Making the most of Wisconsin public records will require you to have a guide or referral. You can conduct Internet searches of many government agencies for free but you will spend a lot of time looking at irrelevant links and websites if you have no idea where to start.

You will first need to obtain some basic information on the individual or property for which you are seeking vital records in Wisconsin. For example, if you are seeking information on an individual, it will be helpful to know some addresses where that person has previously lived.

There are three general types of public records in Wisconsin:

1. Criminal records in Wisconsin that include files on registered sex offenders, past convictions or information on current inmates in a particular prison. These records can help you perform a Wisconsin background check on prospective employees.
2. Wisconsin divorce records, census records, consumer protection information or legislation minutes. You may find these records helpful when researching a product or political candidate.
3. Real estate records like property appraisals, ownership and taxes. These types of records can be useful when buying or selling a home.

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Find Wisconsin criminal records from local government agencies

City and county clerks in Wisconsin can frequently provide a great deal of current information on an individual when you know their name and address.

I recommend: Wisconsin.gov has links that will take you to the website for each county in Wisconsin if available. Wisconsin Court System has a list of links that take you directly to the website of each county court where available.

Learn more about the laws regarding Wisconsin public records

The records that are publicly available vary widely by state. You will want to have at least a general idea of what information you can expect to find before conducting your search.

I recommend: The Office of the Secretary of State of Wisconsin provides the procedures for obtaining public records and identifies the relevant state statute where applicable. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction provides a FAQ for librarians regarding Wisconsin’s Public Records Law.

Perform a search of specific Wisconsin public records

Many cities and counties in Wisconsin maintain a variety of records on individuals and property that are freely available to the general public.

I recommend: The Kenosha County Court Clerk maintains official court records that are available to the public for a fee. Columbia County provides online searches for vital records such as birth, death and marriage certificates.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Exhaust free sources of information before you consider paying for Wisconsin death records. Sites that charge a fee may only provide information you could obtain elsewhere for free. Fortunately, libraries frequently subscribe to services that you would normally need to pay a fee to access. You should also bear in mind that many Wisconsin death certificates are simply not available online.

Public records in Wisconsin are available online or at the county court houses. Many important Wisconsin public records, such as certain court proceedings and their results, are available online. In some cases, you may have to pay a fee for these records, but oftentimes, you may view the records without having to pay to look at the information.

Vital records in Wisconsin, by law, do require both a fee and a signature, thus making them more difficult to obtain online. View criminal records in Wisconsin online, and print them out without incurring a charge.

1. Look at public records in Wisconsin for free.

2. Find out how to obtain Wisconsin vital records.

3. Pay for common public records searches.

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Search public records in Wisconsin online

Some Wisconsin public records that are available online include court records, both civil and criminal, land record and deeds, business licenses, and much more. Do your search and view your record online free or even print it out at no cost.

I recommend: Wisconsin Public Records Directory allows you to search by county, zip code or category. Choose your criteria to access land records or deeds. They also provide links to jail and inmate records. Enter the name of the person, and view their incarceration history if they have one. Wisconsin Court System allows you to find out the entire history of a person's court appearances, civil and criminal, as well as the verdict of the case or if it is still ongoing.

Find Wisconsin death records along with other vital records

Wisconsin death certificates and other vital records such as birth records in Wisconsin, are not available online. Wisconsin law mandates a written application, and fee must accompany all requests for vital records.

I recommend: Visit the Wisconsin vital services online page for information regarding Wisconsin death certificates and other vital records. This page explains that they can not accept telephone or online orders, so you must write, fax or go in person to get the vital record you need. Public Records provides rates for Wisconsin divorce records, birth, marriage, divorce and other vital records.

Locate Wisconsin divorce records and more through paid searches

Several companies provide Wisconsin birth records after you pay a fee. These companies act as the middle man to fulfill the state statute by obtaining these records legally on your behalf. You just pay the fee and receive the information online.

I recommend: Search Systems accesses divorce records in Wisconsin along with birth, death and other vital records. Find the record you want, pay the fee and access your record from the comfort of your computer.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you pay to search Wisconsin death records and other vital records, exhaust the free search methods. Also, make sure the vendor you are dealing with is reliable. Go through the state records department to ensure authenticity of the document you receive.

Wisconsin public records laws and regulations provide access to government records like budget reports and meeting minutes. They also allow public access to vital records in Wisconsin such as Wisconsin death records and criminal records in Wisconsin.

State of Wisconsin public records laws can be classified by the type of public records that they affect. These include the three following categories:

1. Laws on Wisconsin public records that address the way in which these records can be accessed. These laws control issues such as the requirement for providing a reason for the information, specifying fees that an agency may charge and stating the length of time that the state is allowed to respond to a request for information.
2. Laws that specify an individual's information that may be considered public. These laws affect the way in which individuals may access their own information and how they may allow access by another party.
3. Laws that control the government records that the public may access. These laws may be intended to keep individuals informed on government decisions or allow journalists to report on government activity.
   

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Examine the laws that control access to Wisconsin public records

The Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) for Wisconsin is a law that typically guides access to Wisconsin court records and is usually handled by the attorney general's office. Wisconsin criminal records may also be obtained from municipal and county courts.

I recommend: The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction answers specific questions on complying with Wisconsin's Public Records Law. The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council contains the complete text of the Wisconsin Public Records Law.

Study the laws that affect Wisconsin public records on individuals

Public records laws control access to Wisconsin death certificates, Wisconsin divorce records and Wisconsin birth records. Some of these records may only be accessible to a designated individual or a party.

I recommend: The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has a FAQ on obtaining birth certificates under Wisconsin law. Calumet County provides procedures for accessing vital records that comply with Wisconsin law.

Review the Wisconsin public records laws that affect government records

Government records laws allow access to records such as real estate sales, budget reports and meeting minutes. Some government entities may specialize in one particular type of record, while others may provide access to many different types of government records.

I recommend: The University of Wisconsin provides an overview of Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law, which applies to government records. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Office of Privacy Protection specifies the laws that regulate the public release of government records.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Wisconsin public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996, which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.

Understanding Wisconsin public records basics helps locate specific documents. Whether you need a document to fill out legal paperwork or to prove the existence of a person or to document a criminal act, understanding the basics helps you determine where to look to find the document.

Searching through Wisconsin public records isn't a difficult task when you understand Wisconsin public records basics. Some of the key areas you might want to research include:

1. Finding Wisconsin divorce records and marriage records;

2. Understanding Wisconsin public records basics to aid you in your search through criminal records;

3. And browsing through Wisconsin death records and birth records to determine the existence of an individual.

Action Steps
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Search through Wisconsin marriage records for genealogical studies and marriage verification

Sifting through marriage and divorce records in Wisconsin opens up a wealth of information for genealogists who are tracing family lines. It also helps researchers determine whether a specific individual ever filed for divorce after marriage.

I recommend: GenWed.com offers a site where one goes to find marriage and divorce records in Wisconsin. Site users can search by a person's name, by county, and even by date. VitalRecordsUs.com offers information for those interested in researching and obtaining copies of Wisconsin marriage records for a small fee. It provides a free research guide for those interested in finding marriage records.

Look through criminal records in Wisconsin to determine whether or not an individual has a record

Go to the public records in Wisconsin to determine whether or not an individual has a criminal background. Public records often show criminal records and background checks for sex offenders.

I recommend: The Wisconsin State Law Library details ways one goes about obtaining criminal records through agencies, on an individual basis or through online resources. The Wisconsin Department of Corrections allows site users to look for sex offenders either by name or by location. It searches the entire state of Wisconsin.

Find Wisconsin death certificates and birth certificates in public records

Looking through death and birth records in Wisconsin helps a researcher determine whether a person existed and whether or not they are still alive. This helps when filling out legal forms when determining family lines in genealogy.

I recommend: LexisNexis Risk & Information Analytics Group offers a list of criteria one must meet in order to obtain birth records for an individual. It also supplies information for those interested in finding a death certificate. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services describes what one will find on the death certificate. It also explains how one might obtain a copy of a death certificate for an individual.