861.13(1)(a)(a) In this section, "property in joint names" means any property held or owned under any form of ownership with the right of survivorship, including survivorship marital property, property which passes to the surviving spouse as provided in
s. 766.58 (3) (f), property held in conventional joint tenancy, property held in cotenancy with a remainder to the survivor, a stock, bond or bank account in the name of 2 or more persons payable to the survivor, a U.S. government bond in coownership form or payable on death to a designated person and a share in a credit union, savings bank or savings and loan association payable on death to a designated person or in joint form.
861.13(1)(b)
(b) The right of the surviving spouse to elect under
s. 861.02 (1) is barred if the surviving spouse receives at least one-half of the total of the following property, such property to be reduced by the amount of the federal estate tax payable by reason of such property:
861.13(1)(b)3.
3. Proceeds of a life insurance policy in which the decedent had an ownership interest at death.
861.13(1)(b)4.
4. A transfer within 2 years of death to the extent to which the decedent did not receive consideration in money or money's worth.
861.13(1)(b)5.
5. A transfer by the decedent during lifetime if the decedent retained power, alone or in conjunction with any person, to alter, amend, revoke or terminate the transfer or to designate the beneficiary.
861.13(1)(b)6.
6. A payment from the decedent's employer, from a plan created by the employer or under a contract between the decedent and the decedent's employer, except for a worker's compensation or social security payment.
861.13(1)(b)7.
7. Property appointed by the decedent by will or by a deed executed within 2 years of death, whether the power is general or special, if the property is effectively appointed in favor of the surviving spouse.
861.13(1)(b)8.
8. Property in joint names of the decedent and one or more other persons except any property attributable to consideration furnished by any person other than the decedent.
861.13(1)(c)1.
1. The surviving spouse receives any property with respect to which he or she is given all of the income and a general power to appoint the principal.
861.13(1)(c)2.
2. The surviving spouse receives life insurance proceeds settled by the decedent on option if the surviving spouse is entitled to the interest and has a general power to appoint the proceeds or to withdraw proceeds, or if the surviving spouse is entitled to an annuity for life or to instalments of the entire principal and interest for any period equal to or less than the normal life expectancy of the spouse.
861.17
861.17
Rights in property transferred in fraud of surviving spouse. 861.17(1)(1) Nothing in this chapter precludes a court in an equitable proceeding from subjecting to the rights of the surviving spouse under
ch. 852 and this chapter any property arrangement made by the decedent in fraud of those rights. A property arrangement in fraud of the rights of the surviving spouse means any of the following:
861.17(1)(a)
(a) Any transfer or acquisition of property, regardless of the form or type of property rights involved, made by the decedent during marriage or in anticipation of marriage for the primary purpose of defeating the rights of the surviving spouse under
ch. 852 and this chapter.
861.17(1)(b)
(b) Any breach of the good faith duty imposed by
s. 766.15 made for the primary purpose of defeating the rights of the surviving spouse in or to marital property.
861.17(2)
(2) An arrangement made before marriage, or within one year after marriage, or prior to April 1, 1971, to provide for issue by a prior marriage is not a fraudulent property arrangement within the meaning of this section.
861.17(3)
(3) If the spouse is successful in an action to reach fraudulent property arrangements, recovery is limited to the share the spouse would receive under
ch. 852 and this chapter. Other rules of this chapter apply so far as possible. Recovery forfeits any power of appointment which the surviving spouse possesses over the remaining portion of the fraudulently arranged property, except a special power.
861.17(3m)
(3m) If the spouse is successful in an action to reach fraudulent property arrangements involving marital property, recovery is limited to the surviving spouse's interest in the marital property. Other rules of this chapter apply so far as possible. Recovery forfeits any power of appointment which the surviving spouse possesses over the remaining portion of the fraudulently arranged marital property, except a special power.
861.17(4)
(4) The surviving spouse has no rights against any person dealing with the property without actual knowledge, or receipt of written notice, of the claim of the spouse. A person who has knowledge of facts and circumstances sufficient to put the person on inquiry as to a claim by the spouse does not have actual knowledge and is not required to make further inquiry. This subsection does not protect a gratuitous donee from the original beneficiary of the fraudulent arrangement.
861.17(5)
(5) Every such suit must be brought within 3 years of decedent's death, but may be barred by laches at an earlier date.
OTHER RIGHTS, ALLOWANCES AND EXEMPTIONS
861.20
861.20
Surviving spouse's right in nondomiciliary decedent's real property in this state. 861.20(1)
(1) If a married person who does not have a domicile in this state dies and leaves a valid will disposing of real property in this state which is not the community property or marital property of the decedent and the surviving spouse, the surviving spouse has the same right to elect to take a portion of or interest in that property against the will of the decedent as if the property were located in the decedent's domicile at the decedent's death. The procedure of the decedent's domicile for electing against the will applies to such an election.
861.20(2)
(2) If a married person who does not have a domicile in this state dies and has an interest in real property in this state that is not disposed of by will, the surviving spouse has the same right to the property under intestate succession as if the property were located in the decedent's domicile at decedent's death.
861.20 History
History: 1985 a. 37;
1987 a. 393.
861.31
861.31
Allowance to family during administration. 861.31(1)(1) The court may, without notice or on such notice as the court directs, order payment by the personal representative or special administrator of an allowance as it determines necessary or appropriate for the support of the surviving spouse and any minor children of the decedent during the administration of the estate. In making or denying the order the court shall consider the size of the probate estate, other resources available for support, existing standard of living, and any other factors it considers relevant.
861.31(2)
(2) The allowance may be made to the spouse for support of the spouse and any minor children of the decedent, or separate allowances may be made to the spouse and to the minor children of the decedent or their guardian if the minor children do not reside with the surviving spouse or if for any other reason the court finds separate allowances advisable. If there is no surviving spouse the allowance may be made to the minor children of the decedent or to their guardian.
861.31(3)
(3) The initial order for support may not exceed one year but may be extended for additional periods of not to exceed one year at a time, and is subject to revision or termination at any time by further order of the court.
861.31(4)
(4) The court may direct that the allowance be charged against income or principal, either as an advance or otherwise, but in no event may an allowance for support of minor children of the decedent be charged against the income or principal interest of the surviving spouse. The court may direct that the allowance for support of the surviving spouse, not including any allowance for support of minor children, be applied against any right of the surviving spouse to elect under
ss. 861.02 (1) and
861.03.
861.31 History
History: 1971 c. 40;
1991 a. 301.
861.31 Note
NOTE: 1991 Wis. Act 301, which affected this section, contains extensive legislative council notes.
861.31 Annotation
Widow's allowances and the IRC. Miller, 54 MLR 193.
861.33
861.33
Selection of personalty by surviving spouse. 861.33(1)(a)(a) Subject to this section, in addition to all allowances and distributions, the surviving spouse may file with the court a written selection of the following personal property, which shall thereupon be transferred to the spouse by the personal representative:
861.33(1)(a)1.
1. Wearing apparel and jewelry held for personal use by the decedent or the surviving spouse;
861.33(1)(a)3.
3. Household furniture, furnishings and appliances; and
861.33(1)(a)4.
4. Other tangible personalty not used in trade, agriculture or other business, not to exceed $1,000 in inventory value.
861.33(1)(b)
(b) The selection in
par. (a) may not include items specifically bequeathed except that the surviving spouse may in every case select the normal household furniture, furnishings and appliances necessary to maintain the home. For this purpose antiques, family heirlooms and collections which are specifically bequeathed are not classifiable as normal household furniture or furnishings.
861.33(2)
(2) If it appears that claims may not be paid in full, the court may upon petition of any creditor limit the transfer of personalty to the spouse under this section to items not exceeding $3,000 in aggregate inventory value until such time as claims are paid in full or the court otherwise orders; or the court may require the spouse to retransfer property in excess of $3,000 or, at the option of the spouse, pay the excess in value over this amount.
861.33(3)
(3) The surviving spouse may select items not specifically bequeathed of the type specified under
sub. (1) (a) 4. exceeding in value the $1,000 limit or obtain the transfer of items exceeding the limit set by the court under
sub. (2), by paying to the personal representative the excess of inventory value over the respective limit.
861.33(4)
(4) The personal representative has power, without court order, to execute appropriate documents to effect transfer of title to any personal property selected by the spouse under this section. A person may not question the validity of the documents of transfer or refuse to accomplish the transfer on the grounds that the personal representative is also the surviving spouse.
861.33 Annotation
This section is constitutional. In Matter of Estate of Eisenberg, 90 W (2d) 620, 280 NW (2d) 359 (Ct. App. 1979).
861.35
861.35
Special allowance for support of spouse and support and education of minor children. 861.35(1)
(1) If the decedent is survived by a spouse or by minor children, the court may order an allowance for the support and education of each minor child until he or she reaches a specified age, not to exceed 18, and for the support of the spouse. This allowance may be made whether the estate is testate or intestate. If the decedent is not survived by a spouse, the court also may allot directly to the minor children household furniture, furnishings and appliances. No allowance may be made under this section if any of the following apply:
861.35(1)(a)
(a) The decedent has amply provided for each child and for the spouse by the terms of his or her will and the estate is sufficient to carry out the terms after payment of all debts and expenses, or support and education have been provided for by any other means.
861.35(1)(b)
(b) In the case of minor children, if the surviving spouse is legally responsible for support and education and has ample means to provide them in addition to his or her own support.
861.35(1)(c)
(c) In the case of the surviving spouse, if he or she has ample means to provide for his or her support.
861.35(2)
(2) The court may set aside property to provide an allowance and may appoint a trustee to administer the property, subject to the continuing jurisdiction of the court. If a child dies or reaches 18, or if at any time the property held by the trustee is no longer required for the support of the spouse or the support and education of the minor child, any remaining property is to be distributed by the trustee as directed by the court in accordance with the terms of the decedent's will or to the heirs of the decedent in intestacy or to satisfy unpaid claims of the decedent's estate.
861.35(3)
(3) In making an allowance under this section, the court shall consider the effect on claims under
s. 859.25 and shall balance the needs of the spouse or minor child against the nature of the creditors' claims in setting the amount allowed hereunder. The court shall also consider the size of the estate, other resources available for support, the existing standard of living and any other factors it considers relevant. The court may direct that the allowance to the surviving spouse, not including any allowance for the support and education of minor children, be applied against any right of the surviving spouse to elect under
ss. 861.02 (1) and
861.03.
861.35 Note
NOTE: 1991 Wis. Act 301, which affected this section, contains extensive legislative council notes.
861.41
861.41
Exemption of property to be assigned to surviving spouse. 861.41(1)(1) After the amount of claims against the estate has been ascertained, the surviving spouse may petition the court to set aside as exempt from the claims of creditors under
s. 859.25 (1) (h) an amount of property reasonably necessary for the support of the spouse, not to exceed $10,000 in value, if it appears that the assets are insufficient to pay all claims and allowances and still leave the surviving spouse such an amount of property in addition to selection and allowances.
861.41(2)
(2) The court shall grant the petition if it determines that an assignment ahead of creditors is reasonably necessary for the support of the spouse. In determining the necessity and the amount of property to be assigned, the court must take into consideration the availability of a home to the surviving spouse and all other assets and resources available for support.
861.41(3)
(3) The assignment of property shall be applied against any right of the surviving spouse to take under the will or under the intestate succession law or to elect under
ss. 861.02 (1) and
861.03.
861.41(4)
(4) If the decedent's estate includes an interest in a home, the court may upon request of the spouse include as part or all of the property assigned to the spouse either a fee or a life interest in the home, to the extent of the decedent's interest therein. If the value of the interest in the home requested by the spouse would exceed the amount set by the court under this section, the court may nevertheless assign the interest to the spouse upon payment to the personal representative of the excess of the value of the interest over the amount set by the court. The court may require a new appraisal or use the original inventory value. Home has the same meaning as provided in
s. 852.09 (2).
