Not a government site. We do not sell records or host personal data. About us

County Records Guide
Menu

Milwaukee County, Wisconsin public records

In Milwaukee County, deeds are recorded by the Register of Deeds; court files are kept by the Clerk of Circuit Court: Civil Division.

Last checked against official sources on .

On this page
  1. Where to get each record
  2. Deeds and land records
  3. Property values, owners and tax bills
  4. Court records: which clerk keeps which case
  5. Marriage records
  6. Divorce records
  7. Birth certificates
  8. Death certificates
  9. Probate records and wills
  10. Historical records
  11. Good to know about Milwaukee County records
  12. Office addresses, phones and hours
  13. Records that are not online: public records requests
  14. Questions people ask
  15. Official copies vs look-alike sites
  16. Sources

Where to get each record

RecordOfficeSearch onlineFee
Deeds and land recordsRegister of Deeds4Search deeds23Fee charged$2 for the first page, $1 for each additional page of the same document (most deeds total $14 per county page)2
Property tax billsCounty Treasurer5Tax bill search6—
Court casesClerk of Circuit Court: Civil Division7Milwaukee County Circuit Court7Search without a case number $14 (statute, effective 11-1-26). certification $5 plus $1.25 per page; search $5 per action8
Marriage recordsRegister of Deeds: Vital Records9—$20 for first copy + $3 for each additional copy; $3 service fee in person9
Divorce recordsClerk of Circuit Court7—Decree fee: $5 copy of decree; +$5 certified10
Birth certificatesRegister of Deeds: Vital Records9—$20 for first copy + $3 for each additional copy; $3 in-person service fee9
Death certificatesRegister of Deeds: Vital Records9—$20 for first copy + $3 for each additional copy9
Probate and willsRegister in Probate11Search probate cases11Own search free; copies $1 per page; will safekeeping $10. Search without a case number $14 by statute from 11-1-26; the same county page printed a $4 mailed search fee11

Deeds and land records

Deeds, mortgages and other land documents for property in Milwaukee County are recorded by the Register of Deeds.4

Online search
tapestry.fidlar.com/Tapestry22Fee charged
Cost
Fee3
Who runs it
Fidlar Technologies (Tapestry; Laredo subscription)2
Years online
All recordings 1962-present by name/tract/document number; deeds from April 1, 1948 by name; deeds 1835-March 31, 1948 by document number or book & page only2
Copy fee
$2 for the first page, $1 for each additional page of the same document (most deeds total $14 per county page)2
Certified copy fee
$1 per document certification, plus copy charges2
Search fee
$10, only if no recorded document number is provided2
How to order
Online via Tapestry; by US mail with document type/number, name, property address, phone and check to 'Milwaukee County Register of Deeds'; or in person (appointment or walk-in)2
Card fee
$2.50 or 3% (whichever is greater) for credit/debit card payments2
Older records
Digital Reel: City Tax Assessor grantor/grantee index by tax key number, 1920s-19892

How deeds work in Wisconsin

Property values, owners and tax bills

The County Treasurer bills and collects the tax5.

Who collects
County Treasurer collects delinquent taxes for all municipalities except the City of Milwaukee, whose treasurer collects its own6

How property tax works in Wisconsin

Court records: which clerk keeps which case

CourtCasesRecords kept byCase search
Milwaukee County Circuit Court (unified state trial court: criminal, civil, family, probate, children's)Criminal and traffic (Criminal Division); civil and family incl. large/small claims, eviction, paternity, divorce (Civil Division); children's court7Clerk of Circuit Court: Civil Division (civil and family)wcca.wicourts.gov7
Fees
Search without a case number $14 (statute, effective 11-1-26). certification $5 plus $1.25 per page; search $5 per action8
Divorce decree
Written request with case number; search without a case number $14 by statute from 11-1-26. Form as printed: $5 copy of decree; +$5 certification; copies $1.25 per page; up to 2-3 weeks10

Criminal records and background checks

How Wisconsin courts keep their files

Marriage records

Kept by the Register of Deeds: Vital Records.9

Fee
$20 for first copy + $3 for each additional copy; $3 service fee in person9
Availability
All marriage records in the office can be issued9
Marriage license
Marriage license from the County Clerk, Courthouse Room 105, $120, by appointment13
Index from
Marriage records from the 1830s9

Wisconsin marriage records, statewide

Divorce records

Kept by the Clerk of Circuit Court.7

Certificate
Divorce certificates from Jan. 1, 2016 at the Register of Deeds; earlier via Clerk of Courts civil records request9
Decree fee
$5 copy of decree; +$5 certified10

Wisconsin divorce records: decree or state record

Birth certificates

Kept by the Register of Deeds: Vital Records.9

Fee
$20 for first copy + $3 for each additional copy; $3 in-person service fee9
Eligibility
Certified copy only for persons with a 'direct and tangible interest'9
Statewide
Can issue Wisconsin birth certificates from Oct. 1, 1907 statewide9
Order
In person (Room G6), by mail, or online via VitalChek / Official Records Online (extra fees); on-demand orders by 2 p.m. ready same day9

Ordering a Wisconsin birth certificate

Death certificates

Kept by the Register of Deeds: Vital Records.9

Fee
$20 for first copy + $3 for each additional copy9
Statewide
Wisconsin death certificates from Sept. 1, 2013 statewide9
Local from
Death records from 18729

Ordering a Wisconsin death certificate

Probate records and wills

Kept by the Register in Probate (Probate Court).11

Online search
wcca.wicourts.gov11
Pre
Records before 1985 only in person at Room 20711
Fees
Own search free; copies $1 per page; will safekeeping $10. Search without a case number $14 by statute from 11-1-26; the same county page printed a $4 mailed search fee11

Finding a will or probate case in Wisconsin

Historical records

Probate from
Probate records back to the 1830s11
Vitals from
Births from the 1850s, deaths from 1872, marriages from the 1830s; genealogy appointments in Room G69
Deeds from
Deeds from 1835 (by document number or book & page)2

Good to know about Milwaukee County records

  • The Register of Deeds can issue Wisconsin birth certificates statewide from 1907, not only Milwaukee County births9
  • County Treasurer does not collect City of Milwaukee delinquent taxes; the City Treasurer does6
  • Criminal records are in the Safety Building (821 W. State St.), not the Courthouse7
  • Milwaukee County established in 18352
  • Clerk of Circuit Court warned of a traffic-ticket payment email scam7

Office addresses, phones and hours

Register of Deeds

Address
901 N. 9th St., Room 103, Milwaukee, WI 532332
Mail
901 N. 9th St., Room 103, Milwaukee, WI 532332
Phone
(414) 278-4021 (main); (414) 278-4001 (real estate records); Spanish 414-335-0723; fax (414) 223-12574
Hours
8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday through Friday2

Register of Deeds: Vital Records

Address
901 N. 9th Street, Room G6, Milwaukee, WI 532339
Mail
901 N. 9th Street, Room G6, Milwaukee WI 532339
Hours
Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.9

County Clerk

Address
Courthouse, Room 105, 901 N. 9th St., Milwaukee13
Hours
Marriage license applications Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment13

County Treasurer

Address
901 N. 9th St., Room 102, Milwaukee, WI 532335
Mail
Milwaukee County Treasurer, 901 N. 9th St., Room 102, Milwaukee, WI 532336
Hours
Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding national holidays6

Clerk of Circuit Court: Criminal Division

Address
Room 117, Milwaukee County Safety Building, 821 W. State Street, Milwaukee7
Phone
(414) 278-4190 (Clerk of Circuit Court, general)7
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday7

Clerk of Circuit Court: Civil Division (civil and family)

Address
Room 104, Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 532337
Mail
Courthouse, 901 North 9th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53233 (Record Center; payable to Clerk of Circuit Courts)10
Phone
Record Center (414) 278-4135; general (414) 278-419010
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday7

Clerk of Circuit Court

Civil Division (family cases incl. divorce, paternity)

Address
Room 104, Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 532337
Phone
Record Center (414) 278-413510
Hours
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday7

Register in Probate (Probate Court)

Address
Room 207, Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N. 9th St., Milwaukee11
Phone
(414) 278-4452 (appointments for closed/microfilmed records); (414) 278-444411
Hours
8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.11

Milwaukee County Land Information Office (MCLIO)

Address
600 N Plankinton Ave, Suite 600, Milwaukee, WI 5320312

Records that are not online: public records requests

Where to send it
In person at the department, by mail, phone, email, or MyCounty portal; Register of Deeds handles vital and real estate records14

How to write a public records request

Questions people ask

How do I get a copy of a deed in Milwaukee County?

The Register of Deeds keeps deed records. To order copies: Online via Tapestry; by US mail with document type/number, name, property address, phone and check to 'Milwaukee County Register of Deeds'; or in person (appointment or walk-in). Plain copies: $2 for the first page, $1 for each additional page of the same document (most deeds total $14 per county page). Certified copies: $1 per document certification, plus copy charges.42

Can I search Milwaukee County land records online for free?

No, the official online search charges a fee. The official search: tapestry.fidlar.com/Tapestry232

How much is a birth certificate in Milwaukee County?

$20 for first copy + $3 for each additional copy; $3 in-person service fee.9

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 Milwaukee County office. How to tell an official record source from a paid look-alike.

Other counties in Wisconsin with a full guide: Brown County, Dane County, Dodge County, Eau Claire County, Fond du Lac County, Jefferson County, Kenosha County, La Crosse County, Manitowoc County, Marathon County, Outagamie County, Ozaukee County, Racine County, Sheboygan County, St. Croix County, Walworth County, Washington County, Waukesha County, Winnebago County. Every county in the state: Wisconsin county list.

Sources

Every fact above links to the official page it comes from; all 15 sources were checked on November 4, 2026. Fees and rules change, so check the office's own page before you pay or travel.

  1. Government Units List 2026US Census Bureau
  2. Real Estate Records | Milwaukee County Register of DeedsMilwaukee County Register of Deeds
  3. How to Search Tapestry (PDF)Milwaukee County Register of Deeds
  4. Milwaukee County Register of Deeds
  5. Milwaukee County Treasurer | Milwaukee CountyMilwaukee County Treasurer
  6. Delinquent Property Taxes | Treasurer | Milwaukee CountyMilwaukee County Treasurer
  7. Clerk of Circuit Courts | Courts | Milwaukee CountyMilwaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court
  8. Wisconsin Statutes ch. 814 (published 10-1-26)Wisconsin Legislature
  9. Vital Records | Register of Deeds | Milwaukee CountyMilwaukee County Register of Deeds
  10. STATE OF WISCONSIN, CIRCUIT COURT, MILWAUKEE COUNTYMilwaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court
  11. Probate CourtMilwaukee County Circuit Court, Register in Probate
  12. County of Milwaukee | DAS | Land Information OfficeMilwaukee County Land Information Office
  13. County of Milwaukee | County Clerk | Milwaukee County Marriage License | Milwaukee County ClerkMilwaukee County Clerk
  14. County of Milwaukee | Milwaukee County | Public Records RequestMilwaukee County
  15. County population totals: Vintage 2025 (July 1, 2025)US Census Bureau