867.01 Summary settlement of small estates.

(1) Availability. The court shall summarily settle the estate of a deceased person without the appointment of a personal representative:

(a) Whenever the estate, less the amount of the debts for which any property in the estate is security, does not exceed in value the costs, expenses, allowances and claims under s. 859.25 (1) (a) to (g).

(b) Whenever the estate, less the amount of the debts for which any property in the estate is security, does not exceed $50,000 in value and the decedent is survived by a spouse or domestic partner, or one or more minor children or both.

(2) When commenced under other procedure. An estate, administration of which has been commenced under ch. 856, may be terminated under this section at any time that it is found to meet the requirements of this section.

(3) Procedure.

(ac) Who may petition. A person who has standing to petition for administration of the estate under s. 856.07 has standing to petition for summary settlement.

(am) Petition contents. The petition shall contain the following information:

1. The facts required by sub. (1).

2. A detailed statement of all property subject to administration, including any encumbrance, lien, or other charge upon each item.

3. The names and post-office addresses of all persons interested, so far as known to the petitioner or ascertainable by the petitioner with reasonable diligence. The petition shall indicate those who are minors or otherwise under disability and the names and post-office addresses of their guardians.

4. Whether the decedent or the decedent's spouse received services provided as a benefit under a long-term care program, as defined in s. 49.496 (1) (bk), medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49, long-term community support services funded under s. 46.27 (7), 2017 stats., or aid under s. 49.68, 49.683, 49.685, or 49.785.

(b) Special administrator may be appointed. If the court deems it necessary, it may at any time during the proceeding appoint a special administrator to aid in the settlement.

(c) Bond. Before making any order, the court may require a bond of the petitioner in an amount the court deems sufficient, conditioned to indemnify any person who may be aggrieved thereby.

(d) Notice. The court may hear the matter without notice or order notice to be given under s. 879.03. If the decedent or the decedent's spouse received services provided as a benefit under a long-term care program, as defined in s. 49.496 (1) (bk), medical assistance under subch. IV of ch. 49, long-term community support services funded under s. 46.27 (7), 2017 stats., or aid under s. 49.68, 49.683, 49.685, or 49.785, the petitioner shall give notice by certified mail to the department of health services as soon as practicable after filing the petition with the court.

(f) Order. If the court is satisfied that the estate may be settled under this section, after 30 days have elapsed since notice to the department of health services under par. (d), if that notice is required, the court shall assign the property to the persons entitled to it. If the estate may be settled under sub. (1) (b), any property not otherwise assigned shall be assigned to the surviving spouse or surviving domestic partner, or minor children or both as an allowance under s. 861.31. The court shall order any person indebted to or holding money or other property of the decedent to pay the indebtedness or deliver the property to the persons found to be entitled to receive it. The court shall order the transfer of interests in real estate, stocks or bonds registered in the name of the decedent, the title of a licensed motor vehicle, or any other form of property. If the decedent immediately prior to death had an estate for life or an interest as a joint tenant in any property in regard to which a certificate of termination in accordance with s. 867.04 has not been issued, the order shall set forth the termination of that life estate or the right of survivorship of any joint tenant. Every tract of real property in which an interest is assigned or terminated or which is security for a debt in which an interest is assigned or terminated shall be specifically described.

(g) Information to unsatisfied creditors. The court may order the petitioner to inform known unsatisfied creditors as to the final disposition of the estate.

(h) Recording required. Whenever the order 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 such order 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.

(4) Release of liability of transferor. Upon the payment, delivery, transfer or issuance in accordance with the order of the court, the persons making such delivery, transfer or issuance are released to the same extent as if the same had been made to a personal representative of the estate of the decedent.

(5) Proceeding with or without attorney. Any party to a proceeding under this section may commence or appear at such proceeding in his or her own behalf, by an attorney or, if in the military service, by an attorney-in-fact, but not otherwise.

History: 1971 c. 40 s. 93; 1973 c. 42, 90; 1975 c. 331, 421; 1977 c. 449; 1985 a. 278; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 234; 1991 a. 220; 1993 a. 16, 437, 486; 1995 a. 27 ss. 7193b to 7194c, 9126 (19); 1999 a. 9, 94; 2005 a. 216; 2007 a. 20 s. 9121 (6) (a); 2009 a. 28; 2013 a. 20; 2015 a. 55; 2019 a. 9.

Cross-reference: See ch. 705 concerning multiple-party and agency accounts.

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

Cross-reference: See s. 54.66 (4), which provides for summary closing by guardian of small estate of ward.

Cross-reference: See s. 103.165 (3) for payment of decedent's employee's cash bond by employer directly to decedent's dependents.

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