule applies, send the required notice by registered or certified mail not less than 30 days before the claim deadline (Wis. Stat. § 859.07(2)).
- Ask the Pepin County Register in Probate how any hearing will be scheduled and whether any appearance can be handled remotely. No Pepin County probate hearing day or remote appearance instruction is posted on the county court page.
- After appointment, the personal representative receives Domiciliary Letters, PR-1810, if the appointment and qualification requirements are met. The personal representative then inventories property, handles claims, pays expenses, distributes assets, records any real estate documents with the proper register of deeds when required, and closes the estate using the correct Wisconsin closing forms.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Pepin County
Pepin County uses the statewide Wisconsin PR-series probate forms. The county court page does not post a Pepin County probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist, so start with the Wisconsin Court System probate forms index and call the Pepin County Register in Probate at (715) 672-8859 before filing if you are unsure whether a local cover item is expected.
| 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, informal administration |
| PR-1819 | Claim Against Estate, informal and formal administration |
| PR-1831 | Transfer by Affidavit, $50,000 and under, under Wis. Stat. § 867.03 |
| PR-1901 | Petition for Formal Administration |
Statewide forms are posted at https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All.
Local nuance
Pepin County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means in Pepin County |
|---|---|
| Shared circuit, separate counter | Pepin and Buffalo counties share one circuit under Wis. Stat. § 753.06(7)(am), but Pepin County keeps its own courthouse and its own Register in Probate in Durand. Do not route a Pepin County filing to Buffalo County. |
| Direct probate phone | Call the Pepin County Register in Probate at (715) 672-8859. The Clerk of Circuit Court has a different phone line. |
| Midday closure | The county court office posts hours of 8:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Plan around the midday closure and call before bringing paperwork. |
| Fax filing rule | Pepin County Local Court Rule 2007-02 permits filing papers with the Clerk of Circuit Court by fax, with a 15-page limit including the cover sheet unless advance approval is given. A fax received after regular business hours, on a holiday, or on a weekend is treated as filed the next business day. |
| Real estate recording | Some Wisconsin probate-related real estate steps are recorded with the register of deeds rather than filed only with the court. For Pepin County real estate questions, the Pepin County Register of Deeds is a separate office at (715) 672-8856. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Pepin County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by identifying how the home is titled and whether the property is marital property or survivorship marital property. If a court filing is needed, contact the Pepin County Register in Probate in Durand. If a recording step is enough for the real estate, the Pepin County Register of Deeds may be involved instead of a full administration. | Sunset helps collect account information, title clues, and debt information so the spouse can ask focused questions before choosing the estate settlement route. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call the Pepin County Register in Probate at (715) 672-8859 before traveling. Wisconsin may allow transfer by affidavit under Wis. Stat. § 867.03, summary settlement under Wis. Stat. § 867.01, or summary assignment under Wis. Stat. § 867.02, depending on the assets, debts, survivors, and medical assistance notice requirements. | Sunset helps organize the asset list, locate financial institutions, and prepare a probate packet so an out-of-state child can reduce avoidable courthouse trips. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home is in the child's name, expect a court or recording step before sale. File the estate in Pepin County if the child was domiciled there at death, and ask the Register in Probate how the real estate order or Domiciliary Letters will be handled locally. | Sunset helps identify mortgages, liens, accounts, and estate documents, then connects the family with a local probate attorney if a sale or formal administration requires counsel. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it helps with | Link or phone |
|---|---|---|
| Pepin County Clerk of Circuit Court | Court office address, fax, hours, and local court rules link | https://www.co.pepin.wi.us/cc-clerk |
| Pepin County telephone directory | Direct department phone list, including the Register in Probate line | https://www.co.pepin.wi.us/telephone-directory |
| Pepin County Circuit Court Rules | Local rules, including Local Court Rule 2007-02 on fax filing | https://www.wisbar.org/Directories/CourtRules/Wisconsin%20Circuit%20Court%20Rules/Pepin%20County%20Circuit%20Court%20Rules.pdf |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Wisconsin Court System self-help guide for informal administration | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Wisconsin Court System probate self-help | Statewide probate overview, guide links, and forms links | 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 | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents | https://legalaction.org/ or (855) 947-2529 |
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 to informal estate administration, 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. Summary settlement and summary assignment also carry their own express right to appear in person (Wis. Stat. § 867.01(5), § 867.02(5)). Counsel usually makes sense when heirs disagree, real estate must be sold, creditor or medical assistance issues are unclear, or the estate moves into formal administration. Sunset connects to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions to help families identify bank accounts, investments, insurance, retirement assets, debts, and other information needed for estate settlement in Pepin County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the family questionnaire and asset information into an organized probate packet, using Wisconsin terms such as personal representative, Register in Probate, informal administration, and Domiciliary Letters.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Pepin County estate needs formal administration, a real estate sale, contested issues, or advice about claims and medical assistance notices, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools, asset discovery, document organization, and attorney matching without paying Sunset.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate for someone who lived in Pepin County?
File with the Pepin County Register in Probate in Durand. The street address is 740 7th Avenue West, Durand, WI 54736, and the mailing address is P.O. Box 39, Durand, WI 54736-0039. Use Pepin County if the decedent was domiciled in Pepin County at death (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
Is Pepin County probate handled in Buffalo County because the counties share a circuit?
No. Pepin and Buffalo counties share one circuit under Wis. Stat. § 753.06(7)(am), but Pepin County has its own courthouse and its own Register in Probate in Durand. A Pepin County estate is filed in Durand.
What phone number should I call for the Pepin County Register in Probate?
Call (715) 672-8859 for the Pepin County Register in Probate. The Clerk of Circuit Court has a different phone line, so use the probate number when asking about estate filings.
Can I e-file a Pepin County probate case?
Wisconsin circuit court e-filing applies to probate cases. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use the system 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) and § 801.18(3)(c). The e-filing fee is $35 per party per case where it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Can I fax probate papers in Pepin County?
Pepin County Local Court Rule 2007-02 permits fax filing with the Clerk of Circuit Court, subject to a 15-page limit including the cover sheet unless advance approval is given. A fax received after regular business hours, on a holiday, or on a weekend is treated as filed the next business day. Ask the Register in Probate before relying on fax for any document that must be filed as an original.
What are the Pepin County courthouse hours?
The county court office posts hours of Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to noon and 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Because there is a midday closure, call the Pepin County Register in Probate at (715) 672-8859 before bringing paperwork.
Does Pepin County have its own probate forms?
The county court page does not post a Pepin County probate packet, cover sheet, or checklist. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR-series forms at https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All and call the Pepin County Register in Probate if you are unsure what to include.
How much does it cost to open and administer a Pepin County estate?
The estate fee is statewide. 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, payable when the inventory or other value statement is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged.
Can I look up a Pepin County probate case online?
Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate cases, are searchable through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. A probate case may carry a PR case-type code for Formal Probate or an IN case-type code for Informal Probate. Do not rely on the case search as a substitute for contacting the Register in Probate about filings or copies.
Do I have to travel to Durand for every step?
Not always. Some filings may be mailed, e-filed if you have opted into Wisconsin circuit court e-filing, or faxed within Pepin County Local Court Rule 2007-02. Hearings and original-document questions are different, so call the Pepin County Register in Probate before making travel plans.
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.