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Rock County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Rock County details |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court for Rock County |
| Probate filing office | Rock County Register in Probate |
| Courthouse address | Rock County Courthouse, 51 South Main Street, Janesville, WI 53545. The probate office is on the third floor, which the county writes as Floor 3R. |
| Mailing address | Register in Probate, Rock County Courthouse, 51 South Main Street, Janesville, WI 53545 |
| Phone | (608) 757-5635. A second direct line is (608) 757-5636. |
| Fax | (608) 757-5769 for the probate office. Do not use that fax as a filing method unless the office tells you to. |
| Hours | Rock County publishes Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for courthouse court offices, but does not publish separate Register in Probate hours. Call (608) 757-5635 before traveling. |
| Statewide estate 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 (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. Electronic filing adds $35 per party per case when it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Local forms | No Rock County probate form, checklist or packet is published. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. |
| Electronic filing | Required for attorneys and high-volume filing agents. Self-represented filers may opt in or use paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). Rock County points filers to the Wisconsin Court System filing portal and CCAP support at 800-462-8843. |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Remote appearance | Rock County Circuit Court Rule 116 allows the court to permit videoconferencing under Wis. Stat. ch. 885. Ask the court through the Register in Probate. |
| Website | https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/clerk-of-circuit-court-99 |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file anything in Rock County, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, beneficiary designations and account titles. That list determines whether the estate settlement belongs in the Register in Probate's office, whether a real estate recording step at the Rock County Register of Deeds is enough, and how the statewide inventory fee will be calculated.
Sunset can search more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they choose the Rock County path. That asset picture makes the estate settlement conversation with the Register in Probate or a local attorney more productive.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Rock County is served by one courthouse for probate matters: the Rock County Courthouse at 51 South Main Street in Janesville. The Circuit Court for Rock County sits there, and Rock County Circuit Court Rule 101(B) sends probate cases to the Rock County Register in Probate.
Rock County includes the cities of Beloit, Brodhead, Edgerton, Evansville, Janesville and Milton, and the villages of Clinton, Footville and Orfordville. Brodhead lies in both Green and Rock counties, and Edgerton lies in both Rock and Dane counties, so the city name alone does not decide where to file.
Wisconsin places 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 brought in any Wisconsin county where the decedent's property is located, and the court that first exercises jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction (Wis. Stat. § 856.01). For a Brodhead or Edgerton address, confirm the county side of the line before filing.
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the estate path before choosing forms. Informal administration uses the statewide PR forms for an administrative case before the probate registrar under Wis. Stat. ch. 865; formal administration uses PR-1901 and is handled by the court. If the original will is in someone's possession, Wisconsin requires it to be filed or delivered as directed within 30 days after the holder has the required knowledge of the death and the will (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)). In Rock County, call the Register in Probate at (608) 757-5635 before mailing an original will.
- Use the statewide Wisconsin probate forms. Rock County publishes no county-specific probate packet. Common informal forms include PR-1801, PR-1806, PR-1807, PR-1808, PR-1810, PR-1811, PR-1816 and PR-1817; formal administration begins with PR-1901.
- File with the Rock County Register in Probate at the Rock County Courthouse, 51 South Main Street, Janesville, WI 53545, third floor. Rock County Circuit Court Rule 101(B) sends probate cases with PR, GN or ME designations to that office, not to the clerk of circuit court's counter. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents electronically file; self-represented filers may opt in or use paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). The county does not accept court correspondence by email.
- Account for the statewide estate charge at the inventory stage. Through October 31, 2026, the charge 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 (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. The charge is paid when the inventory or other document setting out the net value is filed, not when the case opens (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3). The separate electronic filing charge is $35 per party per case when it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
- Give notice and watch the claim deadline order. In Wisconsin, the court in a formal administration, or the probate registrar in an informal administration, sets a claim-filing deadline by order at a date not less than three nor more than four months from the date of the order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). The first publication of the notice must be made within 15 days of that order (Wis. Stat. § 859.07(1)). If agency notice is required under Wis. Stat. § 859.07(2), the personal representative also must send the required notices by registered or certified mail at least 30 days before the claim deadline.
- Schedule any hearing through the court. Rock County publishes no probate hearing day or filing-to-hearing window. Under Local Rule 102, estate cases are assigned among the general-assignment branches as they are filed, and no branch is set aside for probate.
- Ask before appearing by video. Rock County Circuit Court Rule 116 allows the court to permit videoconferencing under Wis. Stat. ch. 885. The rule requires clear video and audio, a stable connection, courtroom-appropriate dress and conduct, and a quiet setting. The county publishes no probate-specific request form or lead time.
- Use Domiciliary Letters as the authority document. PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters, is the Wisconsin form that evidences the personal representative's authority in both informal and formal administration.
- Administer and close the estate. The personal representative files the inventory, handles claims, pays expenses, distributes assets and closes on the correct track. In an informal administration, PR-1816 is the Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate, and appointment terminates six months after the statement is filed if no challenge or other proceeding involving the personal representative is pending (Wis. Stat. § 865.16(2)). Real estate documents that must be recorded for Rock County property go to the Rock County Register of Deeds in the same courthouse.
Executor duties
A Wisconsin personal representative is the person appointed to administer the estate. In Rock County, three local duties affect how that statewide job is carried out.
| Local task | What it means in Rock County |
|---|---|
| Use the probate counter | Rock County Circuit Court Rule 101(B) sends probate cases to the Rock County Register in Probate. The clerk of circuit court's counter is a different office with a different phone and a different floor. |
| Record real estate documents in the same courthouse | Documents that transfer or confirm interests in Rock County real estate are recorded with the Rock County Register of Deeds at 51 South Main Street. That office also issues certified death certificates. |
| Do not file by email | The county's Circuit Court page states that the court does not accept correspondence by email. For electronic filing, use the Wisconsin Court System filing portal if you are registered. For fax, Local Rule 115 allows filing only through the clerk of circuit court's official facsimile machine, and a probate filer should call (608) 757-5635 before relying on fax. |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Rock County
Rock County does not publish a county-specific probate form, checklist or packet. A Rock County estate uses the statewide, court-approved Wisconsin probate forms in the PR series.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| PR-1801 | Application for Informal Administration |
| PR-1803 | Waiver and Consent (Informal Administration) |
| PR-1806 | Proof of Heirship (Informal and Formal Administration) |
| PR-1807 | Consent to Serve (Informal, Formal, and Special Administration) |
| PR-1808 | Statement of Informal Administration |
| PR-1810 | Domiciliary Letters (Informal and Formal Administration), the personal representative's authority document on both tracks |
| PR-1811 | Inventory (Informal and Formal Administration) |
| PR-1816 | Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate (Informal Administration) |
| PR-1817 | Declaration of Service (Probate) |
| PR-1831 | Transfer by Affidavit for the statewide route under Wis. Stat. § 867.03, where the property subject to administration in Wisconsin does not exceed $50,000 in gross value |
| PR-1901 | Petition for Formal Administration |
The Rock County Register of Deeds, in the same courthouse, publishes the application used to terminate a decedent's interest in property and confirm the applicant's interest under Wis. Stat. § 867.045 or Wis. Stat. § 867.046. That is a recording office document, not a Rock County probate packet.
Local nuance
Rock County-specific considerations
| Local rule or office fact | What it means for a Rock County estate |
|---|---|
| Two courthouse counters | Rock County Circuit Court Rule 101(B) sends probate, guardianship, conservatorship and commitment cases with PR, GN or ME designations to the Register in Probate. Rule 101(A) sends civil, criminal and juvenile guardianship-of-person actions to the clerk of circuit court. |
| Probate office location | The Rock County Register in Probate is at the Rock County Courthouse, 51 South Main Street, Janesville, on the third floor, which the county writes as Floor 3R. The direct phone is (608) 757-5635. |
| No county probate page | Rock County publishes pages for the Circuit Court, clerk of circuit court and Register of Deeds, but no Register in Probate page, no probate checklist and no county probate form. Use the statewide PR forms. |
| Local rules rewritten in June 2026 | The Rock County Circuit Court Rules were repealed and recreated effective June 12, 2026. They contain no probate chapter, but the general rules on filing location, assignment, file review, fax filing and videoconferencing matter for probate readers. |
| Fax filing goes to one official machine | Local Rule 115 says a facsimile filing must reach the clerk of circuit court's official machine, may not exceed fifteen pages including the cover sheet unless advance permission is given, and counts that day if completed by 11:59 p.m. central time and accepted on review. |
| No email filing | The county's Circuit Court page states that the court does not accept correspondence by email. The court mailbox the county publishes is for record requests to the clerk of circuit court, not for probate filing. |
| Seven branches, no probate branch | The Circuit Court for Rock County sits in seven numbered branches. Local Rule 102 says six have a general assignment and receive new cases at random, while the seventh is assigned juvenile matters. No branch is set aside for probate. |
| Videoconference and live viewing are different | Local Rule 116 lets the court permit videoconferencing under Wis. Stat. ch. 885. Separately, the county publishes live stream links for branches and court commissioners, which are for watching and not for appearing. |
| Older files stay in the office | Local Rule 110 says files predating electronic filing are reviewed by the public, parties or attorneys only in the clerk of court's office, and no file may be removed from that office. |
| Register of Deeds in the same building | The Rock County Register of Deeds is also at 51 South Main Street. It issues certified death certificates and records documents that transfer or confirm a decedent's interest in Rock County real estate. |
| Two county-line cities | Brodhead lies in Green and Rock counties, and Edgerton lies in Rock and Dane counties. Because Wisconsin uses domicile at death for estate administration, confirm the county before filing. |
| Courthouse holidays | Rock County lists courthouse closures for New Year's Day, the Martin Luther King Jr holiday, the spring holiday, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| June 12, 2026 | Rock County Circuit Court Rules were repealed and recreated effective that date, including Rule 101 on which office receives probate filings, Rule 115 on facsimile filing and Rule 116 on videoconferencing. |
| June 1, 2026 | Rock County adopted a judicial policy on acceptance and rejection of certain filings by the clerk of circuit court's office. The policy directs that a filing party receive a specific reason when a filing is rejected. |
| 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 Rock County Register in Probate at 51 South Main Street, Janesville, or call (608) 757-5635. The Rock County Register of Deeds is in the same building and publishes the application used to terminate a decedent's interest and confirm the applicant's interest under Wis. Stat. § 867.045 or Wis. Stat. § 867.046. Wisconsin marital property classification under Wis. Stat. ch. 766 can drive whether a court filing or a recording step is needed. | Sunset identifies accounts, real estate and title clues before the spouse chooses between the Janesville probate counter and a Register of Deeds step, then helps prepare the estate settlement packet. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | A self-represented filer may opt in to electronic filing or use paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c)). Rock County points filers to the Wisconsin Court System filing portal and CCAP support at 800-462-8843. Nothing is filed by email, and fax filing is limited by Local Rule 115, so call the Register in Probate at (608) 757-5635 before mailing or faxing anything. | Sunset searches for accounts from out of state, organizes the asset list, prepares the Rock County packet on statewide PR forms and connects the family with a Wisconsin probate attorney if a hearing or dispute is likely. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A home sale usually makes counsel important. The court system's self-help guide says formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney. A Rock County formal administration is assigned among the general-assignment branches under Local Rule 102, and real estate paperwork is recorded with the Rock County Register of Deeds after the court step. | Sunset assembles the asset picture, prepares the probate packet and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the home sale and closing steps of the estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it gives | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Rock County Clerk of Circuit Court | County court pages with the courthouse address, clerk contact information, published hours, filing information, payment information, record requests and local rules. | https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/clerk-of-circuit-court-99 |
| Rock County Circuit Court Rules, June 2026 | Local rules including Rule 101 on the probate filing office, Rule 102 on court organization, Rule 110 on file review, Rule 115 on facsimile filing and Rule 116 on videoconferencing. | https://www.co.rock.wi.us/home/showpublisheddocument/65127/639184291001430000 |
| Rock County local court rules and judicial policies | The county page that posts the rules and signed judicial policies, including the June 1, 2026 policy on rejected filings at the clerk of circuit court's office. | https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/clerk-of-circuit-court/local-court-rules |
| Rock County filing information | The county's filing page for the clerk of circuit court's office, including electronic filing information and CCAP support at 800-462-8843. | https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/clerk-of-circuit-court/filing-information |
| Rock County Register of Deeds | Death certificates, other vital records, real estate recording and the recording office for documents that terminate or confirm a decedent's interest in Rock County real property. | https://www.co.rock.wi.us/departments/register-of-deeds |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | The Wisconsin Court System's 89-page self-help guide to informal administration, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate | State probate self-help page with links to the informal administration guide, statewide forms and county Register in Probate information. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| Circuit court probate forms | The statewide court-approved probate forms in the PR series. | https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Statewide public case search for Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate cases. | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents, statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. | https://legalaction.org/ |
| State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral and Information Service | Referral to a Wisconsin attorney at (800) 362-9082, as listed for Rock County by the Wisconsin State Law Library. | https://wilawlibrary.gov/topics/county.php?c=Rock |
| Wisconsin State Law Library, Rock County legal resources | County legal resources listing the Register in Probate, clerk of courts, county clerk, Register of Deeds and legal assistance resources serving Rock County. | https://wilawlibrary.gov/topics/county.php?c=Rock |
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, that informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance, and that 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 Rock 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. Sunset connects families to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help identify accounts, balances and ownership clues before a Rock County estate settlement begins.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the statewide Wisconsin PR forms, the Rock County filing details, the right Janesville counter and the correct Register in Probate phone number.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs formal administration, a home sale, a contested hearing or help with claims, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools without paying Sunset, and attorney introductions are optional.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Rock County?
File with the Rock County Register in Probate at the Rock County Courthouse, 51 South Main Street, Janesville, WI 53545, on the third floor. Call (608) 757-5635 before traveling or mailing an original will. Wisconsin places administration in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
Do I file with the Register in Probate or the Clerk of Circuit Court in Rock County?
Use the Register in Probate for a Rock County estate. Rock County Circuit Court Rule 101(B) sends probate, guardianship, conservatorship and commitment cases with PR, GN or ME designations to that office. The clerk of circuit court's filing instructions, drop boxes and record-request channel are for a different courthouse counter.
What is the Rock County Register in Probate's phone number, and what are the hours?
The direct phone is (608) 757-5635, with (608) 757-5636 as a second direct line. Rock County publishes Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for courthouse court offices and does not publish separate Register in Probate hours, so call before traveling.
Can I mail or fax a probate filing in Rock County, or do I have to electronically file?
Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must electronically file, and attorney electronic filing has covered Wisconsin probate case types since July 2018 (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a)). A self-represented filer may opt in or use paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c)). Rock County points filers to the Wisconsin Court System filing portal and CCAP support at 800-462-8843. The county's Circuit Court page says the court does not accept correspondence by email. Under Local Rule 115, a fax filing must reach the clerk of circuit court's official facsimile machine, may not exceed fifteen pages including the cover sheet unless advance permission is given, and counts that day if completed by 11:59 p.m. central time and accepted on review. Because probate filings go to the Register in Probate, call (608) 757-5635 before mailing or faxing anything.
Does Rock County have its own probate forms?
No. Rock County publishes no county-specific probate form, checklist or packet. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR forms on the Wisconsin Court System forms page. The Rock County Register of Deeds does publish the application used to terminate a decedent's interest in property and confirm the applicant's interest under Wis. Stat. § 867.045 or Wis. Stat. § 867.046, but that is a recording office document.
What does it cost to open an estate in Rock County?
The statewide estate charge is paid when the inventory is filed. 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 (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, § 814.66(1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. Electronic filing adds $35 per party per case when it applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Can I look up a Rock County estate case online?
Yes. Use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. A probate case may carry a PR or IN case-type code. Do not assume the online search will show every document. For Rock County court record copies, the clerk of circuit court accepts requests by email at [email protected], by phone at (608) 743-2217, by fax at (608) 743-2223 or by mail to 51 South Main Street, Janesville, WI 53545. Local Rule 110 says files predating electronic filing are reviewed only in the clerk of court's office and may not be removed.
Can I appear by video in a Rock County probate hearing?
Possibly, if the court permits it. Rock County Circuit Court Rule 116 allows videoconferencing under Wis. Stat. ch. 885 and requires a stable connection, clear video and audio, appropriate dress, an upright seated or standing position, a quiet setting and courtroom conduct. The county publishes no probate request form or lead time, so ask through the Register in Probate at (608) 757-5635.
I live in Edgerton. Do I file in Rock County or Dane County?
It depends on where the decedent was domiciled at death. Edgerton lies in both Rock and Dane counties, and Brodhead lies in both Green and Rock counties. Wisconsin places administration in the county of domicile at death (Wis. Stat. § 856.01). Call the Rock County Register in Probate at (608) 757-5635 if you are not sure which county applies.
Do I need a lawyer for a Rock County estate?
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, and probate registrar staff have a statutory duty to advise, within their competence, on preparing those documents (Wis. Stat. § 865.065(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, that informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance, and that summary settlement does not require an attorney's assistance. Rock County's own Circuit Court page tells anyone seeking legal advice to consult an attorney, and clerk of court staff can help with procedure but cannot give legal advice.
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.