Chapter 863 — CLOSING ESTATES

863.01 Distribution of specific property to distributee and partial distribution before final judgment. Before final judgment has been rendered the personal representative may deliver to any distributee possession of any specific property to which the distributee is entitled unde…

863.05 Execution and levies by creditors of distributees prohibited. Except as provided in s. 863.46, no garnishment, attachment or execution may issue against nor may any levy be made against any property of the estate under any judgment or cause of action against any distribute…

863.07 Assignment by distributee. If any person interested in an estate assigns all or part of his or her interest in the estate, other than an interest not assignable by the specific language of the will, as collateral or otherwise and the assignee serves a copy of the assignmen…

863.08 Exchange by distributee and surviving spouse. In its final judgment or other order, the court shall assign items to the surviving spouse and distributee to conform with the exchange under s. 766.31 (3) (b) to the extent that the court approved the exchange. History: 1987 a…

863.09 Allowance for tombstone and care of grave. (1) TOMBSTONE. In case no provision is made in the will for a tombstone or monument or marker at the grave of the decedent, and none has been erected, the personal representative may expend a reasonable sum for that purpose. The e…

863.11 Order in which assets appropriated; abatement. Shares of distributees abate in accordance with the rules under s. 854.18. History: 1983 a. 186; 1995 a. 225; 1997 a. 188. A general direction to pay debts requires that the federal estate tax be deducted from the gross estate…

863.13 No exoneration of encumbered property. Specifically devised property that is subject to a mortgage or other encumbrance is subject to the rules under s. 854.05. History: 1993 a. 486; 1997 a. 188. Cross-reference: See s. 859.43 which deals with payment of debts which are se…

863.15 Debts to estate. If a distributee of an estate is indebted to the estate, the treatment of the debt is governed by s. 854.12. History: 1993 a. 486; 2005 a. 216.

863.16 Value used in distribution of fractional shares. In distributing property to distributees who receive fractional shares of the estate under the statutes of descent and distribution or under provisions in a will, the personal representative shall divide the property among t…

863.17 Partition by agreement. Property passing to persons as joint tenants or tenants in common may be partitioned among those persons by the judgment of the court assigning the property, if a petition therefor signed by all persons interested in the property involved is filed w…

863.19 Valuation used in distribution of estate assets. If a general bequest of estate assets, including a pecuniary bequest, in a dollar amount fixed by formula or otherwise is satisfied by a distribution in kind, the distribution shall be made at current fair market values unle…

863.21 Construction of will, notice. Notice of hearing upon a petition for the construction of a will shall be given under s. 879.05. If a petition for final judgment contains a request for construction of a will, the notice of hearing on such petition shall include, or be accomp…

863.23 Determination and proof of heirship. In every administration of an estate in which notice to creditors is required, except in proceedings under ch. 865, the persons who are the heirs of the decedent shall be determined by the court after hearing. Proof and determination of…

863.25 Petition for final judgment. Except where final settlement is by sworn statement under s. 865.16, after the payment of the allowances, debts, taxes, funeral expenses and ex-

863.27 Contents of final judgment. In the final judgment the court shall approve the final account, designate the persons to whom assignment and distribution are being made, and assign to each of them the property or proportions or parts of the estate or the amounts to which each…

863.29 Recording final judgment. (1) RECORDING REQUIRED. Whenever the final judgment assigns an interest in real property, assigns a debt which is secured by an interest in real property or shows the termination of a life estate or an interest as a joint tenant in real property o…

863.31 Conclusiveness of final judgment. (1) GENERALLY. The final judgment is a conclusive determination of the persons who are the successors in interest to the estate of the May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 3 Updated 23-24 Wis. Stats. decedent and of t…

863.33 Estates to be completed promptly. All estates are to be completed as soon as reasonably possible and without unnecessary delay.

863.35 Dormant estates. (1) If under formal administration final judgment is not entered in an estate within 18 months after filing of the petition for administration and the estate is not open pursuant to an order extending time, the judge shall order the attorney and the person…

863.37 Distribution of money or other property where payment or transfer is prohibited. (1) If the laws, executive orders or regulations of the United States prohibit payment, conveyance, transfer, assignment or delivery of property to a legatee, devisee, ward or beneficiary of a…

863.39 Escheats. (1) GENERALLY. If any legacy or intestate property is not claimed by the distributee within 120 days after entry of final judgment, or within the time designated in the judgment, it shall be converted into money as close to the inventory value as possible and pai…

863.41 Receipts to be filed. Within 120 days after the final judgment is signed the personal representative shall file with the court receipts from distributees for all personal property assigned in the final judgment, unless the court extends the time.

863.43 Distribution to ward; notice. At least 10 days prior to distribution of a share or legacy for the benefit of a minor or individual adjudicated incompetent for whom a guardian of the estate has been appointed, the personal representative shall notify the court appointing th…

863.45 Receipts from guardians. If a distributee of an estate is a minor or an individual adjudicated incompetent and has within this state a guardian of his or her estate, the personal repre- May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 863.45 Updated 23-24 Wis. St…

863.46 Remedy of creditors of certain heirs and legatees; service of citation. (1) If any legacy or distributive share of any estate belongs to any debtor who has absconded from or is a nonresident of this state, any of his or her creditors may petition to intervene in the probat…

863.47 Order of discharge of personal representative. Upon proof of the recording of certified copies of the final judgment or abridgments thereof, if required by s. 863.29, and upon the filing of receipts from the distributees for all other property assigned in the final judgmen…

863.49 Inactive estates; summary discontinuance. The court may by order upon its own motion and without notice summarily discontinue any administration in which no paper has been filed for more than 5 years and may cancel the bond. History: 1977 c. 449. May 22, 2026, are designat…