Losing someone is hard enough without a house full of decisions on top of it. Here's free, plain-English guidance for heirs in Madison and the surrounding Dane County area — no sign-up, no pressure, and we're never paid to push you toward selling.
If the estate has to go through probate, it's handled locally — for most of Madison that means the Dane County Circuit Court — Probate Division. Timelines, required forms, and the dollar thresholds for "small estate" shortcuts are set at the state and county level, so the right next step is talking to someone who knows the rules in Dane.
To confirm what the home is worth and how it's titled, the Madison Assessor keeps the property records, and local sales run through the South Central Wisconsin MLS. Your tax "basis" is usually stepped up to the home's value at the time of death — which can change what you owe if you sell.
We help families across Dane, Iowa, Sauk, Columbia.
Pick whatever's weighing on you most — each path opens with free information first.
Not every estate goes through it — it depends on how the home was titled, whether there's a will or trust, and Wisconsin rules. We'll help you find out.
Start with probate →Selling isn't the only option. Talk through whether it makes sense for you and what you'd actually walk away with after costs and the stepped-up basis.
Explore selling →Renting, holding, or renovating could be worth it. See what the numbers look like in your specific market before deciding.
Look at keeping it →Before you sell, rent, or move in, understand the home's real condition — and what fixing it up would actually take locally.
Check repairs →Serving heirs across Madison — including Maple Bluff, Shorewood Hills, Nakoma, Highlands, Sunset Hills, Middleton, Verona, Fitchburg.
Not always. Whether probate is required depends on how the home was titled, whether there's a will or living trust, the estate's value, and Wisconsin rules. Some homes pass automatically and skip probate; others go through the Dane County Circuit Court — Probate Division. We'll help you find out which applies to you — free.
It depends on the home's condition, whether probate is complete, and the local market. A vetted local agent can give you a realistic timeline and an estimate of your net proceeds after costs and the stepped-up basis. We'll connect you with one — there's no obligation.
Yes, completely. The vetted professionals in our network cover the cost of being matched with families they can genuinely help. We're never paid to push you toward selling or any single choice.
Tell us a little about your situation — about two minutes. We'll point you the right way and connect you with vetted local professionals. It's completely free, and every choice stays yours.
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