Home › Wisconsin › How-To Guide
Wisconsin · How-To Guide

How do I get a copy of a birth certificate?

Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), Vital Records (state level - Madison) / County Register of Deeds (county level - 72 counties; statewide issuance law) / Milwaukee City Health Office / West Allis City Health Office
Step by Step

How to do it

  1. Determine eligibility: WI vital records restricted. Eligible: the registrant (if adult), parents, legal guardian, spouse, adult children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and others with documented legal interest.
  2. Choose your method:
  3. IN PERSON - Any County Register of Deeds (MOST CONVENIENT): Bring valid photo ID; pay $20; same-day service typically; statewide issuance means your local county's Register of Deeds can issue for any WI event within covered date ranges; some larger counties also offer online ordering portals
  4. ONLINE - WI State Vital Records (VitalChek authorized): Order through dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords or via VitalChek (877-885-2981); $20 + VitalChek fee; processing approximately 5 business days; credit card accepted through VitalChek; mail processing approximately 10 business days
  5. BY PHONE - VitalChek (877-885-2981): Same as online; $20 + processing fee; approximately 5 business days
  6. BY MAIL - WI State Vital Records: Application from dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords; include photo ID copy; check or money order payable to "Vital Records"; mail to: Wisconsin Vital Records, 1 West Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703 (or check current address on website); $20; approximately 10 business days
  7. IN PERSON - WI State Vital Records (Madison): 1 West Wilson St., Madison WI 53703; walk-in service
  8. MILWAUKEE CITY and WEST ALLIS: Milwaukee City Health Office and West Allis City Health Office also issue WI birth and death certificates; call ahead
  9. Submit with valid photo ID copy and proof of qualifying relationship
  10. Pay the fee
Details

What you need to know

Required Docs
  • Completed application form
  • Valid government-issued photo ID
  • Proof of qualifying relationship if requesting for another
  • Payment
Fee
$20 first certified copy; $3 each additional copy of same record ordered at same time; VitalChek/online adds processing fee
Processing Time
County Register of Deeds in-person: same day typically; VitalChek/phone: ~5 business days; mail to state: ~10 business days
Online Option
VitalChek (authorized); Wisconsin Vital Records also takes phone orders through VitalChek
Where to Go
County Register of Deeds in any WI county (fastest for events within covered dates); WI State Vital Records, Madison; VitalChek online/phone
County-specific variations apply

Wisconsin's statewide issuance law means any of the 72 county Register of Deeds offices can issue certified copies of WI births and marriages from October 1, 1907 to present and deaths from September 1, 2013 to present. Dane County (Madison), Milwaukee County, Waukesha County, Brown County (Green Bay), Outagamie County (Appleton), and Racine County all have active Register of Deeds offices that accept online orders. For events before the covered dates or outside those ranges, contact the specific county where the event occurred or the state Vital Records office.

Wisconsin Notes

Important state-specific details

  • $20 first copy; $3 additional at same time - reasonable fee.
  • STATEWIDE ISSUANCE: Any WI county Register of Deeds can issue for WI births from October 1, 1907.
  • WI State Vital Records also processes by mail (~10 business days) and VitalChek (~5 days).
  • For older records not in the state/county system: WI Historical Society Research Center - wisconsinhistory.org | (608) 264-6460.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
WI DHS Vital Records - dhs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords | (608) 266-1373 | 1 West Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703; VitalChek (authorized): vitalchek.com or (877) 885-2981; County Register of Deeds (statewide issuance - varies by county)