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First Steps After a Death in Wisconsin

A practical sequence for the first days and weeks after a death, focused on Wisconsin estate administration touchpoints.

Get Death CertificatesDo I Need Probate?

Use this timeline to handle immediate post-death tasks in the right order before you move into probate, asset transfer, or executor paperwork.

Some tasks can wait a few days. Prioritize safety, family needs, the original will, and certified death certificates.

Source Notes

If You Are the Named Executor in Wisconsin

If you are the named executor, personal representative, administrator, or the family member organizing a Wisconsin estate, start with the state-specific records, court, and transfer tasks below. Check each step against the current county office or agency handling the estate.

  1. Locate the original will and important documents

    The county Register in Probate needs the original signed will to admit it. A person who has custody of a will should deliver it after death. Also look for codicils, trusts, deeds, vehicle titles, account statements, and life insurance policies.

  2. Order certified death certificates

    Certified copies are issued by the Wisconsin Vital Records Office (Wisconsin Department of Health Services) and by the local Register of Deeds. The fee is $20 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time (Wis. Stat. 69.22(1)(a)). The funeral home usually orders them for you. Order more than you think you need - banks, insurers, the DMV, and the court all ask for one.

  3. Make a first asset and debt list

    Separate probate assets (solely owned) from nonprobate assets such as joint survivorship accounts, transfer-on-death and payable-on-death accounts, life insurance, and trust property. This list becomes the basis for the inventory and for deciding whether probate is needed.

  4. Determine whether probate is needed - small estate vs. full administration

    If the property subject to administration in Wisconsin is $50,000 or less in gross value, an heir or other authorized person may collect and transfer the property using a transfer by affidavit instead of full probate (Wis. Stat. 867.03). Larger or more complex estates require administration, and most uncontested estates use informal administration (Wis. Stat. ch. 865).

  5. Open the estate with the Register in Probate

    Most uncontested estates in Wisconsin use informal administration, which is handled by the probate registrar in the county Register in Probate office without continuous court supervision (Wis. Stat. ch. 865). The person named in the will is typically appointed personal representative; if there is no will, an eligible person is appointed. File the application, the original will, and a certified death certificate with the Register in Probate, who issues domiciliary letters confirming your authority to act for the estate.

Timeline of Tasks

First 24 to 72 Hours

Get a legal pronouncement and arrange for the body
A medical professional must pronounce the death. If death was expected under hospice, the hospice nurse can pronounce; if unexpected, call 911. Then choose a licensed Wisconsin funeral home or cremation provider to transport and care for your loved one.
Secure the home and valuables
Lock the residence, keep utilities and insurance active, and avoid distributing property until authority and ownership are clear. Wisconsin is a marital (community) property state, so a surviving spouse already owns one-half of the couple's marital property (Wis. Stat. ch. 766), but the home and belongings still need to be protected.
Locate the original will and important documents
The county Register in Probate needs the original signed will to admit it. A person who has custody of a will should deliver it after death. Also look for codicils, trusts, deeds, vehicle titles, account statements, and life insurance policies.

First Week

Order certified death certificates
Certified copies are issued by the Wisconsin Vital Records Office (Wisconsin Department of Health Services) and by the local Register of Deeds. The fee is $20 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time (Wis. Stat. 69.22(1)(a)). The funeral home usually orders them for you. Order more than you think you need - banks, insurers, the DMV, and the court all ask for one.
Identify the proper county
Probate is handled by the Register in Probate in the Circuit Court for the county where the decedent resided. The Register in Probate is the official recordkeeper for probate matters and is where you open the estate and file the will.
Make a first asset and debt list
Separate probate assets (solely owned) from nonprobate assets such as joint survivorship accounts, transfer-on-death and payable-on-death accounts, life insurance, and trust property. This list becomes the basis for the inventory and for deciding whether probate is needed.

First Month

Determine whether probate is needed - small estate vs. full administration
If the property subject to administration in Wisconsin is $50,000 or less in gross value, an heir or other authorized person may collect and transfer the property using a transfer by affidavit instead of full probate (Wis. Stat. 867.03). Larger or more complex estates require administration, and most uncontested estates use informal administration (Wis. Stat. ch. 865).
Open the estate with the Register in Probate
Most uncontested estates in Wisconsin use informal administration, which is handled by the probate registrar in the county Register in Probate office without continuous court supervision (Wis. Stat. ch. 865). The person named in the will is typically appointed personal representative; if there is no will, an eligible person is appointed. File the application, the original will, and a certified death certificate with the Register in Probate, who issues domiciliary letters confirming your authority to act for the estate.
Get an EIN and open an estate bank account
Apply for a free estate EIN from the IRS, then open a bank account in the estate's name (for example, 'Estate of Jane Doe'). Keep estate money completely separate from personal money and keep receipts for every payment and distribution.
Give notice to heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors
After the estate is opened, notice of administration is given to interested persons, and notice to creditors is published so claims can be filed within the deadline set by the court. The Register in Probate can confirm the local notice and publication requirements.

Ongoing Administration

File the inventory with the court
The personal representative files a complete inventory of the estate within a reasonable time, but no later than 6 months after appointment, unless the court extends or shortens the time (Wis. Stat. 858.01). The inventory lists the estate's assets and their values.
Notify Social Security, banks, insurers, and creditors
Report the death to the Social Security Administration (1-800-772-1213), notify each bank and brokerage, file life insurance claims, and address debts. Creditor claims in a Wisconsin estate are handled through the probate process within the claims deadline set by the court.
Keep estate money separate and file required tax returns
Use the estate account for all estate income and expenses, and keep receipts for every transaction. Review the decedent's final federal Form 1040 and Wisconsin Form 1, federal Form 1041 and Wisconsin fiduciary returns if the estate earns income, and federal Form 706 only if the estate exceeds the federal exemption. Wisconsin has no separate state estate or inheritance tax.

Who to Notify

Keep this list handy as you work through notifications.

Social Security Administration
Call 1-800-772-1213
Employer / HR Department
Phone call or email
Banks & Credit Unions
Visit branch with death certificate
Insurance Companies
Call policy customer service
Credit Card Companies
Call number on card
Utility Companies
Call to transfer or cancel
DMV / Vehicle Registration
Visit in person or online
Post Office
Submit change of address form

Documents to Gather

Gather these documents as soon as possible.

Death Certificates

Many estates start with 10-15 certified copies because banks, insurers, property-transfer contacts, and agencies may ask for them.

How to get death certificates →

Will & Trust Documents

Look in safe deposit boxes, home safes, attorney files, and records folders.

Probate guide →

Financial Statements

Bank statements, investment accounts, retirement accounts, and recent tax returns.

Asset transfer guide →

What Comes Next?

After the first 30 days, you may need to start probate or transfer assets. Use the national assessment for planning, then verify the next step locally.

Take the Probate AssessmentRead the Wisconsin Probate Guide