Washburn County, Wisconsin Court Filing
Fee Lookup

Court filing fees in Washburn County, Wisconsin are collected by the Washburn County Circuit Court in Shell Lake according to Wisconsin's statutory fee schedule, plus any local surcharges authorized by county ordinance. Wisconsin's court structure — Circuit Court (unified — all divisions: civil, family, probate, small claims) — determines which courthouse accepts which case types and what fees apply.

The Washburn County Circuit Court operates as a smaller court handling civil matters alongside other case types. Confirming the current fee schedule with the clerk's office is recommended, as fees can change when new state legislation takes effect or when the county updates its local surcharge schedule.

For the full Wisconsin court filing fee schedule, see our Wisconsin Court Filing Fees.

The Washburn County Circuit Court is located at 10 4th Ave, Shell Lake WI 54871. The court clerk can be reached at (715) 468-4677.

Visit the court's website for current forms, fee schedules, and filing instructions. Electronic filing is available.

Office hours: Mon–Fri 8:00 AM–4:30 PM.

• Filing fees in Washburn County are based on Wisconsin's statutory schedule, which applies statewide, plus any local surcharges assessed by the county. For reference, the statewide base fees by case type are: probate and estate filings — $184–$250 (Circuit Court — Probate Division)
• civil complaints and appearances — $184–$264 (Circuit Court)
• family law matters (divorce, custody, support) — $184–$264 (Circuit Court — Family Division)
• small claims filings — $94–$118 (Circuit Court — Small Claims Division). These figures represent the state-level base
• the total amount due at the Washburn County Circuit Court in Shell Lake may include additional local charges.

As a smaller jurisdiction, Washburn County typically operates with modest local surcharges, though the base state filing fees apply uniformly.

• Beyond the initial filing fee, Washburn County litigants and estate administrators should budget for recurring court costs throughout the proceeding: fees for filing subsequent motions and responses, charges for certified copies of letters testamentary or court orders (typically $5 to $25 per document in Wisconsin), jury demand deposits in civil cases, and in probate matters, fees associated with filing the inventory, accountings, and petition for discharge.
• For a complete picture of expected court costs in Washburn County, request the full fee schedule from the Washburn County Circuit Court clerk in Shell Lake before initiating the proceeding.

Wisconsin is expanding e-filing across its court system. The Washburn County Circuit Court in Shell Lake may still accept or require paper filings for some case types.

Contact the clerk directly to confirm requirements for your case type and whether a convenience fee (typically $2–$8 per transaction) applies. For full statewide e-filing details, see our Wisconsin Court Filing Fees.

• Washburn County residents who cannot afford court filing fees may apply for a fee waiver under Wis.
• Stat. § 814.29.
• To apply, file a declaration of financial condition with the Washburn County Circuit Court clerk's office in Shell Lake at the time of your initial filing.
• The declaration lists all household income sources, monthly expenses, assets, and liabilities.
• A judge or court commissioner reviews the application and issues an order granting or denying the waiver, typically within a few days of submission.

• Eligibility for a fee waiver in Washburn County generally requires that household income fall at or below 125% to 200% of the federal poverty level, or that the applicant is receiving qualifying public benefits — commonly Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, or public housing assistance.
• The specific income thresholds and qualifying programs are defined in Wis.
• Stat. § 814.29 and may have been updated by recent legislation.
• Ask the Washburn County Circuit Court clerk in Shell Lake for the current income guidelines before completing your declaration.

• A granted fee waiver covers filing fees charged by the Washburn County Circuit Court — including initial filing fees and subsequent filings in the same case — but does not cover costs owed to third parties.
• In Washburn County probate proceedings, a fee waiver does not eliminate the cost of publishing a notice to creditors in a newspaper of general circulation (a statutory requirement in most states), service of process fees paid to process servers or the sheriff's office, or costs for court-ordered appraisals.
• Budget for these additional costs separately even when a fee waiver is in effect.