Franksville, Wisconsin Public Records

Franksville, Racine County is served by several law enforcement agencies, including the Racine County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments such as the Racine Police Department, Mount Pleasant Police Department, and Caledonia Police Department. Each department has jurisdiction over its respective area, with the Sheriff's Office handling unincorporated regions. These agencies coordinate on major crimes and emergencies to ensure comprehensive public safety coverage throughout the county.

The Racine County Jail, located in the city of Racine, is the main detention facility for the county. The booking process involves fingerprinting, photographing, and recording personal information of the arrested individuals. Inmate information can be accessed through the Racine County Sheriff's Office website, which provides an inmate lookup tool. Visitation rules are specific to the facility, requiring visitors to schedule appointments in advance. The bond and bail process follows Wisconsin state guidelines, allowing for cash bonds or bail bonds through a licensed agent.

Franksville residents are served by the Racine County Circuit Court system, with the main courthouse located at 730 Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, WI 53403 (phone: 262-636-3133). The Racine County Circuit Court handles all criminal felony and misdemeanor cases originating in Franksville, as well as civil matters (contract disputes, personal injury, and other lawsuits), family law cases (divorce, custody, child support, paternity), probate and estate matters, small claims cases up to $10,000, juvenile delinquency and dependency matters, and traffic citations. As an unincorporated community, Franksville has no municipal court; all legal matters proceed directly to the county-level circuit court system. Wisconsin circuit courts are courts of general jurisdiction organized under Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 753. The Racine County Clerk of Courts Office, located at the same 730 Wisconsin Avenue address (phone: 262-636-3133), maintains all court case files and provides public access to records. Wisconsin's Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP) provides free online access to circuit court records statewide at wcca.wicourts.gov, where users can search by name, case number, or party to view case summaries, charges, dispositions, judgments, and hearing schedules for Racine County cases. However, certain sensitive records such as sealed cases, certain juvenile matters, and some family court documents may be restricted from online viewing. For certified copies of court documents, the Clerk of Courts charges $5.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page as of 2024. Document copying fees are $1.25 per page. Case filing fees vary: small claims filing is approximately $94.50, civil case filing ranges from $169.50 to $349.50 depending on case value, and family law filings (divorce, custody) are approximately $184.50, though fee amounts are subject to periodic adjustment by state statute.

The criminal records system in Racine County encompasses felony, misdemeanor, traffic offenses, and the sex offender registry. The Racine County Sheriff's Office and local police departments maintain these records, while the Wisconsin Department of Justice provides statewide background checks. Residents can request background checks through the Wisconsin Bureau of Investigation, which provides detailed criminal history reports. The county also participates in the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access program, allowing public access to court records online.

Arrest records in Racine County are maintained by the Racine County Sheriff's Office. These records include details of the arrest, charges, and booking information. Residents and attorneys can request arrest records by contacting the Sheriff's Office directly, following the procedures outlined under the Wisconsin Open Records Law. A Racine County arrest record typically includes the individual's name, date of arrest, charges, and any court dates associated with the case.

Property and land records for Franksville are maintained by Racine County offices. The Racine County Assessor's Office is located at 14200 Washington Avenue, Sturtevant, WI 53177 (phone: 262-886-8440), and provides property assessment data for all parcels in Franksville and the Town of Raymond. Property tax assessments, parcel identification numbers, legal descriptions, assessed values, property classifications, and ownership information are searchable online through the Racine County Property Information Portal at racinecounty.com/government/property-listing-search. This free public database allows users to search by owner name, property address, or parcel number to view current and historical assessment data, property characteristics (square footage, year built, lot size), and tax information. The Racine County Register of Deeds, located at 730 Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, WI 53403 (phone: 262-636-3208, website: racinecounty.com/government/register-of-deeds), is responsible for recording and maintaining land records including warranty deeds, quit claim deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, plats, surveys, land contracts, and other instruments affecting real property titles in Franksville. Wisconsin law requires that all real estate conveyances be recorded with the county Register of Deeds to establish proper chain of title. The Register of Deeds office provides free online access to recorded documents dating back multiple decades through the Racine County Land Records Portal at racinecounty.com/landrecords, where users can search by grantor/grantee name, document type, recording date, or parcel number. Document images can be viewed and printed at no charge. To obtain certified copies of recorded documents, the fee is $4.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. The county also maintains a Geographic Information System (GIS) parcel viewer accessible through the county website, displaying parcel boundaries, zoning, floodplains, and aerial imagery for all Franksville properties.

Franksville's economy is characterized by a mix of agricultural operations, small commercial businesses along the Highway 11 corridor, and residential development serving commuters to Racine and Milwaukee. Historically an agricultural community, Franksville still maintains active farming operations including dairy farms, crop production (corn, soybeans, hay), and specialty agriculture. The community's location along State Highway 11 has attracted commercial development including auto service businesses, small retail establishments, restaurants, and service providers. Major employers in the immediate Franksville area include local agricultural operations, the Franksville Specialty Agricultural Research Station operated by the University of Wisconsin-Extension system, and various small manufacturing and distribution businesses. Many Franksville residents commute to larger employment centers including the city of Racine (home to SC Johnson, CNH Industrial, and various manufacturing facilities), Kenosha (automotive and manufacturing), and the Milwaukee metro area. The nearby Village of Caledonia and Village of Sturtevant provide additional employment opportunities in retail and light industrial sectors. Racine County's median household income was approximately $66,000 as of recent Census estimates, with Franksville-area households generally reflecting county averages. The community has experienced gradual residential growth over the past two decades as families seek more affordable housing in rural settings while maintaining access to southeastern Wisconsin employment corridors. The Richard Bong State Recreation Area, located partially within the Town of Raymond near Franksville, contributes to the area's quality of life and attracts some outdoor recreation tourism. Recent economic development has focused on balancing agricultural preservation with carefully managed residential and commercial growth along existing highway corridors. Franksville's economy remains closely integrated with the broader Racine County economic base, which includes manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, education, and retail sectors.

Franksville is an unincorporated community with no municipal police department; law enforcement services are provided exclusively by the Racine County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 717 Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, WI 53403 (phone: 262-636-3200, website: www.racinecountysheriff.com). The Sheriff's Office maintains patrol jurisdiction over Franksville and the Town of Raymond, responding to all calls for service including traffic enforcement, criminal investigations, and emergency response. To request police reports, incident records, or accident reports involving Franksville locations, residents must contact the Sheriff's Office Records Division at the Wisconsin Avenue address or submit requests in writing. Wisconsin's Public Records Law, Wisconsin Statutes §19.31-19.39, governs access to law enforcement records; while most incident reports are public, active investigation records and certain sensitive materials may be temporarily exempt. Arrest and booking records for individuals detained in Franksville are processed through the Racine County Jail, located at 717 Wisconsin Avenue adjacent to the Sheriff's Office. The Racine County Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate search system accessible through www.racinecountysheriff.com, where the public can search current jail bookings by name or booking date. The inmate roster typically displays mugshots, full legal names, charges filed, bond amounts, booking dates, and projected release dates. For historical arrest records or warrant information, formal public records requests must be submitted to the Sheriff's Records Division. Wisconsin statute requires law enforcement agencies to respond to public records requests "as soon as practicable and without delay," though complex requests may take several business days to fulfill depending on the volume of records requested.

Vital records for Franksville residents are managed by both Racine County and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Birth and death certificates for events occurring in Franksville are available from the Racine County Register of Deeds/Vital Records Office at 730 Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, WI 53403 (phone: 262-636-3208). Birth certificates cost $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously; death certificates are also $20 for the first copy and $3 for additional copies. The Racine County office maintains records for births and deaths occurring within Racine County. For statewide access or older records, the Wisconsin Vital Records Office, located at 1 West Wilson Street, Madison, WI 53703 (phone: 608-266-1371, website: www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords), maintains centralized records of all Wisconsin births and deaths. Wisconsin birth records are confidential for 100 years from the date of birth; only the subject (if of legal age), parents, legal representatives, or individuals with a direct and tangible interest may request certified copies with proper identification. Death records are public 50 years after the date of death. Online ordering is available through the VitalChek service at www.vitalchek.com for both state and county records, with additional service fees of approximately $10-15. Processing time for mail requests is typically 3-4 weeks; in-person requests at the county office can be fulfilled the same day if records are readily available. Marriage licenses for Franksville residents are issued by the Racine County Clerk's Office at 730 Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, WI 53403 (phone: 262-636-3121). The marriage license fee is $110, and both parties must apply in person with valid photo identification and Social Security numbers. Wisconsin requires a 6-day waiting period between license application and the ceremony, and licenses are valid for 30 days. Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $5 for the first copy and $3 for additional copies. Divorce records (divorce decrees and final judgments) are maintained by the Racine County Clerk of Courts as part of court case files and can be accessed through the circuit court system as described in the court records section above.

Franksville, as an unincorporated community, does not issue its own municipal business licenses. Business licensing and regulation occur at the county and state levels. The Town of Raymond may require certain permits for home-based businesses or zoning approvals for commercial operations; prospective business owners should contact the Town of Raymond Clerk's Office at 2255 76th Street, Sturtevant, WI 53177 (phone: 262-886-1702) for local zoning and permit requirements. Fictitious business name (DBA) registration in Wisconsin is required when operating a business under a name different from the owner's legal name. Sole proprietors and partnerships must register with the Racine County Register of Deeds at 730 Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, WI 53403 (phone: 262-636-3208); the registration fee is $30 and filings are valid indefinitely but may require periodic renewal. The Register of Deeds maintains an index of trade names searchable at the county office. Business entity formation (corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships) is handled exclusively by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The state maintains a searchable online database of all registered business entities at www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpSearch, where users can search by business name, registered agent, or entity number to view corporate status, formation date, registered office address, officers, and annual report filing status. LLC formation requires filing Articles of Organization with a $130 filing fee; corporate formation requires Articles of Incorporation with a $100 filing fee. All Wisconsin business entities must file annual reports to maintain good standing. Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) financing statements and lien searches are also filed with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and searchable online at www.wdfi.org. For professional licenses (contractors, cosmetologists, healthcare providers), the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) maintains license databases at dsps.wi.gov. Commercial property tax assessments for businesses operating in Franksville can be researched through the Racine County Assessor's property search system described in the property records section above. Business personal property (equipment, inventory, furniture) may also be subject to assessment and should be reported to the Town of Raymond Assessor by March 1 annually.

Franksville voters are served by the Racine County Clerk's Office, located at 730 Wisconsin Avenue, Racine, WI 53403 (phone: 262-636-3121, website: racinecounty.com/government/county-clerk). The County Clerk administers all federal, state, county, and town-level elections for Franksville residents, who vote in Town of Raymond precincts. Wisconsin offers online voter registration through the MyVote Wisconsin portal at myvote.wi.gov, where eligible Franksville residents can register to vote, update their registration, request absentee ballots, and view sample ballots. Wisconsin requires voter registration at least 20 days before an election; online registration is available year-round and requires a valid Wisconsin driver license or state ID card. Voters must provide proof of residence through approved documents such as a utility bill, bank statement, or residential lease. As an unincorporated community, Franksville has no municipal government elections (no mayor or city council). Franksville voters participate in Town of Raymond elections for town board supervisors, town clerk, and town treasurer, typically held during the spring election in April of odd-numbered years. To find assigned polling places for any election, Franksville residents should visit myvote.wi.gov and enter their residential address; the system displays polling location, sample ballot, and elected officials. Wisconsin law makes numerous election records publicly accessible: voter registration lists are available through the Wisconsin Elections Commission, campaign finance reports are searchable at ethics.wi.gov, candidate filing information is maintained by the County Clerk and state Elections Commission, and precinct-level election results are posted on the Racine County Clerk's website following certification. In the November 2024 presidential election, Racine County reported approximately 63% voter turnout with roughly 95,000 ballots cast from approximately 151,000 registered voters. For the November 3, 2026 general election, Franksville and Racine County voters will decide several significant races: Wisconsin will elect a Governor (Governor Tony Evers' current term expires in January 2027), one U.S. Senate seat (Senator Ron Johnson's seat is up for election in 2028, so 2026 will not include U.S. Senate), Wisconsin State Assembly representatives (all 99 seats elected every two years), Wisconsin State Senate seats in odd-numbered districts (State Senate terms are four years with staggered elections), Racine County constitutional officers including County Executive, Sheriff, Clerk, Treasurer, Register of Deeds, Clerk of Courts, and County Board Supervisors (21 districts with staggered terms), and Town of Raymond offices. Wisconsin offers no-excuse absentee voting; any registered voter can request an absentee ballot through the MyVote Wisconsin portal at myvote.wi.gov or by contacting the Racine County Clerk's Office. Absentee ballot requests must be received by 5:00 PM on the Thursday before Election Day. Voters can choose to receive ballots by mail or vote absentee in-person at the County Clerk's office beginning two weeks before any election. Wisconsin requires voters to present photo ID at the polls; acceptable forms include Wisconsin driver license, Wisconsin state ID card, military ID, U.S. passport, or tribal ID card. Free Wisconsin state ID cards for voting purposes are available through the Wisconsin DMV.