The department shall file a claim against the estate of a client, and against the estate of a nonclient surviving spouse, for the amount of aid under s. 49.785 paid to or on behalf of the client.

The affidavit of a person designated by the secretary to administer this subsection is evidence of the amount of the claim.

1. Property that is subject to the department’s claim under par. (a) or (am) in the estate of a client or in the estate of a nonclient surviving spouse is all property of a decedent that is included in the estate. 2. There is a presumption, consistent with s. 766.31, which may be rebutted, that all property in the estate of the nonclient surviving spouse was marital property held with the client and that 100 percent of the property in the estate of the nonclient surviving spouse is subject to the department’s claim under par. (a) or (am).

The court shall reduce the amount of a claim under par. (a) or (am) by up to the amount specified in s. 861.33 (2) if necessary to allow the decedent’s heirs or the beneficiaries of the decedent’s will to retain the following personal property: 1. The decedent’s wearing apparel and jewelry held for personal use. 2. Household furniture, furnishings and appliances. 3. Other tangible personal property not used in trade, agriculture or other business, not to exceed in value the amount specified in s. 861.33 (1) (a) 4.

1. If the department’s claim is not allowable because of par. (d) and the estate includes an interest in real property, including a home, the court exercising probate jurisdiction shall, in the final judgment or summary findings and order, assign the interest in the real property subject to a lien in favor of the department for the amount described in par. (a). The personal representative or petitioner for summary settlement or summary assignment of the estate shall record the final judgment as provided in s. 863.29, 867.01 (3) (h), or 867.02 (2) (h). 2. If the department’s claim is not allowable because of par. (d), the estate includes an interest in real property, including a home, and the personal representative closes the estate by sworn statement under s. 865.16, the personal representative shall stipulate in the statement that the real property is assigned subject to a lien in favor of the department for the amount described in par. (a). The personal representative shall record the statement in the same manner as described in s. 863.29, as if the statement were a final judgment.

The department may not enforce a lien under par. (e) as long as any of the following survive the decedent: 1. A spouse. 2. A child who is under age 21 or disabled.

All of the following apply to a lien under par. (e) that the department may not enforce because of par. (f): 1. If the decedent’s surviving spouse or child who is under age 21 or disabled refinances a mortgage on the real property, the lien is subordinate to the new encumbrance. 2. The department shall release the lien in the circumstances described in s. 49.849 (4) (c) 2.

The department may enforce a lien under par. (e) by foreclosure in the same manner as a mortgage on real property.