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Sheboygan County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for Sheboygan County. Estate filings go to the Sheboygan County Register in Probate. |
| Probate filing office | Sheboygan County Register in Probate, Sheboygan County Courthouse, Room 400, 615 North 6th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081 |
| Mailing address | Sheboygan County Register in Probate, Room 400, 615 North 6th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081 |
| Phone | Register in Probate: (920) 459-3096. The Clerk of Circuit Court has a different line, (920) 459-3068. |
| Fax | The published fax is the Clerk of Circuit Court fax, (920) 459-3921. New case filings are not accepted by fax. |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except published courthouse holidays. |
| 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, 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 those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. |
| Local probate forms | No local probate court packet, cover sheet or checklist. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must e-file. Self-represented filers may opt in but may also file by traditional paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). The e-filing fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Remote appearance | Sheboygan County publishes no probate-specific remote-appearance rule. Ask the assigned branch about the statewide request forms, GF-306 and GF-307. |
| Website | https://www.sheboygancounty.com/departments/departments-a-e/circuit-court/register-in-probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Wisconsin probate path, build a list of the decedent's assets, debts, beneficiaries, co-owners and real estate. In Sheboygan County that matters because the court side starts at the Register in Probate in Room 400, while real estate transfer and recording steps may happen at the Register of Deeds in the Administration Building at 508 New York Avenue.
Sunset's estate settlement platform searches for accounts and assets across more than 2,300 financial institutions, helps organize what belongs in the estate, and helps families decide what must be filed locally before they contact the Sheboygan County Register in Probate.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Sheboygan County Courthouse in Sheboygan serves the whole county. That includes the cities of Sheboygan, Sheboygan Falls and Plymouth, the villages of Adell, Cascade, Cedar Grove, Elkhart Lake, Glenbeulah, Howards Grove, Kohler, Oostburg, Random Lake and Waldo, and the towns throughout Sheboygan County.
For a Wisconsin decedent, jurisdiction for estate administration is in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, jurisdiction is 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). Sheboygan County is its own single-county circuit with five branches (Wis. Stat. § 753.06(4)(d)).
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that Sheboygan County is the right county. File in Sheboygan County if the decedent was domiciled there at death, or, for a non-Wisconsin decedent, if property of the decedent is located there and no other Wisconsin county has already exercised jurisdiction (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
- File the original will if there is one. A person who has custody of a will generally has 30 days after learning of the death to file it with the proper court or deliver it to the person named to act as personal representative (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)). In Sheboygan County, call the Register in Probate at (920) 459-3096 before mailing an original will.
- Choose the correct statewide PR forms. Informal administration usually starts with PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration. Formal administration starts with PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration. Use the statewide Wisconsin probate forms, and include the case number and assigned branch in the caption once assigned, as required by Local Rule 202.
- File with the Register in Probate in Room 400. File by e-filing if required, by mail to Room 400 at 615 North 6th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081, or in person during courthouse hours. The county's own pages say new case filings are not accepted by fax and filings are not accepted by email.
- Handle the fee at the inventory stage. Through October 31, 2026, the statewide estate fee 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, payable when the inventory or other document setting value is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum and threshold to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged.
- Get the order setting the claim deadline and publish notice. 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 nor more than four months from the date of the order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Notice is published as a class 3 notice in a newspaper published in the county (Wis. Stat. § 859.07(1), § 879.05(4)).
- Watch for agency notice issues. If the decedent or the decedent's spouse received medical assistance or long-term care benefits, or if another state or county institution notice rule applies, the personal representative must give the required written notice by registered or certified mail not less than 30 days before the claim deadline (Wis. Stat. § 859.07(2)).
- Attend any hearing set by the court. Sheboygan County's weekly court schedule sets probate hearings before the intake judge on Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m. (Local Rule 1801), and intake rotates among the county's five branches on a four-week cycle (Local Rule 1803). The court's notice controls the actual hearing date. If you need a remote appearance, ask the assigned branch about statewide forms GF-306 and GF-307.
- Obtain Domiciliary Letters when appointed. PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters, is the authority document for both informal and formal administration. Use that document when banks, title companies or other institutions need proof of the personal representative's authority.
- Administer the estate and respond to Sheboygan County notices. File the inventory within a reasonable time and no later than six months after appointment unless the court changes the time (Wis. Stat. § 858.01). If the Sheboygan County Register in Probate sends a notice that the estate is delinquent in filing a required probate document, respond in writing within 10 days (Local Rule 1701).
- Record real estate paperwork in the right building and close the estate. Real estate documents are recorded with the Sheboygan County Register of Deeds in the Administration Building, Room 218, 508 New York Avenue, not at the courthouse. Informal administration closes by the personal representative's sworn statement, with appointment terminating six months later if no challenge is pending (Wis. Stat. § 865.16(2)); formal administration closes through final judgment and discharge forms.
Executor duties
In Wisconsin, the person appointed to administer the estate is the personal representative. Sheboygan County adds two local duties to the statewide work of estate settlement:
| Local duty | What Sheboygan County requires |
|---|---|
| Answer delinquency notices | If the Register in Probate sends notice that the estate is delinquent in filing a document required by the probate code, the personal representative or counsel must respond in writing within 10 days. If there is no response, or the response is inadequate, the court may hold a status conference or issue an order to show cause, and the personal representative must appear along with the attorney (Local Rule 1701). |
| Keep the case moving | In Sheboygan County, delay in disposition of an estate results in the appointment of a new personal representative and/or attorney rather than a notice and order of dismissal (Local Rule 305). |
| Caption and copies | Papers must include the case number and assigned branch in the caption, and filings should include enough copies for all parties, with a stamped envelope if copies are to be returned by mail (Local Rules 202, 210). |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Sheboygan County
Sheboygan County does not publish a local probate court packet, cover sheet or checklist. Its Register in Probate page links to the statewide Wisconsin probate forms, and Local Rule 202 calls for approved forms where appropriate. Use the statewide probate forms at https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/formcategory.jsp?Category=26.
| 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 for informal administration |
| PR-1831 | Transfer by Affidavit for property subject to administration that does not exceed $50,000 in gross value (Wis. Stat. § 867.03) |
| PR-1901 | Petition for Formal Administration |
| PR-1912, PR-1913 and PR-1915 | Final Judgment, Abridgment of Final Judgment for recording, and Order Discharging Personal Representative |
The Sheboygan County Register of Deeds separately publishes recording documents for real estate after a death, including a Termination of Decedent's Interest form and instructions and a Checklist for Surviving Spouse. Those are recording documents for the Register of Deeds, not probate court forms for the Register in Probate.
Timeline
- An estate opens at the Sheboygan County Register in Probate in Room 400. The court's case processing guideline for a probate matter is 18 months from filing to final disposition, and that is a guideline for the judiciary and bar, not a deadline on the family (Local Rule 301).
- The court schedules every case for a next action or review date at every stage (Local Rule 302).
- If a hearing is needed, the county's weekly court schedule sets probate hearings before the intake judge on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. The court's own notice sets the actual date (Local Rule 1801).
- Intake rotates among the county's five branches on a four-week cycle, so the assigned judge depends on the rotation and the case assignment (Local Rule 1803).
- An adjournment request must be in writing, served on all opposing parties, and received by the assigned judge not later than 10 days before the scheduled hearing. Adjournments are granted only for good cause and only to a date certain (Local Rules 502, 504, 505).
- When a document is submitted to the court for signature, written objections to form or content are due within 10 days after service or mailing, and the document is deemed signed if no objection is filed (Local Rule 204).
- If the Register in Probate sends notice that the estate is delinquent in filing a probate-code document, a written response is due within 10 days. Without a response, the court may hold a status conference or issue an order to show cause (Local Rule 1701).
- An estate that stalls is not dismissed for inactivity under the local rule. Delay in disposition leads to appointment of a new personal representative and/or attorney (Local Rule 305).
Local nuance
Sheboygan County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for estate settlement |
|---|---|
| Two court counters | Probate filings go to the Register in Probate in Room 400 at (920) 459-3096. The Clerk of Circuit Court at (920) 459-3068 is a different office. |
| Filing channels | Use e-filing if required, mail, or in-person delivery. The county's pages say new case filings are not accepted by fax and filings are not accepted by email. |
| Caption and copies | Papers must show the case number and assigned branch in the caption, and filings should include enough copies for all parties (Local Rules 202, 210). |
| Delinquency notices | A written response is due within 10 days after a Register in Probate delinquency notice for a required probate document (Local Rule 1701). |
| Stalled estates | Delay in disposition leads to appointment of a new personal representative and/or attorney rather than dismissal (Local Rule 305). |
| Real estate recording | The Register of Deeds is in the Administration Building at 508 New York Avenue. As published in May 2026, recording is $30 per document under the statewide recording statute, and the office requires an electronic transfer return for real estate transfers and, effective May 1, 2025, a postage paid envelope for return of original documents (Wis. Stat. § 59.43(2)(ag)). |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| Sheboygan County Circuit Court Rules dated February 21, 2025 | The current local rules include Rule 17 on probate practice, the weekly probate hearing schedule, and the intake rotation that took effect January 29, 2024. |
| Register of Deeds return-envelope rule effective May 1, 2025 | The Sheboygan County Register of Deeds requires a postage paid envelope for return of original recorded documents. |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin statewide intake as of 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. |
Scenarios
| Scenario | Likely Sheboygan County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start by separating the estate side from the title side. The Register in Probate is in Room 400 at the courthouse. The Register of Deeds is in the Administration Building at 508 New York Avenue and publishes Termination of Decedent's Interest instructions and a Checklist for Surviving Spouse. For certain survivorship marital property or other interests, Wisconsin law may allow a register-of-deeds route rather than a court petition (Wis. Stat. § 867.046(2)). | Sunset identifies accounts and assets before filing, helps determine whether an administration is needed, and prepares the packet for the Room 400 counter when probate is required. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | You do not need to travel just to start. Sheboygan County filings can be e-filed if you opt in or are required to e-file, mailed to Room 400, or delivered in person. A self-represented filer may use traditional paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c)). If real estate is involved, the Register of Deeds has separate recording requirements. | Sunset finds accounts from wherever you live, organizes the estate settlement paperwork, and connects you with Wisconsin counsel if a dispute or hearing makes that useful. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale often points toward formal administration or attorney help. The court system's self-help guide says formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney, while informal administration may be granted without attorney assistance. Locally, hearings are set by notice, probate hearings are scheduled before the intake judge on Wednesday mornings under Local Rule 1801, and final real estate paperwork may need recording with the Register of Deeds. | Sunset helps build the asset picture, generates the probate packet, and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the sale and closing steps of the estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it gives | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Sheboygan County Register in Probate | Room 400, the direct probate phone line, the courthouse address, and links to statewide probate and guardianship forms. | https://www.sheboygancounty.com/departments/departments-a-e/circuit-court/register-in-probate |
| Sheboygan County Circuit Court Rules | Local rules dated February 21, 2025, including probate practice, hearing scheduling, case processing guidelines, and the rule for delayed estates. | https://www.wisbar.org/Directories/CourtRules/Wisconsin%20Circuit%20Court%20Rules/Sheboygan%20County%20Circuit%20Court%20Rules.pdf |
| Wisconsin Court System probate self-help page | The statewide probate self-help page, with links to forms, the informal administration guide, and county Register in Probate information. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | An 89-page court system self-help guide prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association for informal administration. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf |
| Circuit court probate forms | The statewide court-approved Wisconsin probate forms, including the PR forms used in informal administration, formal administration, transfer by affidavit, and closing. | https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/formcategory.jsp?Category=26 |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA | The statewide public search for Wisconsin circuit court cases, including Sheboygan County probate cases by name or case number. | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Sheboygan County Register of Deeds | The county office for recording real estate paperwork after a death, including Termination of Decedent's Interest instructions and a surviving-spouse checklist. | https://www.sheboygancounty.com/departments/departments-r-z/register-of-deeds/real-estate/termination-of-decedent-s-interest-ht-110-tod-110 |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents, with statewide intake at (855) 947-2529. | https://legalaction.org/ |
| Salvation Army legal clinic, Sheboygan | A free walk-in legal clinic listed by the county for the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 710 Pennsylvania Avenue, Sheboygan. Check the current time before going. | https://www.sheboygancounty.com/departments/departments-a-e/clerk-of-circuit-courts/legal-resources |
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 attorney assistance, and that summary settlement does not require attorney 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 Sheboygan County, counsel is especially useful when real estate must be sold, an heir objects, a claim is disputed, or a delinquency notice could lead to a show cause hearing under Local Rule 1701. Sunset connects you to a vetted local probate attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find bank accounts, investment accounts, insurance, retirement assets and other property that may affect the Sheboygan County estate settlement plan.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset organizes the information needed for the Wisconsin PR forms and helps assemble a filing packet for the Sheboygan County Register in Probate in Room 400.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs formal administration, a home sale, court hearings, disputed claims or help responding to a delinquency notice, Sunset connects the family with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools at no cost, including asset discovery, probate packet preparation and attorney matching.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Sheboygan County?
File with the Sheboygan County Register in Probate, Room 400, Sheboygan County Courthouse, 615 North 6th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081. The direct phone line is (920) 459-3096. Wisconsin places estate administration in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
Is the Register in Probate the same office as the Clerk of Circuit Court in Sheboygan County?
No. The Register in Probate handles probate cases, both formal and informal, and is in Room 400 at (920) 459-3096. The Clerk of Circuit Court is a separate county department at (920) 459-3068. An estate filing goes to the Register in Probate.
When is the Sheboygan County Register in Probate open?
The courthouse hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except published courthouse holidays. No separate probate filing cutoff is published, so call (920) 459-3096 before traveling close to the end of the day.
What day are probate hearings held in Sheboygan County?
The county's weekly court schedule sets probate hearings before the intake judge on Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. (Local Rule 1801). Intake rotates among the five branches on a four-week cycle (Local Rule 1803). The court's notice sets the actual date for any particular estate.
What does it cost to open an estate in Sheboygan County?
The estate fee is statewide. 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, 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 those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. The separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case where e-filing applies (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Can I mail a probate filing to Sheboygan County, or do I have to e-file?
Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must e-file (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a)). A self-represented filer may voluntarily register for e-filing but may also file, serve and receive paper documents by traditional methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c)). Sheboygan County filings can be mailed to the Register in Probate at Room 400, 615 North 6th Street, Sheboygan, WI 53081, or delivered in person. New case filings are not accepted by fax or email.
Does Sheboygan County have its own probate forms?
No local probate court packet, cover sheet or checklist is published for Sheboygan County. Use the statewide Wisconsin probate forms, including the PR series. The county's Register of Deeds does publish separate recording documents for real estate after a death, but those are not probate court forms.
Can I look up a Sheboygan County estate case online?
Yes. Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate cases, are searchable through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Do not rely on WCCA for document access. If you need a copy of a document, follow the local records request process and include the case number and the document you need.
How long does a Sheboygan County estate take, and what happens if it stalls?
Local Rule 301 lists 18 months from filing to final disposition as a case processing guideline for probate matters. That is a court management guideline, not a promise that a specific estate will take that long. If an estate stalls, Local Rule 305 says delay in disposition results in appointment of a new personal representative and/or attorney rather than dismissal.
Do I need a lawyer for a Sheboygan County estate?
The court system's self-help guide says formal administration requires the assistance of an attorney, informal administration may be granted without attorney assistance, and summary settlement does not require attorney assistance. In a Wisconsin court proceeding, a personal representative appears by attorney (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)). If the estate has a dispute, a home sale, a contested claim, or a Sheboygan County delinquency notice under Local Rule 1701, attorney help is especially important.
Where do I record paperwork for a house in Sheboygan County?
Use the Sheboygan County Register of Deeds, Administration Building, Room 218, 508 New York Avenue, Sheboygan, WI 53081, at (920) 459-3023. That is a different building from the courthouse. The office publishes requirements for death-related real estate recordings, including an electronic transfer return and, effective May 1, 2025, a postage paid envelope for return of original documents.
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.