AccessDane is an online application that displays geographic and land information within
Dane County. You can search for individual properties, interact with graphical maps, and
find other geographic information.
1) The name on AccessDane is incorrect. Can you change this?
Our office is required to list the owners of real estate according to the recorded documents
in the Register of Deeds office. If there was no type of documentation to change the ownership
in the property (quit claim deed, divorce judgment, etc.) we do not have any way of changing
the names. In this case, you may wish to check with the attorney handling the divorce about
transferring the property.
2) My spouse and I have divorced. Why does his/her name still appear on AccessDane?
Similar to the first answer, our office is required to list the owners of real estate according
to the recorded documents in the Register of Deeds office. If there was no type of documentation
to change the ownership in the property (quit claim deed, divorce judgment, etc.) we do not have
any way of changing the names. In this case, you may wish to check with the attorney handling
the divorce about transferring the property.
3) My spouse has passed away, but the assessment notice and tax bill still shows the name. How
can I get their name removed?
It depends on how the title to the property was held. If the property was held in joint tenancy
or survivorship marital property, you can file a Termination of Decedent's Interest form with
the Register of Deeds office. This form is available at the Register of Deeds office and the
staff can provide you with instructions on filling out the form. If the property was not titled
this way, you may wish to contact an attorney to help transfer the property, especially if the
property needs to go through probate.
4) I was married recently. Why hasn't my name been changed on AccessDane?
If you haven't recorded any document to transfer the title to your property since your
marriage, the name reflected on the tax bill and assessment notice will be the same as listed
on the conveyance where you took title. To change the ownership, you may contact an attorney
to prepare the documents. Or, if you feel comfortable doing it yourself, you may download the
deed forms from the Wisconsin state bar website at
www.wisbar.org/forms/.
5) I don't believe my property assessment is correct. Can you change it?
Our office is required to maintain the values established by the assessor for your
municipality. If you do not agree with your values, you should first contact your assessor to
discuss it. A good source of information is the state Department of Revenue website at
www.dor.state.wi.us/, which contains information on
property owners' rights and information about the assessment process in the forms and
publications sections.
6) We just bought a brand new lot this year, but the tax bill came in the previous owner's
name. Why hasn't this information been updated on AccessDane?
When new lots, or parcels are created during the year, new parcel numbers are assigned.
However, the thing to keep in mind is that assessments are based on how the property
existed on January 1 of the given year. The tax bill will be sent as a whole to the person
that owned the property when it was split. If a new subdivision or CSM or deed creates new
parcels during the year, those parcels will not be assessable and taxable until the
following year. What can you do to receive your tax bill? Contact the treasurer for your
municipality, who is authorized by statute to split the tax bill for you upon your request.