Wisconsin Public Records Laws and Regulations

Learn about agencies that control and provide access to public records in Wisconsin

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.
   

 

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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.
Try: 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.

 

• 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.

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