About Public Records in Wisconsin

• General Jurisdiction / Upper Courts


• Circuit Courts - one or more courts for each county in Wisconsin. These courts handle the following case types:
• Civil - Torts, Contracts, real property rights, and small claims.
• Civil - Estate, mental health, civil appeals.
• Domestic relations and divorce.
• Criminal felony, drunk driving, and misdemeanor.
• Juvenile cases, criminal and civil.


• Limited Jurisdiction / Lower Courts


• Municipal Courts - one or more courts for each county in Wisconsin. These courts handle the following case types:
• Drunk driving ( 1st offense only ).
• Traffic, Parking, and Infractions.

Wisconsin real and personal property tax records are kept by the County Assessor in each county.
 

Wisconsin deeds and general document recording are handled by the Register of Deeds. Records kept include deeds, mortgage documents, easements, powers of attorney, and liens.

The Wisconsin Vital Records Office is responsible for filing, preserving, protecting, changing, and issuing copies of birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates for events that occur in Wisconsin.