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2024

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Best Probate Lawyers in Appleton

Our Recommended Top 9

We did the research for you!

  • Licensing
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Our goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Appleton Probate Lawyers on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.

24

Reviewed

18

Curated

9

Top Picks

Learn about our selection process.

Providers

featured provider = Featured Provider

Website
2 Systems Drive, Appleton, WI 54914
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Serving clients throughout Appleton, Hooper Law Office is a professional legal practice with a sole focus on estate planning and elder law. The firm's attorneys work with clients to create customized plans that provide financially for family members and loved ones, minimize estate taxes and income taxes for beneficiaries, and delegate funds for nursing home costs when applicable. The firm assists with the preparation of documents such as wills, trusts, and power of attorney agreements, and it handles probate litigation matters.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Peter Harbach - Partner, Attorney at Law16 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.7
Facebook
4.7 / 5 (12)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
116 East Main Street, Little Chute, WI 54140
  • Wills
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Van Hoof & Schneider Law Firm is a legal practice based in the Appleton metro area that represents clients in estate planning proceedings and probate litigation matters. The firm's attorneys assist with the opening of probate, and they provide guidance to personal representatives and administrators throughout the entire process. Estate planning services the firm offers include advising on inheritance sizes, drafting last wills and testaments, creating powers of attorney agreements, and designating administrators and beneficiaries.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Casey Schneider - Partner30 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.4
Google
4.3 / 5 (8)
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (1)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
477 South Nicolet Road, Appleton, WI 54914
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Koeppl Law Offices SC is a legal firm in Appleton that handles estate planning and elder law cases. Founded in 2007, the practice assists with estate planning matters for large and small estates. The firm's attorneys provide guidance on estate taxes, asset protection, and the assigning of beneficiaries and administrators, and they help clients with the preparation of documents such as wills, trusts, medical directives, and powers of attorney agreements.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Jennifer Koeppl - Principal21 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
501 West Willow Street, Bear Creek, WI 54922
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Based in the Appleton metro area, Lorge & Lorge Law Firm that provides legal counsel to individuals and families in estate planning matters. In practice for over three decades, the firm assists parties with the drafting of last wills and testaments and power of attorney agreements, and its attorneys represent clients in probate litigation proceedings. Partner Gerald D. Lorge received his Juris Doctor from Marquette University Law School, and he became the successor to the practice in 1986.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Robert Lorge - Managing Partner38 yrs

Website
146 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh, WI 54903
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning

Why choose this provider?

Nathan Olson of Olson Legal Group LLC is an estate planning attorney near Appleton with over 10 years experience in estate law. Attorney Olson assists clients with the preparation of estate planning documents such as wills, trusts, and power of attorney agreements, and he handles a wide range of probate matters including opening probate, claims against estates, and locating beneficiaries. Mr. OIson is a graduate of Thomas M. Cooley Law School and a member of the State Bar of Wisconsin.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Nathan Olson - Principal17 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.9
Google
4.9 / 5 (66)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
5.0
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Website
51 Park Place, Appleton, WI 54914
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Estate Planning
  • Trust Administration
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Krause & Krause Attorneys at Law is a legal firm in Appleton that provides legal representation in estate planning and probate proceedings. The firm's attorneys assist clients through every step of the probate process from opening probate to final distribution of assets, and they review and advise on estate documents such as wills, trusts, and health care powers of attorney agreements. In addition to estate law, the firm handles business and real estate legal matters.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Steven Krause - Partner48 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
5.0
Avvo
5.0 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
222 Cherry Street, Green Bay, WI 54301
  • Estate Planning
  • Living Trust
  • Estate Taxes

Why choose this provider?

Ruder Ware is available to clients seeking probate attorneys near Appleton. This firm handles a variety of necessary responsibilities in order to move the probate process forward and deal with obstacles to property transfer, such as debts or unpaid taxes. Ruder Ware identifies and valuates assets, identifies and gathers heirs, and distributes those assets to beneficiaries. It also represents clients when estates are in dispute with tax authorities about the amount of money owed.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Ronald Metzler - Partner39 yrs

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.3
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
2800 East Enterprise Avenue, Appleton, WI 54913
  • Estate Planning
  • Probate Litigation

Why choose this provider?

Epiphany Law LLC, founded in 2004, is a law firm that serves the Appleton metro. The firm specializes in estate planning, such as providing probate services. It also handles business law, employment law, real estate law, and business litigation services. Its group of attorneys provide practical legal advice to clients and make it a point that they use words that clients find easy to understand. The lawyers ensure to return calls and emails of clients within a 24-hour period.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Kevin Eismann - Managing Partner28 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.0
Facebook
4.0 / 5 (11)
Google
4.0 / 5 (4)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
3.8
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail
––

Website
2 Neenah Center, Neenah, WI 54956
  • Trusts
  • Wills
  • Trust Administration
  • Estate Settlement

Why choose this provider?

Remley Law, S.C., is a private law practice near Appleton that provides legal services and litigation solutions to clients in the metro. The firm has been operating for more than 50 years and is composed of 10 lawyers with over 200 years of combined legal experience. Its legal team helps clients navigate their options in the probate process through services such as asset collection, debt liquidation, tax payments, trust administration, as well as asset distribution.

Attorney Information

Attorney NamesExperience
Timothy Anderson - Shareholder24 yrs

Reputation:

We scour the internet for reviews from well-known resources. Each provider is evaluated based on the quality and quantity of their reviews, their presence on multiple review sites, and their average minimum rating.
4.2
Google
4.0 / 5 (34)
Facebook
5.0 / 5 (12)
Yelp
3.0 / 5 (2)

Professionalism:

We hire mystery shoppers to call our providers anonymously and evaluate them. Providers who respond quickly, answer questions thoroughly, and communicate politely score higher.
4.5
Responsiveness
Friendliness
Helpfulness
Detail

Disclaimer:  Consumers utilizing Expertise.com are free to communicate and contract with any lawyer they choose. Expertise.com is not involved in the confidential attorney-client relationship. Featured lawyers pay a reasonable advertising cost to market their legal services withExpertise.com and must meet similar selection criteria as other lawyers. All cases are different. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the non-emergency contact number for the local police station in Appleton, Wisconsin?

    920-832-5500 is the non-emergency contact number for the Appleton Police Department.

  • What is the probate process in Appleton?

    The probate process in Appleton involves the filing of a petition with the appropriate probate court by the personal representative named in the will. The personal representative is responsible for several estate administration tasks, such as debt and tax payments and asset distribution to beneficiaries. Once these responsibilities are completed, the remaining assets can be distributed to the heirs and beneficiaries named in the will.

  • What types of documents are commonly discussed and reviewed in Appleton probate proceedings?

    Probate proceedings in Appleton typically discuss various types of documents, including revocable trusts, marital property agreements, and wills that include guardianship provisions for minor children. Other documents include health care directives, durable powers of attorney, and living wills. Probate attorneys play an important role in preparing the documents that are needed to open, administer, and close the probate estate.

  • Is a handwritten will by an Appleton resident valid?

    Yes, it is valid, but witnesses must attest to the Appleton testator's handwriting at the time of probate. A handwritten will, also known as a holographic will, is not normally witnessed or notarized. Wills come in a variety of formats, and a deceased person may have many wills or updated ones. The probate process may become more complicated as a result of this. A valid will must be in writing, signed by the decedent, and witnessed by two competent witnesses present at the time the will is written.

  • What are the common reasons for contesting a will in Appleton and the state of Wisconsin?

    The most common reasons for contesting a will in Appleton include the view that the testator lacked full testamentary capacity to understand the results of his or her actions. A will can also be challenged if there is evidence of fraud, mistakes, or noncompliance with formalities, such as signing the will. The best approach to resolving a will dispute is negotiation. However, heirs, beneficiaries, and probate attorneys must always be prepared to go to court if a fair deal cannot be achieved outside of court. 

  • Are all of the properties of an Appleton decedent administered in probate?

    No, certain types of property do not have to go through probate in Appleton following the owner's death. Properties owned as joint tenants with a right of survivorship fall within this category. By operation of law, this form of property passes to the co-owners. Retirement funds, such as IRAs and 401(k)s, are another form of non-probate property. Also included are bank accounts with pay-on-death designations.

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