Wisconsin executor and estate paperwork checklist

This is an organizer, not legal advice. An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation.

The first 30 days

Plain steps that apply wherever the person lived, with the small estate dates for this state. Ticks stay on your screen only.

1. Order certified death certificatesThrough the funeral director or the vital records office. Order several: banks, insurers, pension plans and the court may each want one.
2. Make sure Social Security knowsFuneral homes generally report the death. If not, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). A surviving spouse, or some children if there's no spouse, may get a one-time $255 payment.
3. Locate the signed will and any changesThe signed original matters more than a copy. Keep it whole and somewhere safe, and note who else has a copy.
4. Look at the last pages of the willA sworn statement signed by the witnesses before an officer may be attached; what this state says about it is below.
5. Protect the propertyChange locks if keys are out, keep insurance paid, and have the mail forwarded so bills and statements reach you.
6. Hold off on paying debts or giving things awayWait until you know which route applies and who has authority. If something can't wait, ask the probate clerk or an attorney.
7. Know that a power of attorney has endedA power of attorney ends when the principal dies; the agent's authority stops there.
8. List what the person owned and owedNote how each asset is held: in the person's name alone, jointly, or with a named beneficiary. Accounts with a beneficiary or joint owner usually pass outside the will.
9. Compare the estate with $50,000That's the small estate figure on this state's official page. Count only what the page says counts.
10. Open a simple money logOne line per payment or deposit, with the date, who, how much and the receipt. It makes the final accounting easy.
11. Get the estate its own tax number and bank accountThe IRS asks for an EIN before the estate's Form 1041, which applies once the estate has more than $600 of gross income in a year.

Sources for the federal steps: Social Security Administration: When someone dies · IRS: Deceased taxpayers, filing the estate income tax return (Form 1041) · power of attorney: Power of attorney at a real estate closing.

The small estate route

• ConfirmedSmall estate limit

  Property subject to administration in the state with a gross value of $50,000 or less. Real property can be transferred, with notice to the heirs at least 30 days before the affidavit is recorded.

  "that does not exceed $50,000 in gross value"

  Sources: Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit, and 867.02, Summary assignment (Wisconsin Legislature, chapter 867); Wisconsin Court System form PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit (07/2019); Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in Wisconsin (Nolo); Justia (statute text) (secondary source): Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit (2024 Wisconsin Statutes, Justia); State Bar of Wisconsin (secondary source): State of Wisconsin Transfer by Affidavit instructions (State Bar of Wisconsin, 7.17.19), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedReal estate

  Real estate counts toward the value, and the procedure can reach it.

  Sources: Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit, and 867.02, Summary assignment (Wisconsin Legislature, chapter 867); Wisconsin Court System form PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit (07/2019); Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in Wisconsin (Nolo); Justia (statute text) (secondary source): Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit (2024 Wisconsin Statutes, Justia); State Bar of Wisconsin (secondary source): State of Wisconsin Transfer by Affidavit instructions (State Bar of Wisconsin, 7.17.19), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedWaiting period after the death

  No waiting period after the death: Wis. Stat. 867.03 sets none (2024 statute text on Justia; the State Bar's instructions agree). Two 30-day waits apply to later steps: a holder may not transfer until 30 days after receiving an affidavit from a personal representative named in the will, and real estate needs 30 days' notice to the heirs before recording.

  Sources: Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit, and 867.02, Summary assignment (Wisconsin Legislature, chapter 867); Justia (statute text) (secondary source): Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit (2024 Wisconsin Statutes, Justia), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedNotary or oath

  Signed before a notary. The heir signs the transfer-by-affidavit under oath and has it notarized, per Nolo's Wisconsin summary of Wis. Stat. 867.03.

  "after signing the document (and swearing to its truthfulness) and having it notarized"

  Sources: Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit, and 867.02, Summary assignment (Wisconsin Legislature, chapter 867); Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in Wisconsin (Nolo); Justia (statute text) (secondary source): Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit (2024 Wisconsin Statutes, Justia), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedWhere the paperwork goes

  Handed to the bank or other holder. Not filed with the court: given to whoever owes the money or holds the property; for real estate, recorded with the register of deeds.

  Sources: Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit, and 867.02, Summary assignment (Wisconsin Legislature, chapter 867); Wisconsin Court System form PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit (07/2019); Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in Wisconsin (Nolo); Justia (statute text) (secondary source): Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit (2024 Wisconsin Statutes, Justia); State Bar of Wisconsin (secondary source): State of Wisconsin Transfer by Affidavit instructions (State Bar of Wisconsin, 7.17.19), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedOfficial form

  PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit. Wisconsin Court System form, revised 07/2019.

  Source: Wisconsin Court System form PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit (07/2019), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedSimplified court procedure

  Summary assignment (Wis. Stat. 867.02): When the estate is worth $50,000 or less after debts secured by estate property, anyone with standing to petition for administration can ask the court to assign the property summarily. Summary settlement (Wis. Stat. 867.01) is a separate court procedure.

  Source: Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit, and 867.02, Summary assignment (Wisconsin Legislature, chapter 867), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedWorth knowing

  When the affiant is named personal representative in the will but isn't an heir, trustee or guardian, the holder waits 30 days after receiving the affidavit before transferring.

  Sources: Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit, and 867.02, Summary assignment (Wisconsin Legislature, chapter 867); Wisconsin Court System form PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit (07/2019); Nolo (secondary source): Probate Shortcuts in Wisconsin (Nolo); Justia (statute text) (secondary source): Wis. Stat. 867.03, Transfer by affidavit (2024 Wisconsin Statutes, Justia); State Bar of Wisconsin (secondary source): State of Wisconsin Transfer by Affidavit instructions (State Bar of Wisconsin, 7.17.19), checked November 2026

The will at probate

Signing rules for wills, as they bear on getting the will accepted.

• ConfirmedWitnesses the will needed

  Two witnesses, each signing within a reasonable time after the signing or acknowledgment.

  "at least 2 witnesses who signed within a reasonable time after any of the following:"

  Sources: Wis. Stat. Chapter 853, Wills (Wisconsin Legislature); Wis. Stat. 853.03, Execution of wills (Wisconsin Legislature); Wis. Stat. 853.04 and 853.07, Self-proved will; Witnesses (Wisconsin Legislature); Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in Wisconsin (Nolo), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedSelf-proving affidavit

  Allowed at signing or any time later, before an officer authorized to administer oaths, under official seal.

  "An attested will may be made self-proved at any time after its execution"

  Sources: Wis. Stat. Chapter 853, Wills (Wisconsin Legislature); Wis. Stat. 853.03, Execution of wills (Wisconsin Legislature); Wis. Stat. 853.04 and 853.07, Self-proved will; Witnesses (Wisconsin Legislature); Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in Wisconsin (Nolo), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedIf the will is handwritten

  Not recognized unless witnessed: every will must be in writing and signed with two witnesses to be validly executed (Wis. Stat. 853.03). A separate written list can leave certain tangible personal property (853.32).

  "Every will in order to be validly executed must be in writing and executed with all of the following formalities"

  Source: Wis. Stat. 853.03, Execution of wills (Wisconsin Legislature), checked November 2026

• ConfirmedA witness who inherits

  The will stays valid, but gifts to an interested witness or the witness's spouse are invalid beyond an intestate share unless an exception applies.

  "a will is not invalidated because it is signed by an interested witness"

  Sources: Wis. Stat. Chapter 853, Wills (Wisconsin Legislature); Wis. Stat. 853.03, Execution of wills (Wisconsin Legislature); Wis. Stat. 853.04 and 853.07, Self-proved will; Witnesses (Wisconsin Legislature); Nolo (secondary source): How to Make a Will in Wisconsin (Nolo), checked November 2026

Documents to gather

• Certified death certificates
• The original will and any codicils
• Deeds and mortgage statements
• Vehicle titles and registrations
• Recent bank, brokerage and retirement statements
• Life insurance policies and annuities
• The last few years of tax returns
• Recent bills, loan and credit card statements
• Pension, Social Security and benefit letters
• Safe deposit box location and keys
• The official small estate form: PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit

Who to notify

Social Security (if the funeral home hasn't), Banks and credit unions, Brokerage and retirement accounts, Life insurance companies, Utilities and phone, Landlord or mortgage servicer, Credit card companies, Pension or employer. A brief letter and a copy of the death certificate usually start each one; note the date and the person you reached.

Documents needed abroad

• ConfirmedA death certificate needed abroad

  Apostilles for this state's documents come from the Department of Financial Institutions (apostilles) and the Secretary of State's Certification Desk. $10 per document.

  Source: Department of Financial Institutions (apostilles) and the Secretary of State's Certification Desk, checked November 2026

Where to ask

An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. Official pages for Wisconsin:

• Wisconsin Court System form PR-1831, Transfer by Affidavit (07/2019)
• Probate Shortcuts in Wisconsin (Nolo)

General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. We are not lawyers, and MCC Solutions is not a law firm. An estate attorney or the county probate/surrogate office answers questions about your situation. Facts checked November 2026.

Common questions

Related: Executor guide by state · Will signing requirements · Apostille steps · Estate paperwork help