Wisconsin Probate Records

Online Resources

 * Wisconsin, Wills and Probate Records, 1800-1987, ($), index and images, incomplete.
 * 1848-1948 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Images only.

Record Synposis
Probate is the “court procedure by which a will is proved to be valid or invalid” and encompasses “all matters and proceedings pertaining to the administration of estates, guardianships, etc.” Various types of records may be found in probate files. These may include, wills, bonds, petitions, accounts, inventories, administrations, orders, decrees, and distributions. These documents are extremely valuable to genealogists and should not be neglected. In many instances, they are the only known source of relevant information such as the decedent’s date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their places of residence. They may also include information about adoption or guardianship of minor children and dependents. For further information about the probate process, types of probate records, analyzing probate records, and to access a glossary of probate terms, see United States Probate Records.

Explore more about the probate process, limitations of probate records, analyzing probate records, a glossary of probate terms, wills, and United States Probate Records.

History
In the territorial era, probate records were kept by probate courts. These files were eventually transferred to the clerk of the circuit court, where current records are also kept. You may obtain probate records by contacting the office of the clerk of circuit court.

Searching Probate Records
It is usually best to start a probate search at the county level. Links to county pages appear below. Additional resources for Wisconsin probates may be found in the Wisconsin-Probate topic page of the FamilySearch Catalog. Copies of records on FS Library microfilm and microfiche can be ordered for viewing at FamilySearch Centers. Also find Wisconsin Probate resources available at many libraries (WorldCat). Explore how to search WorldCat and the FamilySearch Catalog.

State Statutes
Understanding the Wisconsin probate laws and how they changed over time can help us learn how the estate was administered, taxed, and distributed and might help to solve difficult genealogical problems.

Additional information about Wisconsin state statutes relating to probate matters can be found at law libraries. Online digital versions of state statutes can often be found by conducting a search engine search for the term, "Wisconsin statutes."

National
The FamilySearch Library has microfilm copies of probate files and indexes from many Wisconsin counties. For example, Milwaukee County microfilms include probate packets on 1,097 films from 1850–1910 and a general card index on 73 films for 1838–1915.

Statewide Record Collections
Wisconsin, Probate Estate Files, 1848-1948

Websites
Wiki articles describing onliine collections are found at:


 * Wisconsin, Outagamie County Records - FamilySearch Historical Records
 * Wisconsin Probate Records - FamilySearch Historical Records