867.07 Grounds for appointment of special administrator. Whenever it appears by petition to the court that a person has died and the court would have jurisdiction for the administration of the person's estate, the court may appoint a special administrator if it appears that:
(1) There is no estate to be administered and an act should be performed on the part of the decedent, the performance of which affects or is of importance to the petitioner or any other person.
(2) The final judgment of distribution in the estate has been entered and an act remains unperformed in the estate, or that unadministered assets have been found or may be found belonging to the estate.
(3) The estate can be settled under s. 867.01 or 867.02.
(4) It is necessary to conserve or administer the estate of a decedent before letters can be issued to a personal representative.
(5) Circumstances provided for in s. 867.05 (5) and (6) exist.
(6) A cause of action exists for or against the decedent or the decedent's estate and that it is necessary that some act be performed before letters can be issued to a personal representative.
(7) Other circumstances exist which in the discretion of the court require the appointment of a special administrator.
History: 1971 c. 307 s. 118; 1977 c. 449; 1987 a. 27 s. 3202 (47) (a); 1993 a. 486.
Cross-reference: See s. 856.01 for jurisdiction for administration of estates.
This section does not provide a different procedure for taking depositions than that provided in ch. 804. In Matter of Estate of Berth, 157 Wis. 2d 717, 460 N.W.2d 436 (Ct. App. 1990).
A “Simple" Probate Should Not Be This Complicated: Principles and Proposals for Revising Wisconsin's Statutes for Probate Summary Procedures. Johnson. 2008 WLR 612.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 867 - Probate — summary procedures.
867.01 - Summary settlement of small estates.
867.02 - Summary assignment of small estates subject to claims of creditors.
867.03 - Transfer by affidavit.
867.04 - Termination of joint tenancy and life estate.
867.045 - Administrative joint tenancy or life estate termination for certain property.
867.046 - Summary confirmation of interest in property.
867.05 - Determination of descent of property.
867.07 - Grounds for appointment of special administrator.
867.09 - Who may petition for appointment of special administrator.
867.11 - Notice of hearing on petition for appointment of special administrator.
867.13 - Bond of special administrator.
867.15 - Letters of special administration; no appeal.
867.17 - Powers, duties and liabilities of special administrator.
867.19 - Compensation of special administrator.
867.21 - Termination of authority and discharge of special administrator.