Public Records Notice

To View a File

To view an actual file, you must go to the Circuit Court Division where the case is filed and proved the case number of the file you want to view. PLEASE NOTE: Viewers may not take the file apart, open any sealed envelopes, or remove the file from the office.

Not all files may be readily available to view as the Circuit Court has microfilmed cases of a certain age. If the file is quite old, you can request the record by completing a Microfilm Request from Clerk of Circuit Court Office on the 8th Floor of the Courthouse. Please note microfilm requests are completed in the order we received them. Requests can take 7 to 10 business days to complete.

GENERAL: On-site case information and documents are available on all none confidential cases per state statute, through hard copy records, digital record images, or web based data access.

CONFIDENTIAL CASES: Cases, including such as adoptions, paternity actions, and juvenile records, are confidential and access to these files are limited by state statute.

Any requests for inspection/review and or/release of Juvenile Records must be reviewed and approved by the juvenile court judge. You must complete the Authorization and Order to Open Court Records for Inspection (JD-1739) and file it in the Juvenile Court if you are the child or juvenile on the case, the parent/guardian/legal custodian of the child or juvenile, or are an individual who has been given permission by one of the above. If you are not one of these people you must complete the Request to Inspect Juvenile Court Records and file it in the Juvenile Court.

For Copies

The Civil, Criminal/Traffic, Family, and Juvenile divisions must charge a statutory fee of $1.25 per page for copies of official court documents. Copies can be certified (stamped as official copies) for an additional $5.00 per charge for each document.

The Probate division must charge a statutory fee of $1.00 per page for copies of official court documents. Copies can be certified (stamped as official copies) for an additional $3.00 per charge for each document.

IN PERSON: Go to the Circuit Court Division where the case is filed. You will need to know the case number (which may be located on the Wisconsin Court Website at Offsite http://wcca.wicourts.gov) or the last name, first name, and the date of birth of one of the parties for certain cases.  If you do not have this information and you are unable to find the individual or the record using the public access computers, you may request and pay the $5.00 search fee to receive assistance with the record search (this fee is $4.00 in Probate Court).

BY PHONE: Call the Circuit Court Division where the case is filed. You will need to know the case number, or last name, first name, date of birth of one of the parties for certain cases, and the specific document or information you need. The clerk will make arrangements with you for payment and pick up/delivery, by mail or in person. NOTE: Payment in full will be required before your request will be processed.

BY MAIL: Send a written request to the Circuit Court Division where the case is filed. You will need to know the case number or the last name and date of birth of one of the parties for certain cases, the specific document or information you need, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a phone number where the clerk may reach you. If you do not have this information and you are unable to find the individual or the record using the public access computers, you may request and pay the $5.00 search fee to receive assistance with the record search (this fee is $4.00 in Probate Court). NOTE: Payment in full will be required before your request will be processed.

Copies of Juvenile Court Records: The Juvenile Court Judge will order which records, if any may be copied.

Obtaining Copies of a Transcript

Transcript or Transcript Copy Requests:

A transcript is a verbatim (word for word) typed record of what happened in court for a particular hearing or proceeding. If a transcript has not been made for your court matter and you would like one, you will need to contact the official court reporter for the Court Official who presided over the specific hearing and follow the court reporter's procedure for your request. Before contacting the reporter by phone, you will need certain information such as your CASE NUMBER and SPECIFIC DATE OF THE PROCEEDING. The Court Reporter will charge a statutory per page rate for the original transcript (which goes in the file) and a copy fee (you receive a certified copy of the transcript). Additional rates apply for expedited requests. You will pay the reporter directly.

If a Transcript has been created and you would like a certified copy you can obtain it in one of two ways:

• If you are at the courthouse you can request a copy at $1.25 a page from the Clerk of Circuit Court office and you will get it immediately.

• You can contact the reporter and request a copy at $.50 a page. The reporter will make arrangements with you for pick up or send it in the mail.