Are Wisconsin Vital Records Open to the Public?
Yes. Most vital records are considered public records in compliance with Wisconsin laws. Vital records typically include records of life events that have occurred within the state, such as marriage records, divorce records, birth records, death records, and other related documents.
What Information Shows Up in Vital Records in Wisconsin?
Vital records in Wisconsin are official documents containing information about vital life events in the state. These include death certificates, marriage records, divorce statements, and birth certificates. The Vital Records Office of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services maintains these records per Wisconsin Statutes §69.0. Vital records are essential for establishing identity and claiming entitlements, as well as for research and genealogical purposes.
How Do I Obtain Wisconsin Vital Records?
Interested members of the public can obtain Wisconsin vital records by querying the State or county Department of Health or the County Recorder/County Court Clerk in the case of marriage and divorce records. Documents revealing identity are typically not required to view and inspect Wisconsin public records. However, according to the Wisconsin General Statutes § 69.20, certified copies of vital records are only available to eligible persons after proof of identification. Persons eligible to obtain a certified copy include the named persons in the record, immediate family members, authorized legal personnel, and persons permitted by a court order.
Publicly available vital records are managed and disseminated by some third-party aggregate sites. These sites are generally not limited by geographical record availability and may serve as a convenient jump-off point when researching specific or multiple records. However, third-party sites are not government-sponsored. As such, record availability may differ from official channels. To find a record using the search engines on third-party sites, the requesting party will be required to provide:
- The location of the record in question, including the city, county, or state where the case was filed.
- The name of someone involved, provided it is not a juvenile.
Requesters must provide relevant information associated with the record to conduct an online search for vital records. Some of these include:
- The registrant's name
- Date of the event
- Place of the event
- City or county where the life event occurred
- First and last name of parents
- Presiding judge (for marriage or divorce records)
What Information Do I Need to Search for Wisconsin Vital Records Online?
Requesters who wish to find Wisconsin vital records may have to provide:
- The requestor's relationship to the named party in the record (father, mother, son, daughter, husband, sibling, aunt, uncle, grandparent, legal guardian, etc.)
- The reason for record request (personal use, insurance proceeds, authentication, death benefits, and other legal purposes)
- The date the event occurred
- The gender of the named party on the record (if applicable)
- The age of the named party on the record at the time the event took place (if applicable)
- The name of the city where the event occurred
- Father's name and mother's maiden name (for birth certificates only)
- Scope of search required (statewide or county-limited)
- Where certified copies are also needed, requestors are required to provide proof of identification showing that they are the named registrants on the record or persons with "direct and tangible interest".
Certified Copy vs. Informational Copy: Understanding the Difference
Although certified and uncertified copies of a vital record are similar, uncertified copies are printed on plain white paper. They usually have "Uncertified" clearly written on them in bold letters. As the name suggests, they are typically restricted for informational use and thus cannot establish identity. Essentially, uncertified copies are readily available to members of the public upon request.
Conversely, certified copies of vital records bear a raised seal and a hand-on-paper signature by the chief custodian. Certified records are usually printed on security papers and can serve legal and official purposes. As such, they are primarily released to designated parties with the legal authority to do so.
Furthermore, agencies may withdraw some sensitive information from uncertified copies of vital records. For instance, uncertified copies of death records not older than 50 years from the time of death usually do not include:
- The cause of death.
- Manner of death.
- Final autopsy findings (if applicable).
- Other extended facts of death.
Are Wisconsin Marriage Records Public Information?
Yes. Marriage records in Wisconsin are generally considered public records in the state of Wisconsin. However, under Wisconsin General Statutes § 69.20, certified copies of marriage records are restricted to legally permitted persons such as the couple themselves, immediate family members, legal representatives, and persons with an approved court order.
How Do I Obtain Marriage Records in Wisconsin?
Interested persons can obtain public marriage records in Wisconsin by locating the office tasked with maintaining marriage records. The Wisconsin Division of Public Health keeps records of marriages occurring from October 1907 to the present. The Wisconsin Register of Deeds (ROD) handles marriage records for all marriage licenses issued within the state at the county level. Querying parties are required to visit the particular office of interest with the basic facts of the marriage, such as the full name of both the bride and groom at the time of marriage, the date of marriage, and the location of marriage (county, city, village/township).
Individuals who wish to obtain vital records from the State Vital Records Office by USPS mail must download, print, and complete the Wisconsin marriage record application form. Persons visiting the office can also fill out this form to facilitate the office wait time. Upon completion, interested persons may then proceed to attach a photocopy of the appropriate ID (if applicable) and proof of payment to:
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701
The appropriate fee is $20 for the first copy of a marriage record (including the search fee) and $3 for each additional copy of the same document ordered simultaneously. Featured payment methods include checks and money orders payable to the State of Wisconsin Vital Records. Additionally, applicants may obtain online marriage records via independent third-party research services.
How to Get a Wisconsin Marriage Certificate
To get a Wisconsin Marriage Certificate, visit the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Vital Records Office or the county clerk's office where the marriage took place. Eligible parties include the bride, groom, legal representative, or immediate family members with proper identification.
Are Wisconsin Divorce Records Public Information?
Yes. Most divorce records in Wisconsin are public information that any member can request from the general public. However, the available information may exclude delicate details such as financial account information, financial agreements, and parts and portions of the record revealing the identity of minors, witnesses, and victims of domestic violence.
How Do I Obtain Divorce Records in Wisconsin?
Divorce record availability varies according to date. Records of divorces occurring from 1907 to date are available at the state vital records office. Earlier than this date, interested parties may check the county court where the divorce happened. Given the public record rule, divorce records are available to persons who can provide the basic facts of the record of interest. Such basic facts include the personal information of the ex-couple, the place of the divorce, the estimated date of the event, and the case file number, if applicable. In addition, interested persons can find divorce records online by utilizing the service of independent third-party companies over the Internet. Researchers can also obtain these records in person or by mail by presenting or sending a divorce application form to the State Vital Records Office. The location and mailing address include:
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701
Additionally, the form should come with the appropriate fee, a government-issued ID number, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. The total amount to be paid depends on the requested search period and the number of copies required. For example, a single-year indexed search from 1936 to 1964 costs $20 per five-year period. Before or later than this date, the multi- or single-year searches of five years attract a $20 fee.
How to Get a Certified Divorce Certificate in Wisconsin
Obtain a certified divorce certificate in Wisconsin by visiting the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Vital Records Office or the county clerk's office where the divorce was granted. Eligible parties include divorced individuals or their legal representatives with valid identification.
Are Birth Certificates Public in Wisconsin?
No. Wisconsin birth certificates are not considered public records.
Are Wisconsin Birth Records Public Information?
Yes. Birth records in Wisconsin are considered public documents and are therefore available to the public upon request. However, sensitive information in a record may only be available to authorized persons, including the registrants, first-degree relations, legal representatives, and authorized governmental personnel. Generally, statewide birth records from 1907 to the present are under the control of the Wisconsin Department of Public Health via the Vital Records Division. Interested persons may also order birth certificate replacements at the county or city level via the county ROD Office.
How Do I Obtain Wisconsin Birth Records?
In addition to online searches, birth records can also be found in person or by mail by providing the basic facts of the record, such as the name at birth, the date of birth, and the county/city of birth. The requesting party is required to submit a completed birth certificate application form in person or by mail to the applicable office location.
The fee schedule includes $20 for the first document and $3 for each additional copy of the same document ordered simultaneously. Requests for certified copies must include a government-issued photo ID. The mailing address/location is:
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701
Are Wisconsin Death Records Public Information?
Yes. Death records in Wisconsin are generally presumed public documents and are therefore available to the public upon request. However, sensitive information in a record may be available only to authorized persons, including the registrants, first-degree relations, legal representatives, and authorized governmental personnel. Typically, the extended facts of death, such as the cause of death, manner of death, autopsy findings, and final disposition, are only accessible by these named eligible persons for 50 years, after which it becomes public information.
Generally, statewide death records from 1907 to the present are under the control of the Wisconsin Department of Public Health via the Vital Records Division. Similarly, interested persons may also obtain public death records at the county or city level via the county ROD Office.
How Do I Obtain Wisconsin Death Records?
In addition to online searches, interested persons can initiate a death certificate search in person or by mail. To do so, they must provide the record's details, including the deceased's name, the date, and the place of death.
To complete a death record search by name, the requesting party must submit a completed death record application form in person or by mail to the appropriate office location. The fee schedule includes $20 for the first document and $3 for each additional copy of the same document ordered simultaneously. Requests for certified copies must include a government-issued photo ID. The office location/mailing address is:
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701
How Do I Find Sealed Vital Records in Wisconsin?
Vital records in Wisconsin may be sealed by the owner(s) of the record. The requesting party must first petition the court for a certified court order authorizing access to unseal these records. Generally speaking, adoption records are sealed by the time the adoption process is finalized. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is tasked with filing, managing, and disseminating these records to legally authorized persons.
Per Wisconsin Gen. Statutes § 49, adoption certificates are not available to even persons named on the record unless a certified court order is obtained. However, the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families maintains an Adoption Records search program. This program furnishes adult adoptees, children of an adult adoptee, adoptive parents, birth parents, and individuals whose birth parents relinquished their paternity rights with no identifying information about themselves and their biological relatives.
What are Vital Statistics in Wisconsin?
Vital statistics refer to data regarding the death, birth, marriage, divorce, stillbirth, and related events of persons within the state's jurisdiction. This information is essential for understanding public health patterns, guiding policy-making, disease control, and ensuring resources are allocated effectively to enhance the health and welfare of Wisconsin's citizens. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services Vital Records Office manages these vital statistics and will make them available to interested and eligible persons upon request.
