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Winnebago County, WI Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Winnebago County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Circuit Court for Winnebago County |
| Probate filing office | Winnebago County Register in Probate, Room 242 |
| Courthouse address | Winnebago County Courthouse, 415 Jackson Street, Room 242, Oshkosh, WI 54903 |
| Mailing address | Winnebago County Register in Probate, P.O. Box 2808, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2808 |
| Phone | (920) 236-4833 |
| Fax | (920) 424-7536 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The office is closed from noon to 1 p.m. |
| Estate fee | Through October 31, 2026, $20 where the value subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value above $10,000, 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 the minimum to $36 at $18,500 or less, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. |
| Local probate forms | No county-specific probate forms are published. Winnebago County directs probate filers to the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. |
| E-filing | Required 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 separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case as of August 2026 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Case search | Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, WCCA, at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Winnebago County also provides WCCA access on three public terminals in the Clerk of Courts Office, Room 110. |
| Remote appearance | Winnebago County publishes no probate-specific remote appearance procedure. Use the statewide request form and ask the Register in Probate at (920) 236-4833 how to submit it. |
| County probate page | https://www.winnebagocountywi.gov/474/Probate |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Winnebago County probate path, make a complete list of the decedent's assets, debts, account titles, beneficiary designations and real estate. A co-owned home in Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Omro, Fox Crossing or Winneconne may point you first to the Register of Deeds, while accounts in the decedent's name alone may require a filing with the Register in Probate.
Sunset's estate settlement platform searches more than 2,300 financial institutions to help families find accounts and assets before they file. That asset picture helps you decide what belongs in the Winnebago County packet, what may pass outside probate, and what has to be recorded at 112 Otter Avenue after the court work is done.
Which court handles jurisdiction
Winnebago County has one probate filing counter: the Winnebago County Register in Probate in Room 242 at the Winnebago County Courthouse, 415 Jackson Street, Oshkosh. The Circuit Court for Winnebago County is a single-county circuit with six numbered branches at the same courthouse, but the county does not publish a fixed probate branch.
The Oshkosh probate counter serves estates for decedents domiciled in Winnebago County, including Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha, Omro, Fox Crossing, Winneconne and the county's towns. Parts of Menasha and Appleton cross county lines, so an address in either city does not by itself determine the correct county.
Wisconsin places a proceeding for 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).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the assets, debts, will, interested persons and county of domicile. If the decedent lived in a part of Menasha or Appleton near the county line, confirm whether the domicile was in Winnebago County before filing.
- Choose the Wisconsin path that fits the estate. Informal administration opens with the probate registrar under Wis. Stat. ch. 865, while formal administration goes before the court. If real estate was held as a joint tenancy, life estate, survivorship marital property or similar interest, check whether a Register of Deeds recording step may be available before opening a court administration.
- Prepare the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. Winnebago County publishes no county-specific probate forms and directs filers to the statewide forms. Common opening forms include PR-1801 for informal administration and PR-1901 for formal administration.
- File with the Winnebago County Register in Probate in Room 242 at 415 Jackson Street, Oshkosh, or mail the packet to P.O. Box 2808, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2808. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Handle e-filing if it applies. Attorneys and high-volume filing agents file electronically. A self-represented filer 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 as of August 2026 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
- File the original will when required. Wisconsin requires the person holding the will, or the person named to act as personal representative, to file it within 30 days after the required knowledge of death and nomination exists, unless it has already been deposited with the court (Wis. Stat. § 856.05(1)). Ask the Register in Probate how the office wants the original delivered.
- Wait for the claim deadline order and published notice. In a formal administration the court sets the claim-filing deadline; in an informal administration the probate registrar sets it. The date must be not less than three and not more than four months from the date of the order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01).
- Schedule any required hearing through the probate office. Winnebago County local rules say the court provides dates to the probate office and individual hearings are scheduled through that office. Uncontested formal administration, termination of life estate, termination of joint tenancy, summary settlement and summary assignment proceedings are conducted by a circuit court commissioner; contested probate proceedings are assigned to a judge by random draw.
- Request remote appearance only if needed. Winnebago County publishes no probate-specific remote procedure, so use the statewide request form and ask the Register in Probate at (920) 236-4833 how the court wants the request submitted.
- After appointment, use Domiciliary Letters, PR-1810, as the personal representative's authority document. 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). Through October 31, 2026, the estate fee is $20 at $10,000 or less and 0.2 percent above $10,000, 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.
- Administer, distribute and close the estate. Winnebago County local rules state that informal and formal cases should be closed within twelve months and that special and summary administration should be closed within six months. Record any real estate documents with the Winnebago County Register of Deeds at 112 Otter Avenue, Room 108.
Executor duties
Local duties in Winnebago County mostly come from where the work has to happen. Real estate steps are often outside the courthouse: recording an abridgment of final judgment, a summary settlement or summary assignment order, a transfer affecting Winnebago County real estate, or a termination of a decedent's interest is handled by the Winnebago County Register of Deeds at 112 Otter Avenue, Room 108.
Winnebago County local rules also set local expectations. Informal and formal cases should be closed within twelve months, and special and summary administration should be closed within six months. Any order page submitted for signature must include the case name and number, or the judicial officer may decline to sign it.
For in-person filing, plan for the courthouse's screening process, the noon to 1 p.m. closure at the probate office, the prohibition on backpacks and large bags, and the absence of a self-service photocopier in the courthouse.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Winnebago County
Winnebago County publishes no county-specific probate forms. Its probate page states that standard statewide forms are required by Wisconsin circuit courts for probate cases and links to the statewide Wisconsin PR form set.
| Form | Use |
|---|---|
| PR-1801 | Application for Informal Administration |
| PR-1803 | Waiver and Consent for informal administration |
| PR-1806 | Proof of Heirship for informal and formal administration |
| PR-1807 | Consent to Serve |
| PR-1810 | Domiciliary Letters for informal and formal administration |
| PR-1811 | Inventory |
| PR-1816 | Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate for informal administration |
| PR-1901 | Petition for Formal Administration |
| PR-1926 | Petition for Termination of Joint Tenancy or Life Estate under Wis. Stat. § 867.04 |
| PR-1928 | Petition for Summary Confirmation of Interest in Property under Wis. Stat. § 867.046(1m) |
The Winnebago County Register of Deeds also publishes a separate Termination of Decedent's Interest application for recording certain real estate terminations and confirmations at 112 Otter Avenue. That is a register of deeds document, not a court probate form.
Fees
The Winnebago County Register of Deeds and the courthouse publish the charges below, as published by the office in August 2026. These charges are separate from the statewide estate fee collected under Wis. Stat. § 814.66. The $30 recording fee is the flat Wisconsin recording fee the Register of Deeds publishes, which the office attributes to Wisconsin Act 314 (2010) and which applies regardless of the number of pages.
| Charge | Amount | Where it matters in an estate |
|---|---|---|
| Recording a real estate document | $30, as published by the office in August 2026 | Recording a termination of a decedent's interest, an abridgment of final judgment, a summary order, or another real estate document with the Winnebago County Register of Deeds. |
| Copies of recorded documents | $2 for the first page, $1 for each additional page, and $1 for a certificate if a certified copy is requested, as published by the office in August 2026 | Getting copies of deeds or recorded estate documents from the Register of Deeds. |
| Certified death certificate | $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy ordered at the same time, as published by the office in August 2026 | Obtaining death certificates from the Register of Deeds before dealing with accounts, real estate, or court filings. |
| Courthouse copies for a filing | $0.25 per page, as published by the office in August 2026 | The courthouse states there is no self-service photocopier, so bring copies or expect staff-made copies for a filing to be charged per page. |
Timeline
- File the opening papers with the Winnebago County Register in Probate in Room 242 at 415 Jackson Street, or mail them to P.O. Box 2808, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2808. If filing in person, arrive before noon or after 1 p.m.
- If the matter needs a hearing, the court provides dates to the probate office and the individual hearing is scheduled through that office. Call (920) 236-4833 about scheduling.
- Under Winnebago County local rules, uncontested formal administration, termination of life estate, termination of joint tenancy, summary settlement and summary assignment proceedings are conducted by a circuit court commissioner. A contested probate proceeding is assigned to a judge by random draw among the six circuit court branches.
- The claim-filing deadline is set by order at a date not less than three and not more than four months from the date of the order, by the court in a formal administration and by the probate registrar in an informal administration (Wis. Stat. § 859.01).
- The inventory is due within a reasonable time and no later than six months after appointment unless the court changes the time (Wis. Stat. § 858.01). The estate fee is paid when the inventory is filed (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)3).
- Winnebago County local rules state that informal and formal cases should be closed within twelve months and that special and summary administration should be closed within six months. These are the court's local expectations, not statutory deadlines.
- After any real estate order or transfer document is ready for recording, take it to the Winnebago County Register of Deeds at 112 Otter Avenue, Room 108.
Local nuance
Winnebago County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Winnebago County estate |
|---|---|
| Two counters, one courthouse | The Register in Probate is in Room 242 with phone (920) 236-4833. The clerk of courts is on the 1st Floor with a different phone. Probate filings go to Room 242. |
| Midday closure | The Register in Probate is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-in filings need to arrive before noon or after 1 p.m. |
| Who hears the matter | A circuit court commissioner conducts all uncontested formal administration, termination of life estate, termination of joint tenancy, summary settlement and summary assignment proceedings. A contested probate proceeding is assigned to a judge by random draw. |
| Local closing expectations | The local rules say informal and formal cases should be closed within twelve months and special and summary administration should be closed within six months. |
| Hearings | The court provides hearing dates to the probate office, and individual hearings are scheduled through that office. Call (920) 236-4833 about a date. |
| Orders | The page of an order submitted for signature must include the case name and number, or the judicial officer may decline to sign it. |
| Forms | Winnebago County publishes no probate forms of its own. Use the statewide Wisconsin PR forms. |
| Register of Deeds | The Register of Deeds is at 112 Otter Avenue, Room 108, not at the courthouse. That office records real estate documents and issues death certificates. |
| Case access at the courthouse | WCCA is available on three public access terminals in the Clerk of Courts Office, Room 110, with space for one person per terminal. |
| Online access for a party | The county states that many case files are accessible online to unrepresented parties on the case after creating an e-filing account and opting in, for the $35 e-filing fee as of August 2026 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)). |
| Screening and copies | Everyone entering the courthouse is screened. Backpacks and large bags are prohibited, and there is no self-service photocopier in the courthouse. |
| Menasha and Appleton addresses | Parts of Menasha and Appleton lie inside Winnebago County and parts lie outside it. File where the decedent was domiciled at death (Wis. Stat. § 856.01). |
Recent updates
| Date | Update |
|---|---|
| October 30, 2023 | Winnebago County Circuit Court Rules took effect in their current form, including local probate assignment rules and the court's twelve-month and six-month closing expectations. |
| 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 Winnebago County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with co-owned home | Start with title. If the decedent held Winnebago County real property as a joint tenant or life tenant, or if the property involves survivorship marital property, the Winnebago County Register of Deeds at 112 Otter Avenue may supply the recording route under Wis. Stat. § 867.045 or § 867.046. If a court route is needed, uncontested termination and summary matters go before a circuit court commissioner under local rule. | Sunset identifies accounts, real estate and title details before the spouse chooses between the Register of Deeds counter and a court estate settlement filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with small estate | Mail filings to the Register in Probate at P.O. Box 2808, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2808, or file in person in Room 242. Self-represented filers may use paper methods or opt in to e-filing voluntarily. Winnebago County publishes no probate-specific remote procedure, so ask the office how to submit a request to appear remotely. | Sunset searches for assets from out of state, builds the Winnebago County packet using statewide Wisconsin forms and connects the family with Wisconsin counsel if a hearing or dispute is likely. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | A sale usually makes attorney help important. In Winnebago County, an uncontested formal administration is conducted by a circuit court commissioner and a contested matter is assigned to a judge by random draw. Real estate paperwork is recorded with the Register of Deeds at 112 Otter Avenue, and the local rules say informal and formal cases should be closed within twelve months. | Sunset assembles the asset picture, prepares the probate packet and connects the parent with a local probate attorney for the home sale and the closing steps of the estate settlement. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | What it provides | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Winnebago County Register in Probate | County probate page with the Room 242 address, phone, fax, office hours and the office's statement that it cannot provide legal advice. | https://www.winnebagocountywi.gov/474/Probate |
| Winnebago Free Legal Assistance Clinic | Free brief consultations with volunteer attorneys and paralegals. The clinic lists estate law and probate among its topics and meets at public libraries in Menasha, Neenah and Oshkosh on the first, second and third Tuesdays of the month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. | https://www.winnebagocountywi.gov/245/Legal-Assistance-Resources |
| Winnebago County Clerk of Courts | County court page with local circuit court rules, e-filing links, forms links, the intake calendar and courthouse record-access information. | https://www.winnebagocountywi.gov/227/Clerk-of-Courts |
| Winnebago County Circuit Court Rules | Local rules for case assignment, uncontested probate matters before a circuit court commissioner, contested probate assignment, local closing expectations and order formatting. | https://www.winnebagocountywi.gov/DocumentCenter/View/546/Winnebago-County-Local-Circuit-Court-Rules-PDF |
| Winnebago County Register of Deeds | Real estate recording, the Termination of Decedent's Interest application, recording fees, recorded document copies and death certificates. | https://www.winnebagocountywi.gov/491/Register-of-Deeds |
| A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration in Wisconsin | Wisconsin Court System 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 probate self-help | State probate self-help page with links to informal administration guidance, statewide forms and county Register in Probate information. | https://www.wicourts.gov/services/public/selfhelp/probate.htm |
| Circuit court probate forms | Statewide Wisconsin 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 case types. | https://wcca.wicourts.gov/ |
| Legal Action of Wisconsin | Free civil legal aid for eligible low-income Wisconsin residents, statewide intake (855) 947-2529. | https://legalaction.org/ |
| State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral and Information Service | Referral to a Wisconsin attorney at (800) 362-9082, the referral named by the Winnebago County Register in Probate when it explains that the office cannot give legal advice. | https://www.wisbar.org |
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 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. In Winnebago County, counsel is especially useful when real estate must be sold, an heir objects, a claim is disputed, or the matter becomes contested and is assigned to a judge by random draw. 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, insurance, retirement assets and other property before you decide what belongs in a Winnebago County estate settlement.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset helps assemble the statewide Wisconsin PR forms with Winnebago County filing details, including Room 242, the P.O. Box, the noon to 1 p.m. closure and the Register of Deeds recording step when real estate is involved.
Find a local probate attorney. If the estate needs formal administration, a home sale, a contested hearing or advice the Register in Probate cannot provide, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Wisconsin probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset to organize the estate settlement, discover assets and prepare next steps without paying Sunset a fee.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file to probate a will in Winnebago County?
File with the Winnebago County Register in Probate, Room 242, Winnebago County Courthouse, 415 Jackson Street, Oshkosh, WI 54903. Mail goes to P.O. Box 2808, Oshkosh, WI 54903-2808. Call (920) 236-4833.
What are the Winnebago County Register in Probate's hours?
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. It closes from noon to 1 p.m., so plan any walk-in filing for before noon or after 1 p.m.
Do I need an appointment to file a probate case in Winnebago County?
The county publishes no probate counter appointment system. If you plan to go in person, call (920) 236-4833 before traveling, expect courthouse screening and leave time in case there is a line.
Do I have to e-file a probate case in Winnebago County?
Attorneys and high-volume filing agents use e-filing. A self-represented filer may register and opt in voluntarily, or may use paper methods (Wis. Stat. § 801.18(3)(a), (b), (c)). The e-filing fee is $35 per party per case as of August 2026 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Does Winnebago County have its own probate forms?
No county-specific probate forms are published. Winnebago County directs probate filers to the statewide Wisconsin PR forms and states that standard statewide forms are required for probate cases.
What does it cost to open an estate in Winnebago County?
The estate fee is statewide and is paid when the inventory is filed, not when the case is opened. Through October 31, 2026, the fee is $20 where the value subject to administration, less encumbrances, liens or charges, is $10,000 or less, and 0.2 percent of that value above $10,000 (Wis. Stat. § 814.66(1)(a)2, (1)(a)3). Effective November 1, 2026, 2025 Wis. Act 179 changes the minimum to $36 at $18,500 or less, with the 0.2 percent rate unchanged. The separate e-filing fee is $35 per party per case as of August 2026 (Wis. Stat. § 758.19(4m), § 801.18(7)).
Who hears a probate matter in Winnebago County?
Under the Winnebago County Circuit Court Rules, a circuit court commissioner conducts uncontested formal administration, termination of life estate, termination of joint tenancy, summary settlement and summary assignment proceedings. A contested probate proceeding is assigned to a judge by random draw among the county's six circuit court branches.
How long should a Winnebago County estate take?
The county's local rules state that informal and formal cases should be closed within twelve months and that special and summary administration should be closed within six months. Those are local expectations, not statutory deadlines. The claim deadline is set by order at a date not less than three and not more than four months from the date of the order (Wis. Stat. § 859.01), and the inventory is due no later than six months after appointment unless the court changes the time (Wis. Stat. § 858.01).
Can I look up a Winnebago County estate case online?
Use Wisconsin Circuit Court Access at https://wcca.wicourts.gov/. Winnebago County also provides WCCA on three public access terminals in the Clerk of Courts Office, Room 110. Do not rely on WCCA for document access unless the court system makes that document available to you.
Can I appear by phone or video in a Winnebago County probate hearing?
Winnebago County publishes no probate-specific remote appearance procedure. A request is made to the court on the statewide request form, and the court decides. Ask the Register in Probate at (920) 236-4833 how to submit the request for your case.
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.