How to Change a Name on a Tax Bill
If you would like the property tax records to reflect a change of name, you may need to record
documentation with the Register of Deeds office. We encourage consultation with appropriate
legal authorities.
Death of a Spouse
If you are requesting that a name be removed due to the death of a spouse, you must record
either a "Final Judgment" or a "Termination of Decedents Interest" form depending on how
title was held. You can determine how title was held by looking at your deed.
If you held title as "joint tenancy" or "survivorship marital property", you need to record a
"Termination of Decedents Interest" form. You can obtain forms needed at the Register of
Deeds Office along with instructions on how to fill them out. The phone number for the
Register of Deeds is (608) 266-4141.
If you held title as "tenants in common", Termination of Decedents Interest cannot be used.
In this case you probably need to record the "Final Judgment". You may wish to consult your
attorney first to see if this has already been done.
Marriage
If you wish to change the last name due to a marriage, we can add your new name to what is
already on the record, but we cannot remove the name that is reflected on your deed without
a new deed being recorded. It is possible to obtain a copy of a Quit Claim Deed from most
business supply stores. After this is filled out, take it to the Register of Deeds office
to be recorded. You will also need to fill out a copy of the Wisconsin Real Estate Transfer
Return. You can get a copy of this form at the Register of Deeds office. For information
on recording fees, contact the Register of Deeds at (608) 266-4141.
Divorce
If you wish to change a name, or remove a name, due to divorce, you must have a Quit Claim
Deed or Final Judgment recorded in the register of Deeds Office. In cases where you are
resuming use of a maiden name you need to make sure the Quit Claim Deed reflects this change.
Quite often the deed is made out in the married name. In most cases one of these documents
already exists. However, sometimes these documents are not recorded and no change can be
completed until they are recorded at the Register of Deeds office.
If one of these documents has been recorded and Dane County has not changed the records,
please let us know as soon as possible. Please include information about the documents
such as the date recorded or the document number.
How to Submit Your Request
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Email requests should be directed to property.listing@countyofdane.com
with the information above.
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Or Mailed to:
Dane County Planning & Development
Attention: Property Listing
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Room 116
Madison WI 53703
These requests are not taken by phone.
More information is available from Dane County Property Listing here:
http://www.countyofdane.com/PLANDEV/records/property_listing_faq.aspx