This is a private page with contact information for Wisconsin state notifications. The common Federal and other notification information is found here. It may not be 100% accurate in the future, but it is a place to start looking. Some of the contacts are for the county in which the decedent lived, so you will need to look for contacts for your county.
State Government
DMV/MVA
- https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/vehicles/title-plates/surviving.aspx
- https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/vehicles/title-plates/heir.aspx
- https://wisconsindot.gov/Documents/dmv/vehicles/title-plates/deceasgde.pdf
Cancel Driver’s License
- The DMV receives monthly updates from Wisconsin Vital Records. The license will be automatically cancelled at that time.
Cancel Handicapped Placard
- Shred and recycle the handicap placard. The DMV will cancel the permit.
Transfer Vehicle Titles
- Statement of Transfer of Vehicles to or by a Surviving Family Member, Domestic Partner, or Heir form MV2300 is required to waived the title fee.
- When a Wisconsin decedent leaves solely-owned property not exceeding $50,000 in value:
- An heir who is not a surviving spouse/domestic partner may transfer ownership of a vehicle .
- Heirs may title the vehicle in their name or sign as an heir to sell the vehicle.
- To transfer ownership to your name, send the following:
- to:
- WI Department of Transportation
- P.O. Box 7949
- Madison, WI 53707-7949
- When a Wisconsin decedent leaves solely-owned property exceeding $50,000 in value:
- Vehicles must be transferred by submitting a copy of the personal representative papers instead of (or with) the MV2300 form.
- Personal representative papers are issues by the court identifying the individual(s) authorized to sign for the interest of the decedent.
- The representative will sign the title with “personal representative” after their name.
- (This appears to be the probate process?)
Wisconsin Department of Revenue
Estate/Inheritance Tax
- https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/Form/estate-Home.aspx
- Wisconsin has no inheritance tax
- Wisconsin has no estate tax for deaths on or after January 1, 2008
Income Tax
- Use form I-804 to claim a decedents Wisconsin tax refund
- https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/FAQS/ise-estate.aspx#estate1
- Need to file Wisconsin Individual Income Tax Return for the deceased at the next normal tax time
- The estate is an entity. If the estate accrues more than $600, a Wisconsin Fiduciary Income Tax Return is required.
State Social Services
- Medicaid
- https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid/contacts.htm
- 1-800-362-3002
- memberservices@wisconsin.gov
- Other Services?
- https://dcf.wisconsin.gov/
- (608) 422-7000
- No information found on reporting a death
Voter Registration
- Wisconsin Elections Commission
https://myvote.wi.gov/en-us/ - (608)-266-8005
- 1-866-868-3947 (1-866-VOTE-WIS)
Property
- Information from:
- Beneficiary files with the Register of Deeds:
- Termination of Decedents Interest (form and instructions), which combines:
- Termination of Decedent Property Interest (HT-110) Form
- Transfer on Death to Beneficiary (TOD-110) Form
- Owners death certificate
- Prior years real estate tax bill
- A copy of the Transfer on Death Deed (TODD)
- A copy of the Deed granting the deceased his/her interest
- Wisconsin Real Estate Transfer Return Receipt (RETR or eRETR)
Can file eRETR here: https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/RETr/Home.aspx
- Termination of Decedents Interest (form and instructions), which combines:
- Termination of Decedents Interest is available from the Register of Deeds website.
Last Will and Testament
- Related websites:
- Wisconsin Register in Probate Association:
http://www.wripa.org/wills.html - County Register in Probate office list:
http://www.wripa.org/directory-of-wisconsin-probate-offices.html - Monroe County Website:
https://www.co.monroe.wi.us/ - Monroe County Register in Probate Office:
https://www.co.monroe.wi.us/departments/register-in-probate
- Wisconsin Register in Probate Association:
- Wills can be registered with (some of) the county Register in Probate Offices. The original receipt is needed to remove it from safe keeping. Only the original owner or their written designee can remove the will. The written designation must have two witnesses other than designee.
- Wills
- One site seemed to indicate that an original will must be filed upon death.
- WRIPA indicated that a will must be filed within 30 days of death with the Register in Probate.
- Another page indicated that an “Affidavit of No Probate” can be filed with the will
- With no will, your assets go through intestate succession for anything that does not have a living trust, beneficiary, or transfer on death.
- In Wisconsin, ToD and Beneficiaries typically override the Will.
- ToD assets are typically protected from debt collection, unless there is fraud.
- There appears to be a $50,000 limit for the estate, but it is not clear if it omits assets with an assigned beneficiary