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Wisconsin · How-To Guide

How do I access court records?

County Clerk of Circuit Court (county level - each of Wisconsin's 72 counties) / Wisconsin Court System (state level)
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Identify what type of record you need: Circuit Court (felonies, civil, domestic/family, small claims, probate), Municipal Court (traffic, municipal ordinance violations), Wisconsin Court of Appeals, or Wisconsin Supreme Court
  2. Search online:
  3. WISCONSIN CIRCUIT COURT ACCESS (WCCA): wcca.wicourts.gov - Wisconsin's outstanding free statewide court records portal; one of the best in the nation; comprehensive access to Circuit Court case information across all 72 counties; search by party name, case number, or attorney; covers civil, criminal, family, small claims, and traffic cases; real-time updates; free public access
  4. WCCAP (Wisconsin Court of Appeals and Supreme Court): wicourts.gov - opinions and decisions from Wisconsin Court of Appeals and Supreme Court
  5. For full case documents or certified copies: contact the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where the case was filed
  6. In-person access: visit the county courthouse; bring photo ID and case details
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Valid photo ID (for in-person requests)
  • Case number or full legal name of parties
Fee
WCCA online: FREE for comprehensive case information; certified copies: varies by county Clerk of Circuit Court; typically $0.25-$1.25 per page; contact specific clerk
Processing Time
WCCA online: immediate (real-time); same day or by mail for certified copies
Online Option
Yes - wcca.wicourts.gov (WCCA - excellent free statewide coverage)
Where to Go
WCCA online (wcca.wicourts.gov - most comprehensive); County Clerk of Circuit Court (certified copies and full case files)
County-specific variations apply

Wisconsin's 72 counties each have their own Clerk of Circuit Court. Milwaukee County (Milwaukee - largest), Dane County (Madison), Waukesha County, Brown County (Green Bay), Racine County, Outagamie County (Appleton), and Winnebago County (Oshkosh) have the most active systems. All are covered by WCCA's statewide free online access. Small Wisconsin counties may have limited clerk staffing.

Wisconsin Notes

Important state-specific details

  • WCCA (wcca.wicourts.gov): one of the best free statewide court record systems in the nation; covers all 72 Wisconsin counties; Circuit Court cases; real-time; free; highly recommended as first step.
  • Marriage records: County Clerk where license issued (County Clerk - not Register of Deeds); also through WI Vital Records.
  • Divorce records: Clerk of Circuit Court in county where divorce was granted; also WI Vital Records for certificates from 2016+.
  • Criminal history background checks: Wisconsin Department of Justice, CCAP Records Unit - wicourts.gov/ccap or doj.state.wi.us | (608) 266-7314; fee-based.
  • Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry - offender.iowasexoffender.com (incorrect URL; use: widocr.wi.gov or the WI DOJ sex offender registry) - search at wi-doc.com/sex-offender-search or through Wisconsin Circuit Court (WCCA often shows registered sex offender status in criminal cases).
  • Juvenile records: sealed; special access rules.
  • Wisconsin Open Records Law (Wis. Stat. 19.31-19.39): one of the strongest open records laws in the nation; presumption of access; agencies must respond promptly; denial requires specific statutory basis.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Wisconsin Court System - wicourts.gov; WCCA: wcca.wicourts.gov | (608) 266-6828; WI DOJ (criminal records) - doj.state.wi.us | (608) 266-7314