Guide
About Wisconsin public records
Look up Wisconsin records for a person's background history, criminal records and personal information such as property ownership and divorces. Request marriages, death records, birth records from the state. Access the state of Wisconsin courts for divorce filings and other civil cases. See where and how to order copies of documents recorded and held by the state. Request official certificates from a list of government agencies.
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State background and court information
The state of Wisconsin is the 23rd largest state in size and 20th most populated with over 5.5 million residents. The state's economy begun with the fur trade with its first settlers to today's 10th largest manufacturer in the United States. Estimates put manufacturing over fifty billion dollars annually, approximately twenty percent of the state's gross income. Regardless of its manufacturing, Wisconsin is known as a major producer of cheese and dairy. 25 percent of all butter and cheese come from the dairy state also houses the largest food manufacturers of amongst states. Wisconsin is governed by a governor and its lieutenant, 33 state senators, assembly in 99 districts, attorney general heading state's department of justice, Supreme court with seven justices, State Superintendent of Public Instruction in charge of education, Secretary of state which oversees elections, voting, records and databases, and State Treasurer. The state capitol is located at 2 East Main Street in Madison and is recognized as a National Historic Monument. It houses the state's Supreme Court, governor's office and conference room where bills are heard, passed, press conferences, cabinet meetings and receptions are held. The state's legislature's two houses, Senate and Assembly, meet in the senate chambers located at the capitol building where meeting are held, debates and voting occurs. The 33 member Senate are elected to four-year terms and 99 Assembly members are elected to two year terms. Both, Senate and Assembly members must vote on bills to become law then sent to the Governor for signature. The Milwaukee State Office Building at 819 North 6th Street Milwaukee, is the central office location for the department of justice, corrections, health services, workforce development, transportation, revenue, financial institutions, children and family services, Milwaukee governor's office, board of aging and long term care and the state public defenders office.
The Wisconsin municipal courts have exclusive jurisdiction to hear cases which involve ordinance violations. If a municipality does not have a court, ordinance violations are heard in circuit court. Circuit courts have jurisdiction to hear all civil and criminal cases, including probate, juvenile, and traffic matters, as well as jury trials. State's court of appeals mostly handle cases of mandatory jurisdiction, meaning appeals from circuit courts required to hear under the Wisconsin's law. Wisconsin's highest court is the supreme court with jurisdiction over all lower courts, has discretion to determine which appeals it will hear, can also hear original actions, cases that have not been heard in a lower court. The court selects the cases it will review based on criteria described in state statutes.
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Court records and filings
Access Wisconsin Courts online directly. Search court records; from Wisconsin county courts to Supreme courts. Find criminal filings, Wisconsin dissolution of marriage or divorce records from official state websites. File small claims lawsuits. Bankruptcy courts by jurisdiction or by districts. Wisconsin state courts contact information such as telephone numbers and more.
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Court search routes
Criminal, civil and divorce records in Wisconsin can be held by more than one court, so search each court that may hold the case. The official court site below lists the Wisconsin courts and how to reach each one.
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Criminal records and background checks
Wisconsin court records are publicly accessible through the Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) case search system, which covers Wisconsin Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and all circuit courts. CCAP is one of the broadest state court record systems in the country. The Wisconsin DOC maintains a sex offender registry and offender locator system.
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Vital records
Certified copies of Wisconsin birth and death certificates are issued by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Marriage records are also kept by the local office that issued the license, and divorce records by the court that granted the divorce.
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Property and asset records
Deeds and mortgages in Wisconsin are recorded at the county level, and property taxes are handled by county or local offices. Business and UCC filings are kept by the state, bankruptcy cases are federal court records, and the state runs a free search for unclaimed property.
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Government records and agencies
Wisconsin.gov lists the state's agencies, and the Wisconsin Statutes are online from the Wisconsin State Legislature.
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Driving and vehicle records
The Wisconsin DMV, part of the Department of Transportation, keeps driver and vehicle records and handles plates and registration.
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Expungements and record clearing
In Wisconsin, an adult conviction can be expunged only if the judge orders it at sentencing; the law generally does not let an adult petition later. The person must have been under 25 at the time of the offense, the crime must carry six years or less, and the sentence must be completed. Expungement removes court records but does not set aside the conviction.
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Genealogy and historical research
For family history, start with the Wisconsin Historical Society, which keeps the state archives.
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Missing children resources
The Wisconsin Department of Justice runs the Clearinghouse for Missing and Exploited Children and Adults.
- Wisconsin missing persons clearinghouseWisconsin Department of Justice
- NamUsU.S. Justice Department database of missing and unidentified people
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