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Taylor County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Taylor County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court for Taylor County |
| Filing office | Taylor County Register in Probate |
| Courthouse address | Taylor County Courthouse, 224 South Second Street, Medford, WI 54451 |
| Mailing address | Taylor County Courthouse, 224 South Second Street, Medford, WI 54451 |
| Phone | 715-748-1435 |
| Fax | 715-748-1524. Call before faxing time-sensitive papers. |
| Hours | Call the Taylor County Register in Probate before visiting to confirm current counter hours. |
| Estate fee | Through October 31, 2026, the statewide estate fee 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, payable when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 raises the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500; the 0.2 percent rate remains the same. |
| Local forms | Start with the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. Ask the Taylor County Register in Probate whether a Taylor County cover sheet or local form is needed for your filing. |
| E-filing | Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing. Self-represented parties may opt in or use traditional paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)). As of the July 13, 2026 Wisconsin fee tables, the e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7), unless waived. |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access for circuit court case lookup. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the Register in Probate or the court when a hearing is scheduled. |
| Website | Taylor County probate department page |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you file in Medford, make a working list of the decedent's assets, debts, real estate, beneficiary designations, and possible creditor issues. Wisconsin estate settlement choices depend on what is subject to administration, whether the will permits informal administration, whether everyone needed for consent agrees, and whether Taylor County real estate must be recorded with the Register of Deeds.
Sunset's 2,300-institution asset discovery can help identify accounts before you choose forms or ask the Taylor County Register in Probate about next steps. A clearer asset picture makes the estate settlement process easier to match to Wisconsin's informal administration, formal administration, transfer by affidavit, summary settlement, or summary assignment routes.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Circuit Court for Taylor County serves Taylor County from the courthouse in Medford. Probate filings go to the Taylor County Register in Probate at 224 South Second Street.
Wisconsin jurisdiction is county based. If the decedent was domiciled in Wisconsin, administration is in the county where the decedent was domiciled at death. If the decedent had no Wisconsin domicile, administration may be in a Wisconsin county where the decedent's property is located, and the court that first exercises jurisdiction has exclusive jurisdiction (Wis. Stat. § 856.01).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, will, beneficiaries, heirs, and any Taylor County real estate. This first inventory of facts helps you decide whether the estate settlement needs administration through the Circuit Court for Taylor County or a narrower Wisconsin route.
- Choose the Wisconsin form path. Informal administration commonly starts with PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration. Formal administration starts with PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration. Transfer by affidavit uses PR-1831 when the current Wis. Stat. § 867.03 gross-value test is met. Summary settlement and summary assignment use their own PR forms under Wis. Stat. § 867.01 and § 867.02.
- File with the Taylor County Register in Probate at the Taylor County Courthouse in Medford. If there is an original will, Wisconsin has a 30-day duty for the person holding it to file it with the proper court or deliver it to the person named to act as personal representative, depending on the circumstances (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)).
- Use e-filing only if it applies to you. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use Wisconsin circuit court e-filing; self-represented parties may opt in or use traditional paper filing and service methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)). As of the July 13, 2026 Wisconsin fee tables, the e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7), unless waived.
- Plan for the statewide estate fee at the inventory stage. Through October 31, 2026, the fee 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, payable when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500; the 0.2 percent rate remains the same.
- Give required notices. In an administration, the court or the probate registrar sets the creditor claim deadline by order at a date not less than three and not more than four months from the order date (Wis. Stat. § 859.01). Publication and any required agency notices must be handled under Wisconsin law.
- Attend any hearing the court sets. Taylor County hearing timing and remote appearance instructions should be confirmed with the Register in Probate when a hearing is scheduled.
- After appointment, use PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters, as the authority document for the personal representative in either informal or formal administration. The personal representative then collects property, pays proper claims and expenses, files the inventory, and handles distributions.
- Close the estate using the correct Wisconsin closing path. Informal administration may close by the personal representative's statement to close, PR-1816, with appointment terminating six months later if no challenge is pending (Wis. Stat. § 865.16(2)). Formal administration closes through court judgment and discharge forms. If a Taylor County real estate document must be recorded, follow through with the Taylor County Register of Deeds.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Taylor County
Wisconsin publishes statewide probate forms in the PR series through the circuit court forms site. Taylor County filers should start with those statewide forms and contact the Taylor County Register in Probate before filing to ask whether a Taylor County cover sheet or other local document is needed.
| Need | Common statewide form |
|---|---|
| Informal administration | PR-1801, Application for Informal Administration |
| Formal administration | PR-1901, Petition for Formal Administration |
| Proof of heirship | PR-1806, Proof of Heirship |
| Authority for the personal representative | PR-1810, Domiciliary Letters |
| Inventory | PR-1811, Inventory |
| Transfer by affidavit | PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit, used only when the Wis. Stat. § 867.03 requirements fit |
| Informal closing | PR-1816, Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate |
The Wisconsin Court System probate forms are at Category 26, Probate.
Local nuance
Taylor County-specific considerations
| Local point | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Taylor County land records are in the same courthouse building | The Taylor County Register of Deeds is listed at 224 South 2nd Street, 2nd Floor, Medford, with hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. If an estate settlement produces a court order, certificate, affidavit, or abridgment that must be recorded against Taylor County real estate, plan the courthouse visit around both offices. |
| Probate counter hours should be checked before visiting | Use the direct Register in Probate number, 715-748-1435, before traveling to Medford, especially if you need to deliver an original will or ask about a filing that may need immediate review. |
Recent updates
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Taylor County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | Start by checking how the Taylor County home is titled and whether the asset passes outside administration. Wisconsin marital property and survivorship concepts can affect whether a court filing, a Register of Deeds filing, or a full administration is needed. | Sunset helps collect the asset picture, flag real estate follow-through, and connect the spouse with a probate attorney if title or marital property questions need legal advice. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | As of August 2026, transfer by affidavit may fit if property subject to administration in Wisconsin does not exceed $50,000 in gross value and the signer is within the closed list in Wis. Stat. § 867.03. If Wisconsin medical assistance or long-term care benefits are involved, the Department of Health Services notice step matters. | Sunset helps look for accounts before the child travels to Medford, organize the PR-1831 information, and identify when a Taylor County filing or attorney conversation is safer. |
| Parent settling a predeceased child's estate when a home must be sold | If the home is still in the child's name and must be sold, the parent may need administration through the Circuit Court for Taylor County, followed by recording any required real estate document with the Taylor County Register of Deeds. | Sunset helps build the estate settlement checklist, generate the probate packet, and connect the parent with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney for the sale and court steps. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Court System self-help law center, probate | Statewide probate overview, forms links, and public self-help materials. | Probate self-help |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Court-hosted guide prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association for informal administration. | Informal estate administration guide |
| Circuit court probate forms, Category 26 | Statewide PR probate forms for informal administration, formal administration, transfer by affidavit, summary settlement, summary assignment, and related filings. | Probate forms |
| Wisconsin Circuit Court Access | Statewide circuit court case lookup, including probate case types. | WCCA |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents. Intake decides whether help is available for the problem. | Legal Action of Wisconsin, 855-947-2529 |
| Wisconsin State Law Library, Taylor County legal resources | County legal-resource page maintained by the State Law Library. | Taylor County legal resources |
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, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association, states that formal administration requires an attorney's assistance, while informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance and summary settlement does not require an attorney's assistance. Counsel makes sense when family members disagree, a home must be sold, creditor or medical-assistance issues are present, or the case shifts from informal to formal proceedings. Sunset connects families to a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across institutions and helps families turn scattered financial clues into a working asset list. That gives the Taylor County estate settlement a clearer starting point before forms are chosen.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps organize the information needed for Wisconsin PR forms, including interested persons, asset details, debts, and the documents that support the filing.
Find a local probate attorney. When the matter needs formal administration, a home sale, a dispute, or legal advice, Sunset connects families with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney who can handle Taylor County court requirements.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate, find assets, and get matched with help without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate in Taylor County?
File probate papers with the Taylor County Register in Probate at the Taylor County Courthouse, 224 South Second Street, Medford, WI 54451. Call 715-748-1435 before visiting to confirm current counter hours and delivery instructions.
What is the direct phone number for the Taylor County Register in Probate?
The direct Taylor County Register in Probate number is 715-748-1435. Use that number for probate filing questions, original will delivery questions, and current counter-hour questions.
Does Taylor County require e-filing for probate?
Wisconsin circuit court e-filing applies statewide. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use e-filing, while self-represented parties may opt in or use traditional paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)). As of the July 13, 2026 Wisconsin fee tables, the e-filing fee is $35 per party per case under Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m) and § 801.18(7), unless waived.
What probate forms do I use in Taylor County?
Start with the statewide Wisconsin PR forms in Category 26. Common forms include PR-1801 for informal administration, PR-1901 for formal administration, PR-1810 for Domiciliary Letters, PR-1811 for the inventory, and PR-1831 for transfer by affidavit when Wis. Stat. § 867.03 fits. Ask the Taylor County Register in Probate whether any Taylor County cover sheet or local form is needed.
How much is the estate fee in Taylor County?
The fee is statewide, not set by Taylor County. Through October 31, 2026, the estate fee 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, payable when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 and the threshold to $18,500; the 0.2 percent rate remains the same.
Can I use transfer by affidavit for a Taylor County estate?
As of August 2026, transfer by affidavit may be available when the decedent's property subject to administration in Wisconsin does not exceed $50,000 in gross value and the signer fits the closed list in Wis. Stat. § 867.03. It is not a Taylor County court filing in the ordinary sense, but real property requires recording with the Register of Deeds in the county where the real property is located, and medical-assistance notice can be required.
Will Taylor County set a hearing?
It depends on the Wisconsin path and the papers filed. Informal administration is handled administratively before the probate registrar unless a formal proceeding is demanded or otherwise required. Formal administration is a court proceeding. If a hearing is set, ask the Taylor County Register in Probate how notice, attendance, and any remote appearance request should be handled.
Can I look up a Taylor County probate case online?
Wisconsin circuit court case information is searched through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access. Probate case types are part of the circuit court system, but the case lookup should not be treated as a substitute for the court file or for copies from the Register in Probate.
Do I have to travel to Medford to handle a Taylor County estate?
Not always. If you live outside Taylor County, call the Register in Probate before traveling to ask which papers can be mailed, how the original will should be delivered, and what to do if a hearing is scheduled. If Taylor County real estate must be recorded, the Taylor County Register of Deeds may also be part of the closing steps.
Do I need an attorney for Taylor County probate?
A personal representative appears by attorney in a Wisconsin court proceeding (Wis. Stat. § 879.15(2)). The Wisconsin Court System's self-help guide states that formal administration requires an attorney's assistance, while informal administration may be granted without an attorney's assistance and summary settlement does not require an attorney's assistance. If the estate is contested, needs formal administration, or involves a home sale, speak with a Wisconsin probate attorney.
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.