865.01 Applicability of informal administration. “Informal administration of estates” means the administration of decedents’ estates, testate and intestate, without exercise of continuous supervision by the court. Administrative action by the probate registrar is not action by the court. Informal administration proceedings are, nevertheless, circuit court proceedings, records of which shall be kept in the same manner as they are kept for formal proceedings; all of the duties and powers of registers in probate, including the certification of papers filed in the probate court, apply to informal proceedings in the same manner as they apply to formal proceedings. All provisions of chs. 851 to 879 not inconsistent with this chapter shall apply to the informal administration of estates. History: 1973 c. 39; 1975 c. 331; 1977 c. 449. Informal administration of decedents’ estates in Wisconsin. 1974 WLR 581.
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Employment of appraisers. Personal representative may pay claims. Improper distribution; liability of distributee. Purchasers from distributees protected. Closing estates by sworn statement. Liability of distributees to claimants. Limitations on proceedings against personal representative. Limitations on actions and proceedings against distributees. Termination of joint tenancy or life estate. Confirmation of interest in property. Transfer of interest in property. Receipts to be filed.
cluding a court proceeding concerning the use or availability of this chapter. It is distinguished from an administrative proceeding before the probate registrar. Formal proceedings, either as to a particular issue or as to the entire subsequent administration of the estate, may be initiated by the personal representative or by any interested person at any time by a written demand therefor. Formal proceedings may be demanded by a guardian or guardian ad litem on behalf of an interested person who is a minor or is an individual adjudicated incompetent. (2) A demand for formal proceedings shall be served on the personal representative, if any, and filed with the court. Service of a demand on the personal representative or, if none is appointed, filing of a demand with the court shall suspend informal administration as to the issues or matters referred to therein and shall suspend the powers of the personal representative in respect thereto until the same are reinstated by the court. History: 1973 c. 39; 2005 a. 387.