Back to Wisconsin
St. Croix County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | St. Croix County details |
|---|---|
| Court | The Circuit Court for St. Croix County. File estate papers with the St. Croix County Register in Probate. |
| Courthouse address | St. Croix County Government Center, 1101 Carmichael Road, Suite 1522, Hudson, WI 54016. |
| Mailing address | Mail to the same street address: St. Croix County Register in Probate, 1101 Carmichael Road, Suite 1522, Hudson, WI 54016. |
| Phone | 715-386-4619 for the St. Croix County Register in Probate. The clerk of circuit court is a separate office in Suite 1520. |
| Fax | 715-381-4318 for the St. Croix County Register in Probate. Under Local Rule 803.02.1 a document that needs an original signature may be faxed only to show the court that the document is complete, and the original must still be filed, so call 715-386-4619 before sending anything by fax. |
| Hours | 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, closed on county 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 it is more, payable when the inventory is filed in an administration (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises those figures to $36 and $18,500; the 0.2 percent rate does not change. |
| Local forms | No separate county probate form replaces the statewide PR forms. St. Croix County publishes local probate procedure guidelines that tell you which statewide forms to use. |
| E-filing | Mandatory for attorneys and high-volume filing agents. Self-represented filers may opt in voluntarily or use 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: https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. St. Croix County points readers there to see whether a will has been filed or a probate has been started. |
| Remote appearance | Videoconferencing may be permitted at the court's discretion under Local Rule 217. Telephone motion hearings are arranged under Local Rule 216.01. |
| Website | Register in Probate: https://www.sccwi.gov/379/Register-in-Probate. County probate guidance: https://www.sccwi.gov/382/Probate. |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in St. Croix County, build a working list of probate assets, debts, liens, real estate, beneficiary designations, and known creditors. Wisconsin's estate fee is based on the value of property subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, and in St. Croix County the inventory is due no later than four months after Domiciliary Letters are issued, so the asset picture drives both the paperwork and the cost of estate settlement.
St. Croix County's opening papers are concrete: the original will and any codicil, the statewide PR forms named in the county guideline for the route you are using, and a call to 715-386-4619 when the papers are ready because an appointment is recommended. Sunset searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they choose the estate settlement path or prepare the Hudson filing packet.
Which court handles jurisdiction
File a St. Croix County estate in Hudson when the decedent was domiciled in St. Croix County at death. Wisconsin places jurisdiction for administration in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death; if the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, administration may proceed 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).
The county's own municipal lists include the cities of Glenwood City, Hudson, New Richmond, and River Falls, and the villages of Baldwin, Deer Park, Hammond, North Hudson, Roberts, Somerset, Spring Valley, Star Prairie, Wilson, and Woodville. The county also includes towns, and an estate for a decedent domiciled anywhere in St. Croix County is filed at the Register in Probate counter in Hudson.
Several useful estate counters are in the same building but not the same office: the Register in Probate is in Suite 1522, the clerk of circuit court is in Suite 1520, the circuit court is in Suite 1600, the Register of Deeds is in Suite 1215, and the County Clerk is also in the Government Center.
The jurisdiction process
- Confirm that St. Croix County is the right county. Use the county where the decedent was domiciled at death, or, for a non-Wisconsin domiciliary, a Wisconsin county where the decedent left property (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
- Find the original will and any codicil. Wisconsin requires the person holding a will to file it with the proper court after learning of the death, and St. Croix County's Local Rule 805.01 says only original wills are accepted for filing. The county's Probate page says the original will and any original codicil go with the opening papers.
- Choose the county guideline that fits the route. St. Croix County publishes separate procedure guidelines for informal administration, summary settlement, and summary assignment. The guidelines supplement the statewide PR forms and do not replace them.
- Prepare the opening PR forms. For informal administration, the county guideline lists PR-1801, PR-1806, PR-1803, PR-1804 or PR-1805, PR-1807, PR-1808, PR-1810, and the original will and codicils when there is a will. For formal administration, use the statewide formal forms, including PR-1901.
- Call the St. Croix County Register in Probate before the first filing. The office is at 1101 Carmichael Road, Suite 1522, Hudson, WI 54016, phone 715-386-4619. The county's own guideline recommends an appointment when papers are ready, and Local Rule 803.01 says probate subject matter documents are filed at the Register in Probate office unless filed with the court at a hearing.
- Use e-filing only if it fits your status. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents must e-file. A self-represented filer may register and opt in voluntarily, or may file, serve, and receive paper documents by traditional methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). The separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
- Pay the estate fee at the right time. In an administration, the fee is paid when the inventory or other document setting out the net value is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3). Through October 31, 2026, it is $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above that value (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises those figures to $36 and $18,500, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. On the St. Croix County summary paths, the county guidelines say the statutory fee is due with the opening papers or petition.
- Publish and mail notices when required. The court or probate registrar sets the creditor claim deadline by order at a date not less than three nor more than four months from the order date (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). St. Croix County's guidelines direct the filer to deliver the notice to the newspaper, file the proof of publication, and, where medical assistance or long-term care benefits are involved, mail the probate claims notice to the County Clerk and by certified mail to the Department of Health Services estate recovery program section.
- Attend or waive the hearing when the rules allow. The probate calendar is the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. (Local Rule 804.01). A hearing is not required when waivers are filed by the interested parties; hearings are held if notice is required, if the estate attorney or personal representative requests one, or if the court requires one (Local Rule 805.05).
- Use Domiciliary Letters as the authority document. After appointment and qualification, the personal representative receives Domiciliary Letters, PR-1810, for both informal and formal administration.
- Administer, inventory, account, and close. In St. Croix County, the inventory is due no later than four months after Domiciliary Letters are issued (Local Rule 805.08). The county expects an estate to be disposed of within twelve months of the opening filing, with extensions requested by petition and proposed order (Local Rules 805.11, 805.12, 809.01). Closing locally also requires the Wisconsin closing certificate for fiduciaries, signed receipts, and documentation that residual beneficiaries or heirs were advised of personal representative and attorney fees (Local Rules 805.09, 805.10).
Executor duties
Wisconsin calls the person appointed to administer an estate the personal representative. St. Croix County adds several local duties and expectations to the statewide administration tasks:
| Local duty | What St. Croix County requires |
|---|---|
| Residency for appointment | Only Wisconsin residents may be appointed personal representative unless the court, in its discretion, permits a nonresident nominee. If permitted, the nonresident must have a resident agent and post a bond in an amount determined by the court (Local Rule 805.04). |
| Inventory timing | The inventory is due no later than four months after Domiciliary Letters are issued, with the statutory fee paid at that time (Local Rule 805.08). |
| Claim monitoring | The county's informal guideline tells the personal representative to check the court record for claims, obtain copies when needed, and resolve filed claims before closing. |
| Objections to claims | An objection to a claim must be in writing. After the court sets a hearing, the personal representative or estate attorney sends notice of the objection and hearing to interested parties (Local Rule 805.07). |
| Closing certificate and receipts | Before closing, St. Croix County requires a Wisconsin closing certificate for fiduciaries, and a federal estate tax closing letter where the estate met the standard to file a federal estate tax return. The county also requires signed receipts from heirs or beneficiaries and documentation that residual beneficiaries or heirs were advised of personal representative and attorney fees (Local Rules 805.09, 805.10). |
| Extension to close | If the estate cannot be closed within the county's required time, file a petition explaining the reasons and submit a proposed order. The court reviews each request individually (Local Rule 805.11). |
Forms and documents
Probate forms in St. Croix County
Probate forms in St. Croix County are the statewide, court-approved PR forms from the Wisconsin Court System's probate forms category. The county publishes procedure guidelines for informal administration, summary settlement, and summary assignment, but those guidelines walk you through the statewide forms rather than replacing them. Local Rule 810.02 says the local guidance does not take the place of the standard statewide forms created under Wis. Stat. § 758.18.
| Need | Where to start | St. Croix County note |
|---|---|---|
| Informal administration | PR-1801, PR-1806, PR-1803, PR-1804 or PR-1805, PR-1807, PR-1808, PR-1810, and the original will and codicils when applicable. | The county's informal guideline recommends an appointment when papers are ready and lists the later inventory, account, receipt, and closing forms. |
| Formal administration | PR-1901 and the statewide formal administration forms. | The county's Probate page states that in formal administration the personal representative appears in court by attorney. |
| Summary settlement | PR-1835, PR-1846, PR-1836 when needed, and PR-1837 for the order. | The county guideline says to telephone the Register in Probate office to make an appointment for filing the documents. |
| Summary assignment | PR-1840, PR-1806, PR-1846, PR-1842 or PR-1843, PR-1841 when additional property or creditors are found, and PR-1844 for the order. | Local Rule 805.02 requires proof of heirship with all opening papers for summary settlement and summary assignment. |
| Copies and packets | Statewide forms are online through the Wisconsin Court System. The county guideline also says a packet of forms may be purchased from the Register in Probate office. | No packet price is published. Call 715-386-4619 before relying on a packet for a first filing. |
Fees
| Charge | Amount | Where it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Register in Probate certification and copies | Through October 31, 2026, $3 for each certification under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(g), plus $1 per page copied and compared under Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(h)1. Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises the certification charge to $10; the $1 per page copy charge is unchanged. | The county's probate guidelines say a mail request should include a self-addressed stamped envelope and the correct fee, and that the fee must be paid before certified copies are provided. |
| Register of Deeds recording | $30 per document, regardless of page count except plats, as published by the St. Croix County Register of Deeds in August 2026. | Used when real estate paperwork is recorded after a transfer by affidavit under Wis. Stat. § 867.03, a summary settlement order under Wis. Stat. § 867.01, a summary assignment order under Wis. Stat. § 867.02, a summary confirmation certificate under Wis. Stat. § 867.046, or a formal administration abridgment of final judgment. |
| Certified copy of a recorded document | $2 for the first page, $1 for each additional page, plus $1 to certify, as published by the St. Croix County Register of Deeds in August 2026. | Useful after recording real estate documents tied to estate settlement. |
| Certified death certificate | $20 for the first copy plus $3 for each additional copy in the same order, as published by the St. Croix County Register of Deeds in August 2026. | Often needed by banks, insurers and title companies before they will release or retitle a decedent's property, and useful to have in hand before the first estate filing. |
Timeline
- Before filing: Call the St. Croix County Register in Probate at 715-386-4619 when the opening papers are ready. The county's informal guideline says an appointment is recommended, and its summary settlement guideline says to telephone the office to make one.
- Hearing calendar: The probate calendar is the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and the Register in Probate office schedules probate cases on that calendar (Local Rule 804.01). Do not assume every estate needs a hearing, because Local Rule 805.05 says a hearing is not required when waivers are filed by the interested parties.
- Inventory: In St. Croix County, the inventory is due no later than four months after Domiciliary Letters are issued, with the statutory fee due then (Local Rule 805.08). Wisconsin's statewide outside date is no later than six months after appointment unless the court changes the time by order (Wis. Stat. § 858.01).
- Closing benchmark: St. Croix County expects an estate to be disposed of within twelve months from the date the petition or application to open the estate is filed. If more time is needed, file a petition explaining why and submit a proposed order for the court's review (Local Rules 805.11, 805.12, 809.01).
Local nuance
St. Croix County-specific considerations
| Local point | What to do in St. Croix County |
|---|---|
| Separate probate counter | Use the Register in Probate in Suite 1522, not the clerk of circuit court in Suite 1520. Local Rule 803.01 sends probate subject matter documents to the Register in Probate office unless filed with the court at a hearing. |
| Original will rule | Local Rule 805.01 says only original wills are accepted for filing. A will that is not going to be the subject of a probate proceeding is filed with an affidavit under Local Rule 805.01.1. |
| Summary path opening papers | Local Rule 805.02 requires proof of heirship with all opening papers for summary settlement and summary assignment. |
| Hearing waiver | Local Rule 805.05 says a hearing is not required when waivers are filed by the interested parties. Hearings are held if notice is required, if requested by the estate attorney or personal representative, or if required by the court. |
| Assignment of files | Local Rule 212.06 says probate files are assigned between the branches by the Register in Probate. Once a judge presides over a contested issue in a probate file, the case stays with that judge until final disposition. |
| Proposed orders | Local Rule 206.01 says proposed orders are held for at least five days after receipt, and may be signed as submitted if no objection is received. |
| Remote requests | Local Rule 217 allows videoconferencing in civil cases and special proceedings at the court's discretion. Local Rule 216.01 governs telephone motion hearings. |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| September 2023 | St. Croix County's informal probate guideline was revised and remains the county's step-by-step guidance for opening, administering, and closing an informal administration, alongside the county's summary settlement and summary assignment guidelines. |
| 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 | Likely St. Croix County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with the St. Croix County Register in Probate in Suite 1522, but also expect to use the Register of Deeds in Suite 1215 if title needs to be cleared or recorded. Wisconsin has a summary confirmation route for certain property interests, including survivorship marital property, and the register of deeds counter can be part of that process (Wis. Stat. § 867.046). If an administration is needed, Local Rule 805.05 allows a hearing to be avoided when the interested parties file waivers. | Sunset identifies accounts and property first, then helps the spouse see whether a court administration is needed and assembles the packet for the Hudson counter. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Call 715-386-4619 before preparing the first filing. Local Rule 805.04 says only Wisconsin residents may be appointed personal representative unless the court permits a nonresident nominee, who must then have a resident agent and post a bond in an amount the court determines. The county publishes guidelines for summary settlement and summary assignment, and a self-represented filer may use paper methods rather than e-filing (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(b), (c)). | Sunset searches for accounts remotely, builds the county packet, and connects the family with a Wisconsin probate attorney when the residency rule, a hearing, or a dispute makes counsel the faster route. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | A sale often points toward formal administration, and St. Croix County's Probate page states that in formal administration the personal representative must appear in court by attorney. Locally, file the original will and any codicil, use the probate calendar for hearings when needed, expect proposed orders to be held at least five days for objections, and plan for the closing certificate, receipts, fee disclosure documentation, and real estate recording at the Register of Deeds. | Sunset organizes 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 | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| St. Croix County Register in Probate https://www.sccwi.gov/379/Register-in-Probate | Office address, suite, phone, fax, hours, e-filing notice, and the county's statement that staff cannot give legal advice. | Use it for current contact information and call 715-386-4619 when the opening papers are ready. |
| St. Croix County probate procedure guidelines https://www.sccwi.gov/382/Probate | County guidelines for informal administration, summary settlement, and summary assignment, with form lists and local steps. | Choose the guideline for the route you are using, then prepare the statewide PR forms it names. |
| St. Croix County Circuit Court Rules https://www.wisbar.org/Directories/CourtRules/Wisconsin%20Circuit%20Court%20Rules/St%20Croix%20County%20Circuit%20Court%20Rules.pdf | Local rules on filing probate documents, hearing scheduling, original wills, inventory timing, residency for personal representatives, closing requirements, and remote appearance. | Use Part 8 for probate practice and call the Register in Probate if a rule affects your first filing. |
| St. Croix Valley Bar Association free legal clinic https://www.sccwi.gov/300/Free-Legal-Clinic | A free virtual clinic on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. Subject areas vary by month and have included estate and real estate matters. | Use it for basic information from volunteer attorneys, not for guaranteed representation or guaranteed estate advice every month. |
| A Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/docs/probateguide.pdf | An 89-page Wisconsin Court System guide prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association for informal administration. | Use it to understand the informal track and the difference between informal and formal administration. |
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm | Statewide probate information, forms links, the county Register in Probate directory, and the informal administration guide. | Use it for statewide background before applying the St. Croix County guidelines. |
| Circuit court probate forms https://www.wicourts.gov/forms1/circuit/ccform.jsp?Category=26&SubCat=All | The statewide PR form set for informal administration, formal administration, and the summary paths. | Use Category 26 for probate forms. |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ | Public case search for Wisconsin circuit court cases, including probate case types. | Use it to look up a St. Croix County estate by name or case number. Do not rely on it for document access. |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin https://legalaction.org/ | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents, with statewide intake at 855-947-2529. | Use the intake to ask whether the organization can help with your civil legal issue. Estate administration help is not promised. |
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, 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 informal administration guide states that formal administration requires an attorney's assistance, that informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance, and that summary settlement does not require an attorney's assistance; St. Croix County's Probate page also states that in formal administration the personal representative must appear in court by attorney. Summary settlement and summary assignment carry their own express right to appear in person (Wis. Stat. § 867.01(5), § 867.02(5)). In St. Croix 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 and Local Rule 805.04 is in play. Sunset connects families with 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 so families can identify bank accounts, investment accounts, retirement accounts, insurance, and other assets before choosing a probate path in St. Croix County.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset turns the asset picture and family information into an organized probate packet using the statewide Wisconsin PR forms and the St. Croix County guideline for the route that fits.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs formal administration, a sale of real estate, a response to objections, or help with the county's nonresident personal representative rule, Sunset can connect the family to a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Sunset helps families move from uncertainty to a clear estate settlement plan without charging families to search for assets, prepare the packet, or connect with counsel.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in St. Croix County?
File with the St. Croix County Register in Probate at the St. Croix County Government Center, 1101 Carmichael Road, Suite 1522, Hudson, WI 54016. Local Rule 803.01 says probate subject matter documents are filed at the Register in Probate office unless they are filed with the court at the time of a hearing.
What is the phone number for the St. Croix County Register in Probate?
Call 715-386-4619. The clerk of circuit court is a separate office in the same building at 715-386-4630, so use the Register in Probate number for estate filings, probate guidelines, and appointment questions.
Do I need an appointment to file probate papers in St. Croix County?
An appointment is recommended. The county's informal guideline recommends an appointment when papers are ready, and its summary settlement guideline says to telephone the Register in Probate office to make an appointment for filing the documents. The county's own wording is that an appointment is recommended, so call 715-386-4619 when the papers are ready and ask what the office wants with a first filing.
When is the St. Croix County probate calendar?
The probate calendar is the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., and the Register in Probate office schedules probate cases on that calendar (Local Rule 804.01). A hearing is not required when waivers are filed by the interested parties (Local Rule 805.05), so the calendar does not mean every estate has a hearing.
What does it cost to open an estate in St. Croix 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 it is more, paid when the inventory is filed in an administration (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises those figures to $36 and $18,500; the 0.2 percent rate does not change. If the case is e-filed, the separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Does St. Croix County have its own probate forms or instructions?
The forms are the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. St. Croix County's local material is guidance: the county publishes procedure guidelines for informal administration, summary settlement, and summary assignment, and Local Rule 810.02 says local guidance does not replace the statewide forms created under Wis. Stat. § 758.18.
When is the inventory due in a St. Croix County estate?
Local Rule 805.08 requires the inventory no later than four months after Domiciliary Letters are issued, with the statutory fee due then. Wisconsin's statewide outside date is no later than six months after appointment unless the court changes the time by order (Wis. Stat. § 858.01). St. Croix County also expects an estate to be disposed of within twelve months of the opening filing, with extensions requested by petition and proposed order (Local Rules 805.11, 805.12, 809.01).
Can an out-of-state person serve as personal representative in St. Croix County?
Local Rule 805.04 says only Wisconsin residents may be appointed personal representative unless the court, in its discretion, permits a nonresident nominee. If the court permits it, the nonresident must have a resident agent and post a bond in an amount determined by the court.
Can I appear remotely in a St. Croix County probate hearing?
Possibly, if the court permits it. Local Rule 217 allows videoconferencing consistent with Wisconsin's videoconferencing statutes, and Local Rule 217.04 says the court may permit it in a civil case or special proceeding on its own motion or at a party's request. Local Rule 216.01 covers telephone motion hearings. Ask the court before assuming a remote appearance is available for a particular hearing.
Can I look up a St. Croix County estate case online?
Yes. Use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. St. Croix County's own pages point readers there to see whether a will has been filed or whether a probate has been started. Do not assume the search provides access to every document.
Is there free legal help for an estate in St. Croix County?
The St. Croix Valley Bar Association free legal clinic runs virtually on the third Wednesday of each month from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., and subject areas have included estate and real estate matters. Availability varies by month. Legal Action of Wisconsin also provides free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents at 855-947-2529, but estate administration help is not promised.
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.