Chapter 867

867.03(3) (3) Applicability. This section is additional to s. 109.03 (3) for payment of decedent’s wages by an employer directly to the decedent’s dependents.

867.03 History History: 1973 c. 43; 1975 c. 380 s. 5; 1979 c. 29; 1989 a. 234; 1993 a. 16, 205, 437; 1995 a. 27 ss. 7197b to 7199c, 9126 (19); 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9, 94; 2005 a. 216, 387; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2013 a. 20, 92; 2015 a. 55; 2017 a. 90, 332; 2019 a. 9; 2021 a. 238 s. 45; 2021 a. 239 s. 74.

867.03 Annotation A “Simple” Probate Should Not Be This Complicated: Principles and Proposals for Revising Wisconsin’s Statutes for Probate Summary Procedures. Johnson. 2008 WLR 575.

867.04 867.04 Termination of joint tenancy and life estate. If a domiciliary of this state dies who immediately prior to death had an estate for life or an interest as a joint tenant in any property, or if a person not domiciled in this state dies having such an interest in property in this state, upon petition of any person interested in the property to the court of the county of domicile of the decedent, or if the decedent was not domiciled in this state, of any county where the property is situated, the court shall issue a certificate, under the seal of the court. The certificate shall set forth the fact of the death of the life or joint tenant, the termination of the life estate or joint tenancy interest, the right of survivorship of any joint tenant and any other facts essential to a determination of the rights of persons interested. The certificate is prima facie evidence of the facts recited, and if the certificate relates to an interest in real property or to a debt that is secured by an interest in real property, a certified copy or duplicate original of the certificate shall be recorded by the petitioner in the office of the register of deeds in each county in this state in which the real property is located.

867.04 History History: 1977 c. 449; 1999 a. 85.

867.04 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 863.27 which deals with the termination of life estate and joint tenancy in the final judgment of an estate.

867.04 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 865.20 which provides an alternative method of termination of joint tenancy.

867.045 867.045 Administrative joint tenancy or life estate termination for certain property.

867.045(1) (1) Upon the death of any person having an interest as a joint tenant or life tenant in any real property or in the vendor’s interest in a land contract or a mortgagee’s interest in a mortgage, any person interested in the property may obtain evidence of the termination of that interest of the decedent by providing to the register of deeds of the county in which such property is located, on an application supplied by the register of deeds for that purpose, the name and address of the decedent and of the surviving joint tenant or remainder beneficiary, the date of the decedent’s death, and the applicant’s interest in the property. A person providing an application to the register of deeds under this subsection shall sign the application and verify, under oath, the correctness of the information provided in the application. The applicant shall also provide to the register of deeds the following information:

867.045(1)(j) (j) In the case of real property, a copy of the property tax bill for the year preceding the year of the decedent’s death and a legal description of the property, which description shall be imprinted on or attached to the application. The register of deeds shall record the bill. The required recording of the property tax bill may be waived by an agreement between the register of deeds and the county real property lister.

867.045(1)(k) (k) In the case of a joint tenancy or life estate, a copy of the deed that creates the interest.

867.045(2) (2) The register of deeds or other person authorized under s. 706.06 or ch. 140 shall complete a statement at the foot of the application, declaring that the applicant appeared before him or her and verified, under oath, the correctness of the information required by sub. (1).

867.045(4) (4) Upon the recording, the application shall be presumed to be evidence of the facts recited and shall terminate the joint tenancy or life estate, all with the same force and effect as if issued by the court assigned to exercise probate jurisdiction for the county of domicile of the decedent under s. 867.04. This application shall not constitute evidence of payment of any death tax which may be due, the payment for which shall remain an obligation of the surviving joint tenant or remainder beneficiary.

867.045(5) (5) If a decedent’s interest in a joint tenancy or life estate is terminated under this section and then acquired from the surviving joint tenant or remainder beneficiary by a purchaser or lender in good faith, for value and without actual notice that the termination was improper, the purchaser or lender takes title free of any claims of the decedent’s estate and incurs no personal liability to the estate, whether or not the termination was proper. Purchasers and lenders have no duty to inquire whether a termination was proper.

867.045 History History: 1973 c. 41, 84, 90; 1975 c. 127, 200, 262, 421; 1977 c. 449 ss. 422, 497; 1981 c. 299, 376, 391; 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 133; 1995 a. 182; 2005 a. 41, 216; 2015 a. 48; 2017 a. 334; 2019 a. 125, 127.

867.045 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 865.20 which provides an alternative method of termination of joint tenancy.

867.045 Annotation The termination of a joint tenancy in a vendee’s interest in a land contract may be perfected of record under the procedure in this section. OAG 1-97.

867.045 Annotation This section neither requires that all remainderpersons appear before the register of deeds to verify information contained in a form executed to meet the requirements of this section nor to complete the form before it may be recorded. OAG 2-98.

867.046 867.046 Summary confirmation of interest in property.

867.046(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

867.046(1)(a) (a) “Beneficiary of a marital property agreement” means a designated person, trust or other entity having an interest in property passing by nontestamentary disposition under s. 766.58 (3) (f).

867.046(1)(b) (b) “Survivorship marital property” means property held under s. 766.60 (5) (a).

867.046(1)(c) (c) “TOD beneficiary” means a person designated on a deed as a transfer on death beneficiary under s. 705.15 or a person designated on a document as a transfer on death beneficiary under s. 705.18.

867.046(1m) (1m) Upon death; generally. If a domiciliary of this state dies who immediately prior to death had an interest in property in this state, including an interest in survivorship marital property or an interest in property passing under s. 705.10 (1) or 705.18 (2), or if a person not domiciled in this state dies having an interest in property in this state, including an interest in survivorship marital property or an interest in property passing under s. 705.10 (1) or 705.18 (2), upon petition of the decedent’s spouse, a beneficiary of a marital property agreement, a TOD beneficiary, or a beneficiary of a transfer under s. 705.10 (1) or 705.18 (2) to the court of the county of domicile of the decedent or, if the decedent was not domiciled in this state, of any county where the property is situated, the court shall issue a certificate under the seal of the court. The certificate shall set forth the fact of the death of the decedent, the termination or transfer of the decedent’s interest in the property, the interest of the petitioner in the property and any other facts essential to a determination of the rights of persons interested. The certificate is prima facie evidence of the facts recited, and if the certificate relates to an interest in real property or to a debt secured by an interest in real property, the petitioner shall record a certified copy or duplicate original of the certificate in the office of the register of deeds in each county in this state in which the real property is located.

867.046(2) (2) Upon death; interest in property. As an alternative to sub. (1m), upon the death of any person having an interest in any real property, a vendor’s interest in a land contract, an interest in a savings or checking account, an interest in a security, a mortgagee’s interest in a mortgage, or an interest in property passing under s. 705.10 (1) or 705.18 (2), including an interest in survivorship marital property, the decedent’s spouse, a beneficiary of a marital property agreement, a TOD beneficiary, or a beneficiary of a transfer under s. 705.10 (1) or 705.18 (2) may obtain evidence of the termination of that interest of the decedent and confirmation of the applicant’s interest in the property by providing to the register of deeds of the county in which the property is located, on an application supplied by the register of deeds for that purpose, the name, residence, and post-office address of the decedent, the name, residence, and post-office address of the applicant, and the date of the decedent’s death. A person providing an application to the register of deeds under this subsection or, if the person is not an individual, a representative of the person shall sign the application and verify, under oath, the correctness of the information provided in the application. The applicant shall also provide to the register of deeds the following information:

867.046(2)(i) (i) In the case of real property, a copy of the property tax bill for the year preceding the year of the decedent’s death and a legal description of the property, which description shall be imprinted on or attached to the application. The register of deeds shall record the bill. The required recording of the property tax bill may be waived by an agreement between the register of deeds and the county real property lister.

867.046(2)(j) (j) In the case of a joint tenancy, life estate, or TOD beneficiary designation, a copy of the deed that creates the interest.

867.046(2)(k) (k) In the case of a transfer under s. 705.10 (1), except as described in par. (i) or (j), a copy of the document described in s. 705.10 (1).

867.046(2)(L) (L) In the case of a transfer under s. 705.18 (2), except as described in par. (j), a copy of the document described in s. 705.18 (2).

867.046(2m) (2m) Third-party confirmation. If the personal representative or decedent’s spouse or a beneficiary of a marital property agreement or TOD beneficiary does not commence proceedings to confirm an interest under this section or s. 863.27 or 865.201 within 90 days after the decedent’s death, any interested person may petition or apply under this section.

867.046(3) (3) Completion of application. The register of deeds or other person authorized under s. 706.06 or ch. 140 shall complete a statement at the foot of the application, declaring that the applicant or, if the applicant is not an individual, a representative of the applicant appeared before him or her and verified, under oath, the correctness of the information required by sub. (2).

867.046(4) (4) Delivery of application. The register of deeds shall mail or deliver a copy of the application to the circuit court for the county of residence of the decedent, unless the clerk of courts notifies the register of deeds in writing that this procedure is not necessary.

867.046(5) (5) Recording; termination of property interest. Upon the recording, the application constitutes prima facie evidence of the facts recited and constitutes the termination of the property interest, with the same force and effect as if issued by the court assigned to exercise probate jurisdiction for the county of domicile of the decedent under s. 867.04.

867.046(6) (6) Purchasers from petitioners protected. If an interest in property transferred under this section is acquired from the petitioner by a purchaser or lender in good faith, for value and without actual notice that the transfer was improper, the purchaser or lender takes title free of any claims of the decedent’s estate and incurs no personal liability to the estate, whether or not the transfer was proper. Purchasers and lenders have no duty to inquire whether a transfer was proper.

867.046 History History: 1983 a. 186; 1985 a. 37; 1991 a. 133, 301; 1995 a. 182, 355; 2005 a. 41, 206, 216; 2007 a. 97; 2017 a. 334; 2019 a. 125, 127; 2021 a. 201; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.

867.046 Note NOTE: 1991 Wis. Act 301, which affected this section, contains extensive legislative council notes.

867.046 Annotation Because the pension benefits in question did not fall within the five classes of property specified in sub. (2), the procedures in sub. (2) could not be substituted for those of sub. (1m). Maciolek v. City of Milwaukee Employees’ Retirement System Annuity & Pension Board, 2006 WI 10, 288 Wis. 2d 62, 709 N.W.2d 360, 04-1254.

867.05 867.05 Determination of descent of property.

867.05(1) (1) Petition. Six years or more after any person dies intestate, leaving an estate which a court in this state has jurisdiction to administer, any person interested in the estate or in any property in the estate may petition the court which has jurisdiction to administer the estate, to determine the descent of the property in the estate. The petition shall be verified and shall show, as particularly as known or can with due diligence be ascertained, the time and place of death and domicile of the decedent, that the estate has not been administered and the other facts which authorize the proceeding, the names, post-office addresses and relationship to the decedent of all heirs and their grantees entitled to any interest in the property, stating who are minors or under legal disability, and the names and addresses of their guardians, and a description of all property for which a determination of descent is sought.

867.05(2) (2) Certificate after hearing without notice. The court may hear the petition without notice, and after hearing the evidence, if the court is satisfied who the heirs of the decedent are and what their respective rights and interests in the property are, the court shall certify the same and in its certificate shall name the persons entitled to interests therein and the property to which each is entitled. The certificate is prima facie evidence of the facts recited.

867.05(3) (3) Judgment after hearing on notice. The court may hear the petition after notice of hearing given under s. 879.03, and after hearing the evidence, if the court is satisfied who the heirs of the decedent are and what their respective rights and interests in the property are, the court shall determine the same and in its judgment shall name the persons entitled to interests therein and the property to which each is entitled.

867.05(4) (4) Recording required. Whenever the certificate or judgment relates to an interest in real property or to a debt which is secured by an interest in real property, a certified copy or duplicate original of the certificate or judgment shall be recorded by the petitioner in the office of the register of deeds in each county in this state in which such real property is located.

867.05(5) (5) Special administration. When no administration proceeding has been commenced or no complete tax return has been filed, any person, including the department of revenue, interested in the property, the transfer of which is subject to tax under ch. 72, may petition for appointment of a special administrator with powers to determine the tax, if:

867.05(5)(a) (a) No petition for administration of property of a decedent is made within 60 days after the decedent’s death and the property’s transfer appears to be taxable under ch. 72;

867.05(5)(b) (b) Administration has been completed without determining the tax;

867.05(5)(c) (c) No tax is due and that fact has not been formally determined;

867.05(5)(d) (d) A certificate of survivorship, heirship or assignment has been issued under s. 867.04, 867.05 or 868.05;

867.05(5)(e) (e) Assets upon the transfer of which no tax has been paid are discovered; or

867.05(5)(f) (f) Property was transferred in contemplation of the death of the transferor and no application for the adjustment or payment of the tax has been made within 60 days of the transferor’s death.

867.05(6) (6) Procedure.

867.05(6)(a) (a) Prior to acting under sub. (5), the special administrator shall, by certified mail, notify the distributee of the basis of his or her authority under sub. (5).

867.05(6)(c) (c) Costs and expenses properly incurred by a special administrator shall be paid out of the subject property or by the distributee thereof.

867.05 History History: 1971 c. 310; 1973 c. 90; 1987 a. 27 s. 1531m.

867.05 Annotation A “Simple” Probate Should Not Be This Complicated: Principles and Proposals for Revising Wisconsin’s Statutes for Probate Summary Procedures. Johnson. 2008 WLR 612.

867.07 867.07 Grounds for appointment of special administrator. Whenever it appears by petition to the court that a person has died and the court would have jurisdiction for the administration of the person’s estate, the court may appoint a special administrator if it appears that:

867.07(1) (1) There is no estate to be administered and an act should be performed on the part of the decedent, the performance of which affects or is of importance to the petitioner or any other person.

867.07(2) (2) The final judgment of distribution in the estate has been entered and an act remains unperformed in the estate, or that unadministered assets have been found or may be found belonging to the estate.

867.07(3) (3) The estate can be settled under s. 867.01 or 867.02.

867.07(4) (4) It is necessary to conserve or administer the estate of a decedent before letters can be issued to a personal representative.

867.07(5) (5) Circumstances provided for in s. 867.05 (5) and (6) exist.

867.07(6) (6) A cause of action exists for or against the decedent or the decedent’s estate and that it is necessary that some act be performed before letters can be issued to a personal representative.

867.07(7) (7) Other circumstances exist which in the discretion of the court require the appointment of a special administrator.

867.07 History History: 1971 c. 307 s. 118; 1977 c. 449; 1987 a. 27 s. 3202 (47) (a); 1993 a. 486.

867.07 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See s. 856.01 for jurisdiction for administration of estates.

867.07 Annotation This section does not provide a different procedure for taking depositions than that provided in ch. 804. In Matter of Estate of Berth, 157 Wis. 2d 717, 460 N.W.2d 436 (Ct. App. 1990).

867.07 Annotation A “Simple” Probate Should Not Be This Complicated: Principles and Proposals for Revising Wisconsin’s Statutes for Probate Summary Procedures. Johnson. 2008 WLR 612.

867.09 867.09 Who may petition for appointment of special administrator. Petition for the appointment of a special administrator may be made by any person who has standing to petition for administration of the estate under s. 856.07, and waiting periods stated in that section do not apply.

867.11 867.11 Notice of hearing on petition for appointment of special administrator. The court shall determine whether notice of the hearing for the appointment of a special administrator need be given. If the court deems notice unnecessary or inexpedient or if the appointment should be made without delay, the court shall proceed to hear the matter without notice. If notice of hearing is required, it shall be given under s. 879.03.

867.13 867.13 Bond of special administrator. If it appears that anything of value will come into the hands of the special administrator, the court may require the special administrator to give bond in the amount the court deems reasonable, except that no bond shall be required of any trust company bank, state bank or national banking association which is authorized to exercise trust powers and which has complied with s. 220.09 or 223.02. If the person appointed special administrator is subsequently appointed personal representative, the person’s bond given as special administrator continues in effect as the person’s bond as personal representative unless otherwise ordered by the court. Section 895.345 does not apply to bonds of special administrators.

867.13 History History: 1993 a. 486.

867.15 867.15 Letters of special administration; no appeal. Upon the appointment of a special administrator, letters of special administration shall be issued to the special administrator by the court. An order appointing a special administrator is a nonappealable order.

867.17 867.17 Powers, duties and liabilities of special administrator. A special administrator who is appointed without notice of hearing shall have only those powers and duties that are specifically granted to the special administrator by order of the court. The court may, following a hearing on notice to or waiver of notice by all interested parties, grant the special administrator by general order the same powers, duties and liabilities as a personal representative, except as expressly limited by the order of the court. By order the court may expressly grant the special administrator powers and impose duties in addition to those granted by statute to personal representatives as may be necessary to accomplish the purpose for which the special administrator is appointed.

867.17 History History: 1971 c. 40; 1993 a. 486.

867.17 Cross-reference Cross-reference: As defined in s. 851.23 “personal representative” as used in chs. 851 to 882 does not include “special administrator”.

867.19 867.19 Compensation of special administrator. The special administrator shall be allowed all necessary expenses incurred in the care and management of the estate and the performance of the special administrator’s duties; for the special administrator’s services the special administrator shall be allowed the compensation the court deems reasonable. If a special administrator is subsequently appointed personal representative, his or her compensation as special administrator may be considered and fixed at the time his or her compensation as personal representative is determined.

867.19 History History: 1993 a. 486.

867.21 867.21 Termination of authority and discharge of special administrator.

867.21(1) (1) When no personal representative is to be appointed. The special administrator shall be discharged whenever the court is satisfied that the special administrator has properly performed his or her duties. Before discharging the special administrator the court may require the special administrator to file any accounts or reports which the court deems necessary. Discharge may be granted with or without notice as the court determines. If notice of hearing upon the application for discharge is required, it shall be given under s. 879.03.

867.21(2) (2) Upon granting letters to a personal representative. Upon the granting of letters to a personal representative of the estate of the decedent, the power of the special administrator ceases and the special administrator shall forthwith file the special administrator’s account and deliver to the personal representative all property of the estate which the special administrator has in his or her possession. The court may accept the written receipt of the personal representative as evidence of delivery and upon approving the special administrator’s account shall discharge the special administrator. If the special administrator is appointed personal representative, the special administrator need not file an account as special administrator unless the special administrator’s bond is not continued as his or her bond as personal representative. If no accounting as special administrator is made the special administrator shall account for the special administration in his or her account as personal representative.

867.21 History History: 1993 a. 486.

867.21 Annotation The discharge under sub. (1) of a special administrator who has “properly performed his duties” is limited to when the special administration has been completed. Fundamental notions of fair play require that if a special administrator is to be removed while special administration continues, he or she must be provided an opportunity to respond to any charges that, to the court, justify removal. Estate of White, 69 Wis. 2d 649, 231 N.W.2d 194 (1975).