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Finding a will or probate case in Wisconsin

Who holds it: Register in probate of each county (appointed by the circuit judges); probate is a circuit court case type and appears on WCCA.1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. More details
  2. Related records in Wisconsin
  3. How Wisconsin handles it
  4. Probate and wills in Wisconsin counties with a full guide
  5. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  6. Sources

Fees

Copies of probate records $1/page; certificates $10; search without case number $14; estate filing fee $36 if property subject to administration is $18,500 or less, else 0.2% of value (amounts per 2025 Wis. Act 179 eff. 11-1-26).2

More details

Will deposit
A living testator may deposit a sealed will with the register in probate of the county of residence (unless a county ordinance bars deposits); fee $35 (from $10 eff. 11-1-26).3
Deadline
A person (other than the named personal representative) who has custody of a will must, within 30 days after learning of the testator's death, file it in the proper court or deliver it to the named personal representative; the named personal representative must file it within 30 days after learning of the nomination and the death, unless it was already deposited with the court (s. 856.05(1)).4
Courts: court system
Unified state trial court: one level of circuit courts handles all case types (civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, traffic) in all 72 counties; records are kept by the elected clerk of circuit court in each county (probate by the register in probate). Municipal courts handle local ordinance cases separately.5
Courts: statewide case search
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA), wcca.wicourts.gov - statewide public search of circuit court case summaries; case information is uploaded hourly.6
Courts: fees
Clerk of circuit court: copies (certified or not) $1.25 per page; search without case number $14 (raised from $5 by 2025 Wis. Act 179 eff. 11-1-26); civil filing fee $130 (from $75, eff. 11-1-26) plus surcharges.2
Death certificates: who holds it
DHS Wisconsin Vital Records Office; county registers of deeds; Milwaukee and West Allis city health offices.7
Death certificates: fee
$20 first copy; $3 each additional copy at the same time; fee not refundable if no record found.8

How Wisconsin handles it

  • Probate records are kept by the register in probate (appointed by the judges), separate from the elected clerk of circuit court1
  • Court fee increases under 2025 Wis. Act 179 took effect November 1, 2026 (search $14, will deposit $35, civil filing $130); county fee sheets may lag2

Probate and wills in Wisconsin counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Brown CountyBrown County Register in Probate / Clerk of Juvenile Court9——
Dane CountyDane County Circuit Court - Probate Court10——
Dodge CountyRegister in Probate11Search11—
Eau Claire CountyEau Claire County Register in Probate / Clerk of Juvenile Court13Search12Register in probate copies $1 per page (state statute)14
Fond du Lac CountyProbate15——
Jefferson CountyRegister in Probate16—Copies of probate records $1/page; certificates $10; search without case number $14; estate filing fee $36 if property subject to administration is $18,500 or less, else 0.2% of value (amounts per 2025 Wis. Act 179 eff. 11-1-26).17
Kenosha CountyKenosha County Clerk of Circuit Court18——
La Crosse CountyRegister in Probate20Search19—
Manitowoc CountyRegister in Probate21—Copies $1.00 per page; certified $10 plus $1.00 per page (chart effective November 1, 2026)22
Marathon CountyMarathon County Register in Probate Office23——
Milwaukee CountyRegister in Probate24Search24Own search free; copies $1 per page; will safekeeping $10. Search without a case number $14 by statute from 11-1-26; the same county page printed a $4 mailed search fee24
Outagamie CountyRegister in Probate25——
Ozaukee CountyOzaukee County Register in Probate26—Copies $1 per page; certified $10 per document27
Racine CountyRacine County Register in Probate28——
Sheboygan CountyRegister in probate of each county (appointed by the circuit judges)29—Copies of probate records $1/page; certificates $10; search without case number $14; estate filing fee $36 if property subject to administration is $18,500 or less, else 0.2% of value (amounts per 2025 Wis. Act 179 eff. 11-1-26).30
St. Croix CountyRegister in Probate31Search31—
Walworth CountyRegister in Probate33Search32$1 per page34
Washington CountyRegister in Probate35——
Waukesha CountyWaukesha County Register in Probate36—Copies $1.00/page; will deposit for safekeeping $35.00; certification of a probate record $10.00; search when case number not furnished $14.00 (Probate Fees table)37
Winnebago CountyRegister in Probate, 415 Jackson Street Room 24238——

For any other county, see the county list on the Wisconsin guide.

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Wisconsin office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: probate records and wills in every state. Everything else in Wisconsin: Wisconsin public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Wis. Stat. ch. 851 Probate - Definitions and General Provisions (register in probate)Wisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  2. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  3. Wis. Stat. ch. 853 Wills (s. 853.09 deposit of will)Wisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  4. Wis. Stat. ch. 856 Opening Estates (s. 856.05 delivery of will to court)Wisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  5. Circuit Court: Function & overviewWisconsin Court Systemchecked November 4, 2026
  6. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) home/termsWisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 4, 2026
  7. Vital Records: Requesting a Vital RecordWisconsin Department of Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  8. F-05280 Wisconsin Death Certificate ApplicationWisconsin Department of Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  9. Brown County home pageBrown County, Wisconsinarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  10. Dane County Circuit Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  11. ProbateDodge County, Wisconsinchecked November 7, 2026
  12. Register in Probate/Clerk of Juvenile Court OfficeEau Claire County Register in Probatechecked November 4, 2026
  13. Eau Claire County, WI (home)Eau Claire Countychecked November 4, 2026
  14. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 (court fees)Wisconsin Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  15. Register of Deeds Fee ScheduleFond du Lac Countychecked November 7, 2026
  16. Register of DeedsJefferson Countychecked November 8, 2026
  17. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 8, 2026
  18. Clerk of circuit court contact informationWisconsin Court Systemchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) home/termsWisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 7, 2026
  20. Clerk of Courts: ContactsLa Crosse County, Wisconsinchecked November 7, 2026
  21. Register in ProbateManitowoc Countychecked November 8, 2026
  22. Wisconsin Circuit Court Fee, Forfeiture, Fine and Surcharge TablesPosted by Manitowoc County Clerk of Circuit Courtchecked November 8, 2026
  23. Register in Probate OfficeMarathon Countychecked November 7, 2026
  24. Probate CourtMilwaukee County Circuit Court, Register in Probatechecked November 4, 2026
  25. Register In ProbateOutagamie County, Wisconsinchecked November 7, 2026
  26. Probate / GuardianshipOzaukee Countychecked November 4, 2026
  27. Record RequestOzaukee Countychecked November 4, 2026
  28. Probate CourtRacine County Clerk of Circuit Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  29. Wis. Stat. ch. 851 Probate - Definitions and General Provisions (register in probate)Wisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  30. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  31. Register in Probate | St. Croix County, WISt. Croix County, Wisconsinchecked November 4, 2026
  32. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) home/termsWisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 4, 2026
  33. Register in ProbateWalworth County, Wisconsinchecked November 4, 2026
  34. Register in Probate FeesWalworth County, Wisconsinchecked November 4, 2026
  35. Register in ProbateWashington County, WIchecked November 4, 2026
  36. DepartmentsWaukesha Countychecked November 4, 2026
  37. Court FeesWaukesha County Circuit Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  38. ProbateWinnebago County, Wisconsinarchived copychecked November 4, 2026