Circuit court eFiling - eFiling a new probate case

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Purpose: Probate cases concerning formal and informal administration can be electronically filed and monitored via the eFiling website. This article covers how to file a new probate case.

Applicable Users: Parties or attorneys who wish to file a new probate case

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1. Visit the eFiling website at https://efiling.wicourts.gov/ and log in. For more information see the article Logging into Wisconsin circuit court eFiling.
2. Select file new case from the main navigation or [File a new case] button from the bottom menu.
3. Select the county you are filing in from the County dropdown menu and the applicable class code from the Class code dropdown menu. Then, select the [Continue] button.
4. Select the [Add party] button to add parties to the case.
   Note: The yellow banner will tell you what parties are required for the selected class code.
5. Complete the New party window. Start by choosing a Party type, beginning with the filing party (i.e., Decedent). Be sure to enter a birth date and date of death. If you are logged in as an attorney, do not select the [Add attorney] button on the decedent party record. Select the [Save, and Add next party] button to add additional parties to the case.
6. In the New party window, add the Petitioner(s). Select the [Add attorney] button to add the attorney representing the filing party on the case.
7. If the party you entered requires an interpreter, select [Yes] under Is an interpreter needed? and select the language needed form the [Language] dropdown.
   
8. When all parties have been added, review them for accuracy and select the [Continue] button.
9. Select the [Upload documents] button to browse for and upload a filing document along with other associated documents to the case. Review the bulleted list to ensure your documents are properly formatted.
   Note: The yellow banner will tell you what filing document is required for the selected class code.
   
10. From the Document type dropdown menu, select the correct document type, and enter a descriptive title in the Document title text entry field. Select the [Continue] button.
    Note: If the appropriate document type is not available, review the “Forms by eFiling document type: Probate (PR and IN) cases” document to determine if your document should be a .docx or a .pdf.
    An accurate and descriptive document title is beneficial for identifying documents. The title entered here displays in the View documents list on the My cases page and is visible to the courts.
11. On the Review page, review the filing for accuracy. Select a document link to open and view any of your uploaded files. Select the [Continue] button when you are ready to proceed.
    
    Note: The 'Notes to Clerk' text entry field functions like a virtual sticky note on your filing. Anything entered in this box displays to the clerk while they process your filing, but is deleted once your filing is accepted. These notes are not permanently saved to the case. 
12. On the Ready to file page, select the checkbox next to the filing(s) you wish to submit, or select the checkbox next to a county name to submit all filings in that county. Choose a payment type and select the [File] or [File and Pay] button.
    Note: If you have set up a court debit account (CDA) with the circuit court you are filing in, you will have the option to choose a payment method. To learn how to set up a CDA, see the “Creating and managing a court debit account” user guide. It is your responsibility to ensure proper funds are available in the account at the time of filing.
    If paying with a credit/debit card or eCheck via the US Bank ePayment website, a transaction fee will be applied to the total.
13. On the Filings submitted page, select the [Make payment with US Bank] button to proceed to the US Bank ePayment website and pay the associated filing fees. If fees were not assessed, the [Make payment with US Bank] button displays as [Return to main menu] instead.
    
    Note: Once you have advanced to this page, do not close your browser window or take a break. Selecting the File and pay button at the bottom of the previous page initiates a connection with the US Bank ePayment website that exists for 10-15 minutes. 
    If you wait longer than that to complete your payment or exit the system before the payment process is complete, you will need to select the $ payment needed link in the main navigation to make payment. You may need to wait 1-2 hours for the filing in need of payment to appear. Your filing will not be processed by the county until payment has been made. Filings will expire after 48 hours without payment.
    
    US Bank is the vendor that processes circuit court credit card and electronic check transactions. You do not need a US Bank checking or savings account to pay for filings on the US Bank ePayment website. You can pay using a Visa card, MasterCard, or electronic check.
14. Once payment is received, the new case is processed by the circuit court. You will receive an email confirmation and the file-stamped document(s) will be visible on the My cases page of the eFiling website. The eFiling system generates an Electronic Filing Notice that must be printed and served traditionally along with other case initiating documents.