856.16 History
History: 1997 a. 188.
856.17
856.17
Lost will, how proved. If any will is lost, destroyed by accident or destroyed without the testator's consent the court has power to take proof of the execution and validity of the will and to establish the same. The petition for the probate of the will shall set forth the provisions thereof.
856.17 History
History: 1977 c. 449.
856.17 Annotation
Petition in the alternative to establish one of 3 wills held proper. Proof held sufficient to establish the last will effective. Estate of Markofske, 47 W (2d) 769, 178 NW (2d) 9.
856.17 Annotation
Lost wills: The Wisconsin law. Burrell and Porter, 60 MLR 351.
856.19
856.19
Order admitting will. Every will, when admitted to probate as prescribed by statute, shall have that fact signified thereon by the court.
856.19 Annotation
Without prima facie showing of fraud, mere allegation is not sufficient to require court to reopen admission of will to probate after time for appeal expired. In Matter of Estate of Kennedy, 74 W (2d) 413, 247 NW (2d) 75.
856.21
856.21
Persons entitled to domiciliary letters. Letters shall be granted to one or more of the persons hereinafter mentioned, who are not disqualified, in the following order:
856.21(1)
(1) The executor named in the will.
856.21(2)
(2) Any person interested in the estate or the person's nominee within the discretion of the court.
856.21(3)
(3) Any person whom the court selects.
856.21 History
History: 1993 a. 486.
856.21 Annotation
An attorney may not solicit, either directly or indirectly, that he or a relative be named as executor in a will. State v. Gulbankian, 54 W (2d) 605, 196 NW (2d) 733.
856.23
856.23
Persons who are disqualified. 856.23(1)
(1) A person including the executor named in the will is not entitled to receive letters if the person is any of the following:
856.23(1)(c)
(c) A corporation not authorized to act as a fiduciary in this state.
856.23(1)(d)
(d) A nonresident of this state who has not appointed a resident agent to accept service of process in all actions or proceedings with respect to the estate and filed the appointment with the court.
856.23(1)(e)
(e) A person whom the court deems unsuitable for good cause shown.
856.23(2)
(2) Nonresidency may be a sufficient cause for nonappointment or removal of a person in the court's discretion.
856.23 History
History: 1971 c. 213 s.
5;
1993 a. 486.
856.23 Annotation
Nominee may not be found "unsuitable" except upon grounds pertaining to capacity or competence to administer estate. State ex rel. First Nat. Bank & Trust v. Skow, 91 W (2d) 773, 284 NW (2d) 74 (1979).
856.23 Annotation
See note to 856.29 citing Matter of Sherman B. Smith Family Trust, 167 W (2d) 196, 482 NW (2d) 118 (Ct. App. 1992).
856.23 Annotation
Resident agent appointed under this section is not indispensable party in action involving estate. Bugbee v. Donahue, 483 F Supp. 1328 (1980).
856.25
856.25
Bond of personal representative. 856.25(1)
(1)
Generally. A person shall not act as personal representative, nor shall letters be issued to the person until the person has given a bond in accordance with
ch. 878, with one or more sureties, conditioned on the faithful performance of the person's duties, to the judge of the court, or until the court has ordered that the person be appointed without being required to give bond. If the court does not require a personal representative to give bond prior to the personal representative's letters being issued, the court may require the personal representative to give bond at any later time. The requirement of a bond and the amount of the bond is solely within the discretion of the court, except that no bond shall be required of any trust company bank, state bank or national banking association which is authorized to exercise trust powers and which has complied with
s. 220.09 or
223.02.
856.25(2)
(2) When 2 or more personal representatives. If 2 or more persons are appointed personal representatives, the judge may require no bond, may take a bond from each, take a joint bond from all or take a bond from some but not all.
856.25(3)
(3) Share of estate can stand as excess surety. If any distributee, including one serving as personal representative, stipulates to a reduction of the bond and that the distributee's share of the estate stand as excess surety to the extent of the reduction, the judge may reduce the bond by an amount equal to the estimated share of such distributee.
856.25(4)
(4) When will waives bond. A direction or request in a will that the personal representative serve without bond is not binding on the court.
856.25(5)
(5) Section 895.345 not to apply. Section 895.345 does not apply to bonds of personal representatives.
856.25 History
History: 1993 a. 486.
856.27
856.27
Appointment of special administrator if appointment of personal representative is delayed. If for any cause, a personal representative is not appointed in an estate at the hearing on appointment, the court at the hearing shall appoint a special administrator to administer the estate until a personal representative is appointed.
856.29
856.29
Letters issued to trustee of testamentary trust. If the will of the decedent provides for a testamentary trust, letters of trust shall be issued to the trustee upon admission of the will to probate at the same time that letters are granted to the personal representative, unless the court otherwise directs. Upon issuance of letters of trust, the trustee shall continue to be interested in the estate, and beneficiaries in the testamentary trust shall cease to be interested in the estate except under
s. 851.21 (3). This section shall apply to wills admitted to informal probate and letters issued in informal administrations.
856.29 History
History: 1973 c. 39.
856.29 Annotation
Where trust document allows beneficiaries to select a successor trustee but does not specifically allow appointment without court approval, instrument should be read to permit nomination of trustee subject to court approval. Matter of Sherman B. Smith Family Trust, 167 W (2d) 196, 482 NW (2d) 118 (Ct. App. 1992).
856.29 Annotation
A trustee has a duty to the trust beneficiaries to ensure that the personal representative transfers all property to which the trust is entitled. Even where the same person acts as trustee and personal representative the trustee has a duty to enforce claims the trust has against the personal representative. Old Republic Surety Co. v. Erlien, 190 W (2d) 400, 527 NW (2d) 389 (Ct. App. 1994).
856.31
856.31
Selection of attorney to represent estate. Whenever a corporate fiduciary is appointed as the sole personal representative, the person or persons receiving the majority interest from the estate may within 30 days after the date of the appointment select the attorney who shall represent the personal representative in all proceedings of any kind or nature, unless good cause is shown before the court why selection should not be so made, or unless the testator's will names the attorney or firm who shall represent the personal representative. The corporate fiduciary shall notify the persons who are entitled to name the attorney of this right within 5 days after appointment. In case a person is under disability, the court appointed guardian, if any, may act for such person under this section. In the case of a minor who has no court appointed guardian, the natural guardian, if any, may act for the minor. "Interest", as used in this section, means beneficial interest whether legal or equitable.
856.31 History
History: 1973 c. 233;
1975 c. 331,
421.
856.31 Annotation
An attorney may not solicit, either directly or indirectly, that he or his firm be retained as attorney to probate the estate. State v. Gulbankian, 54 W (2d) 605, 196 NW (2d) 733.
856.31 Annotation
Court upheld will provision directing that named attorney represent estate. In re Estate of Devroy, 109 W (2d) 154, 325 NW (2d) 345 (1982).
