Wisconsin Probate Forms: Every PR Form You Need and Where to Get Them

Wisconsin probate paperwork is not unified in one place. Some forms come from the Wisconsin Court System, some from the State Bar of Wisconsin, some from the Department of Revenue, and others from the Department of Motor Vehicles. Coming in without a map means hours of searching through confusing government websites while grieving.

This guide organizes every major Wisconsin probate form by stage, identifies who issues it, and explains exactly what it does.

Stage 1: Before Anything Reaches a Court

Two forms are commonly used to transfer assets without ever opening a probate case:

PR-1831 — Transfer by Affidavit Issuing authority: State Bar of Wisconsin

This is the most important non-probate form in Wisconsin estate administration. Use it to claim bank accounts, securities, and real estate for estates where the solely owned assets total $50,000 or less (Wis. Stat. 867.03). It must be signed under oath.

Note: The State Bar maintains this form — not the court system. Search "PR-1831" or "Transfer by Affidavit" on wisbar.org to find the current version.

HT-110 / TOD-110 (now unified) — Termination of Decedent's Interest Issuing authority: Wisconsin Register of Deeds Association

Used to clear real estate title after the owner dies, when the property passes outside of probate through joint tenancy, survivorship marital property, or a Transfer on Death deed. Must be filed at the county Register of Deeds along with a certified death certificate and an eRETR receipt from the Department of Revenue. The flat recording fee is $30.

Stage 2: Opening a Probate Case

If the estate exceeds $50,000 in solely owned assets (or is too complex for a simple affidavit), you must open a formal case at the county circuit court's Register in Probate office.

PR-1801 — Application for Informal Administration Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System (wicourts.gov)

This is the standard opening form for uncontested estates over $50,000. It initiates supervision by the county Probate Registrar (not a judge) and is the most common pathway for Wisconsin families with cooperative heirs and a clear will.

PR-1803 — Waiver and Consent Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

All interested parties (heirs, beneficiaries, creditors) must sign and file this form to confirm they consent to Informal Administration without a hearing. When heirs are cooperative, PR-1803 allows the estate to move quickly. If someone refuses to sign, the case escalates to Formal Administration before a judge.

PR-1806 — Proof of Heirship Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

Filed alongside PR-1801, this form documents who the legal heirs are — whether that's beneficiaries named in the will or statutory heirs under intestate succession.

PR-1810 — Domiciliary Letters Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

Once the Registrar approves the application, Domiciliary Letters are issued to the personal representative. This is the document that gives the personal representative legal authority to act on behalf of the estate — to access bank accounts, sell property, bind the estate to contracts, and contact creditors. Banks and other institutions will require this document before cooperating.

Keep multiple certified copies. Financial institutions, the DMV, and the Register of Deeds all require original certified copies.

Stage 3: Inventory and Creditor Notice

PR-1811 — Inventory (Informal/Formal Administration) Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

The inventory is an exhaustive list of every asset in the probate estate, valued as of the date of death, net of mortgages and liens attached to specific items. It must be filed with the court — and this filing triggers the mandatory fee calculation.

Under Wisconsin Statute 814.66:

• Net assets of $10,000 or less: flat $20 fee
• Net assets over $10,000: 0.2% of total inventory assets

On a $200,000 estate, the court fee is $400. On a $500,000 estate, it's $1,000. This fee must be paid before the estate moves forward.

PR-1804 — Notice to Creditors Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

This form is published in a local newspaper to put unknown creditors on notice that the estate is open. It triggers the statutory creditor claim window: at least 3 months but no more than 4 months from the court's order. Known and reasonably identifiable creditors must also receive direct mail notice at least 30 days before the deadline.

PR-1817 — Affidavit of Service Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

Filed to prove that the Notice to Creditors was properly published and that direct notices were mailed to known creditors. Must be accompanied by the publisher's proof of publication.

Stage 4: Small Estate Court Procedures (Under $50,000)

For estates that qualify but are too complicated for a simple Transfer by Affidavit, Wisconsin offers two court-supervised shortcuts:

PR-1835 — Petition for Summary Settlement Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

Use when the estate is $50,000 or less AND a surviving spouse or minor child exists, or when the estate is insolvent (debts exceed assets). This is the fastest judicial path to estate closure and avoids appointing a personal representative.

PR-1837 — Order for Summary Settlement Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System (judge-signed)

The court's closing order that finalizes a Summary Settlement.

PR-1840 — Petition for Summary Assignment Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

Use when the estate is $50,000 or less but no surviving spouse or minor child exists, and the estate is not insolvent. Requires a more rigorous creditor notice process.

PR-1841 — Affidavit of Property (Summary Assignment) Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

Detailed property listing filed alongside PR-1840.

PR-1842 — Notice to Creditors (Summary Assignment) Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

The formal creditor notice specific to the Summary Assignment procedure.

Stage 5: Tax Clearance and Closing the Estate

Schedule CC — Request for Closing Certificate for Fiduciaries Issuing authority: Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR)

This is the form that creates the most significant delay in Wisconsin probate. Before the court will allow the estate to close, the DOR must issue a Closing Certificate confirming that all income taxes generated by the estate's assets have been fully paid.

File Schedule CC through the DOR's online portal (tap.revenue.wi.gov). Processing takes up to 120 days. File it as early as possible — do not wait until all other tasks are done.

Required attachments: the court-filed probate inventory, a copy of the will, and up to 4 years of the decedent's prior personal tax returns if they had outstanding liabilities.

Form 2 — Wisconsin Fiduciary Income Tax Return Issuing authority: Wisconsin Department of Revenue

Required if the estate generates $600 or more in gross income during administration. Get an EIN from the IRS first (apply online at irs.gov). This is separate from the decedent's final personal income tax return (Wisconsin Form 1).

PR-1815 — Estate Receipts Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

Signed by each beneficiary to confirm they received their distribution. Proves to the court that assets were properly distributed.

PR-1816 — Personal Representative's Statement to Close Estate Issuing authority: Wisconsin Court System

The final filing that formally closes the probate case and releases the personal representative from their liability bond.

Where to Get Wisconsin Probate Forms

• Wisconsin Court System forms (PR-series): wicourts.gov → Forms → Probate
• Transfer by Affidavit (PR-1831): State Bar of Wisconsin (wisbar.org)
• HT-110 / TOD-110 unified form: Wisconsin Register of Deeds Association
• Schedule CC and Form 2: Wisconsin Department of Revenue (revenue.wi.gov or tap.revenue.wi.gov)
• eRETR: Wisconsin Department of Revenue online portal
• MV2300 (vehicle transfer): Wisconsin DMV (wisconsindmv.gov)

All forms on wicourts.gov are available without charge. There are no filing fees for downloading the forms themselves — fees apply when you submit them to the court.

The Wisconsin Estate Settlement Guide includes a complete forms checklist organized chronologically — so you know which form to file, when to file it, which office receives it, and what fee to attach. It also covers the Register in Probate filing procedures for each of Wisconsin's 72 counties, which can vary in their specific submission requirements.

See more Wisconsin guides →