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Wisconsin court records

Who holds it: Unified state trial court: one level of circuit courts handles all case types (civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, traffic) in all 72 counties; records are kept by the elected clerk of circuit court in each county (probate by the register in probate). Municipal courts handle local ordinance cases separately.1

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. What is public and what is sealed
  2. Related records in Wisconsin
  3. How Wisconsin handles it
  4. Court records in Wisconsin counties with a full guide
  5. Official warnings
  6. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  7. Sources

Fees

Clerk of circuit court: copies (certified or not) $1.25 per page; search without case number $14 (raised from $5 by 2025 Wis. Act 179 eff. 11-1-26); civil filing fee $130 (from $75, eff. 11-1-26) plus surcharges.2

Statewide case search

Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA), wcca.wicourts.gov - statewide public search of circuit court case summaries; case information is uploaded hourly.3

What is public and what is sealed

What is public
Court record summaries on WCCA are public records under the open records law; confidential case types (adoption, juvenile delinquency, child protection, TPR, guardianship, civil commitment) are not shown. Dismissed/acquitted criminal cases display for only 2 years; other cases for the SCR ch. 72 retention period.3
Sealed and confidential records
Judges may seal individual cases; expunged cases (eligible offenders under 25) are not displayed on WCCA, but expungement affects only the court record.4
Criminal history checks: state repository
Wisconsin DOJ Crime Information Bureau (CIB), Centralized Criminal History (CCH) database (fingerprint-supported records).5
Criminal history checks: online portal
Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS), recordcheck.doj.wi.gov5
Criminal history checks: fee
Name-based check $7 (Wis. Stat. 165.82(1)(am)); $5 surcharge for paper results, so mail form DJ-LE-250 lists $12 for general public; police certificate (fingerprint) $20; DHS caregiver checks add $8; no fee for criminal justice purposes.6
Divorce records: who holds it
Divorce judgment/decree: clerk of circuit court in the county where granted. Certificate of Divorce (one-page summary): State Vital Records Office and registers of deeds.7
Probate: who holds it
Register in probate of each county (appointed by the circuit judges); probate is a circuit court case type and appears on WCCA.8

How Wisconsin handles it

  • Marriage licenses come from the county clerk (any county), not the register of deeds or the court9
  • Probate records are kept by the register in probate (appointed by the judges), separate from the elected clerk of circuit court8
  • Paired circuit courts: Buffalo/Pepin, Florence/Forest and Shawano/Menominee share judges1
  • Court fee increases under 2025 Wis. Act 179 took effect November 1, 2026 (search $14, will deposit $35, civil filing $130); county fee sheets may lag2
  • State tax warrants (liens) are filed with the clerk of circuit court, not the register of deeds10

Court records in Wisconsin counties with a full guide

The local office, its official online search and its own fee, for each county with a full guide. Local fees can differ from the statewide figures above.

CountyOfficeSearch onlineFee
Brown County—Brown County Circuit Court11Clerk of circuit court copies (certified or not): $1.25 per page (Wis. Stat. 814.61(10))12
Dane County—Dane County Circuit Court13Search without a case number $14 per search (Wis. Stat. 814.61(11) as amended eff. 11-1-26); copies $1.25 per page (Wis. Stat. 814.61(10)); postage actual.14
Dodge County—Dodge County Circuit Court15Copies $1.25 per page; certification additional $14 per document; search without case number $1416
Eau Claire County—Eau Claire County Circuit Court17Copies of court documents $1.25/page, available through the Public Access Terminal at the Clerk of Court's office; card payments 2.95% service fee (minimum $3.99)18
Fond du Lac County—Fond du Lac County Circuit Court19Statute: copies $1.25 per page (certified or not) from the clerk of circuit court20
Jefferson County—Circuit Court21Clerk of circuit court: copies (certified or not) $1.25 per page; search without case number $14 (raised from $5 by 2025 Wis. Act 179 eff. 11-1-26); civil filing fee $130 (from $75, eff. 11-1-26) plus surcharges.22
Kenosha County—Kenosha County Circuit Court23—
La Crosse County—Wisconsin Circuit Court, La Crosse County24Fees: copy: $1.25 per page25
Manitowoc County—Manitowoc County Circuit Court26Copies $1.25 per page; certified $14 plus $1.25 per page; search with no case number $14 per action (chart effective November 1, 2026)27
Marathon County—Marathon County Circuit Court28—
Milwaukee County—Milwaukee County Circuit Court29Search without a case number $14 (statute, effective 11-1-26). certification $5 plus $1.25 per page; search $5 per action30
Outagamie County—Outagamie County Circuit Court31Copies $1.25 per page (Wis. Stat. 814.61(10))31
Ozaukee County—Ozaukee County Circuit Court32Fees: copies: $1.25 per page; $1 per page for probate33
Racine County—Racine County Circuit Court34Clerk of circuit court copies, certified or not: $1.25 per page (Wis. Stat. 814.61(10))35
Sheboygan County—Sheboygan County Circuit Court36Clerk of circuit court: copies (certified or not) $1.25 per page; search without case number $14 (raised from $5 by 2025 Wis. Act 179 eff. 11-1-26); civil filing fee $130 (from $75, eff. 11-1-26) plus surcharges.37
St. Croix County—St. Croix County Circuit Court38
St. Croix County Circuit Court, Probate and Juvenile39		Fees: copies: $1.25 per page40
Walworth County—Walworth County Circuit Court41Clerk of circuit court: copies (certified or not) $1.25 per page; search without case number $14 (raised from $5 by 2025 Wis. Act 179 eff. 11-1-26); civil filing fee $130 (from $75, eff. 11-1-26) plus surcharges.42
Washington County—Washington County Circuit Court43Clerk of circuit court copies, certified or otherwise: $1.25 per page (Wis. Stat. 814.61(10))44
Waukesha County—Waukesha County Circuit Court45Copies $1.25/page (Civil, Criminal/Traffic, Family, Juvenile); certification +$14.00 per document; record search $14.00 per name; exemplified (triple seal) $42.00 plus per page. Probate: $1.00/page, certification $3.00 per document, search $4.0045
Winnebago County—Wisconsin Circuit Court, Winnebago County46Copies $1.25 per page; certification $5 per document; exemplification $15 plus $1.25/page; name search fee $546

For any other county, see the county list on the Wisconsin guide.

Official warnings

  • Paid removal of court case information (Wisconsin Court System (WCCA))3

Official copies vs look-alike sites

A certified copy comes only from the office that holds the record; reports and "research copies" sold by commercial sites are not issued by any Wisconsin office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Rules in other states: court records in every state. Everything else in Wisconsin: Wisconsin public records guide.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Circuit Court: Function & overviewWisconsin Court Systemchecked November 4, 2026
  2. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  3. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) home/termsWisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 4, 2026
  4. WCCA Frequently Asked QuestionsWisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 4, 2026
  5. Criminal Background ChecksWisconsin Department of Justicechecked November 4, 2026
  6. Form DJ-LE-250 Single Name Record Request (includes text of Wis. Stat. 165.82)Wisconsin Department of Justice, Crime Information Bureauchecked November 4, 2026
  7. Vital Records: Requesting a Vital RecordWisconsin Department of Health Serviceschecked November 4, 2026
  8. Wis. Stat. ch. 851 Probate - Definitions and General Provisions (register in probate)Wisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  9. Wis. Stat. ch. 765 MarriageWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  10. Delinquent Tax FAQsWisconsin Department of Revenuechecked November 4, 2026
  11. Clerk of Circuit Court - General InformationBrown County Clerk of Circuit Courtarchived copychecked November 4, 2026
  12. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  13. Dane County Clerk of Circuit Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  14. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  15. EstatesDodge County, Wisconsinchecked November 7, 2026
  16. Request a RecordDodge County, Wisconsinchecked November 7, 2026
  17. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA)Wisconsin Court Systemchecked November 4, 2026
  18. Fees & Payment | Clerk of Circuit Courts OfficeEau Claire County Clerk of Circuit Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  19. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) home/termsWisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 4, 2026
  20. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  21. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) home/termsWisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 8, 2026
  22. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 8, 2026
  23. Kenosha Countychecked November 4, 2026
  24. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) home/termsWisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 7, 2026
  25. Clerk of Courts: Circuit Court InformationLa Crosse County, Wisconsinchecked November 7, 2026
  26. General Court InformationManitowoc Countychecked November 8, 2026
  27. Wisconsin Circuit Court Fee, Forfeiture, Fine and Surcharge TablesPosted by Manitowoc County Clerk of Circuit Courtchecked November 8, 2026
  28. Wisconsin Circuit Court AccessState of Wisconsinchecked November 7, 2026
  29. Clerk of Circuit Courts | Courts | Milwaukee CountyMilwaukee County Clerk of Circuit Courtchecked November 4, 2026
  30. Wisconsin Statutes ch. 814 (published 10-1-26)Wisconsin Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  31. Clerk of Circuit CourtsOutagamie County, Wisconsinchecked November 7, 2026
  32. Access Court RecordsOzaukee Countychecked November 4, 2026
  33. Record RequestOzaukee Countychecked November 4, 2026
  34. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA)Wisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 4, 2026
  35. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  36. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) home/termsWisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 4, 2026
  37. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  38. Clerk of Courts FAQs | St. Croix County, WISt. Croix County, Wisconsinchecked November 4, 2026
  39. Register in Probate | St. Croix County, WISt. Croix County, Wisconsinchecked November 4, 2026
  40. Circuit Court Fees | St. Croix County, WISt. Croix County, Wisconsinchecked November 4, 2026
  41. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) home/termsWisconsin Court System (Director of State Courts)checked November 4, 2026
  42. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court Costs, Fees, and SurchargesWisconsin Legislature (Legislative Reference Bureau)checked November 4, 2026
  43. Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA)Wisconsin Court Systemchecked November 4, 2026
  44. Wis. Stat. ch. 814 Court costs, fees and surchargesWisconsin Legislaturechecked November 4, 2026
  45. Court Record InformationWaukesha County Circuit Courtschecked November 4, 2026
  46. Records / Copy RequestsWinnebago County, Wisconsinarchived copychecked November 4, 2026