Dane County Court Records

Dane County court records are orders, decrees, judgments, opinions, dockets, and indices created during a judicial proceeding in the county's courts. The Dane County Clerk of Courts is the custodian of these records, and the office is responsible for maintaining and disseminating them per Wisconsin Public Record Laws.

Access to court records helps enhance judicial effectiveness and promote accountability in the Dane County court system. They provide insight into what transpired during a judicial proceeding and can inspire confidence in the judicial system.

In Dane County, Wisconsin, court records typically feature the following:

• Case summary (filing date, case type and status, class code description, official responsible for the case, DA case number, and branch ID)
• Party (party type, name, status, date of birth, address, sex, and race)
• Attorney (name, guardian ad litem, and date entered and withdrawn)
• Court record (date, event, court official and reporter, and amount)
• Charges (prosecuting attorney, amount owed to the court, count number, statute, description, severity, offense date, plea, and disposition)
• Citations (bond amount, deposit type, plate number, state, expiration, VIN, appearance date and time, issuing agency, officer name, violation date, and plaintiff agency)
• Judgment details (county, case number, caption, judgment/lien date and status, total amount, type of tax, warrant number, date and time docketed, service/event date, and expiration date)
• Total receivables (court assessments, adjustments, amount paid to the court, probation/other agency amount, balance due to court, and due date)

Are Court Records Public in Dane County?

Yes. The Wisconsin Open Records Law authorizes members of the public to inspect or copy court records maintained by the clerk of courts in Dane County. However, some court records are exempt from public disclosure because of the information they contain or per the issuance of a court order. Wisconsin Courts treat the following court records as confidential:

• Adoption
• Guardianship
• Juvenile proceedings
• Jane Doe proceedings
• Children's proceedings
• Mental Health Act proceedings
• Search warrants until executed
• Income and expense statements
• Confidential name change petition
• Paternity pre-adjudication records
• Presentence investigation reports
• Protective services and placement
• Family medical history questionnaire
• Grand juror list and grand jury proceedings
• Child abuse restraining orders and injunctions.
• Identifying information in a child custody proceeding
• Wills deposited for safekeeping during the life of the testator.

Dane County Court Records Search

Interested members of the public may perform a Dane County Court Records search by querying the Court Clerk in the court where the case was heard. Requests for these records can be made online, by email at Dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov, by mail, or by fax at (608) 267-8859. For mail-in queries, inquirers must prepare a written request containing:

• Their phone numbers
• Current address
• The case party’s name and case number
• Specific information about the desired record in written form

The court clerk also makes court records available for in-person inspection and copying during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Search fees cost $5 per name searched, copies of record cost $1.25 per page, and certified copies cost $5 per document. The turnaround time is between 1 to 10 business days.

Dane County Court Records Search by Name

The Dane County Clerk of Courts provides several methods for individuals to search court records by name. Typically, requesters can request a name-based search in person, online, by email at Dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov, by mail, or by fax at (608) 267-8859. Inspection of court records is free, but copies come with a cost. To find court records by name online:

• Go to the Dane County Clerk of Courts' official website.
• Click on the “Resource tab” at the top menu and click “Court Records” from the drop-down.
• Click the online link in red to go to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) website.
• Agree to the disclaimer.
• Conduct a simple or advanced search by party or case number.
• Choose Dane for the county.

Dane County Courts

The Dane County court system comprises a Circuit Court and several Municipal Courts. The addresses of all courts in Dane County are as follows:

Dane County Circuit Court
Room 1000
215 S Hamilton St.
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 266-4311
Fax: (608) 267-8859

Municipal Courts

Edgerton Joint Municipal Court
12 Albion Street
Edgerton, WI 53534
Phone: (608) 884-2671
Fax: (608) 884-8892

Fitchburg Municipal Court
5520 Lacy Road
Fitchburg, WI 53711
Phone: (608) 270-4200
Fax: (608) 270-4212

Madison City Municipal Court
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 264-9282
Fax: (608) 266-5930
Email: municipalcourt@cityofmadison.com

Middleton City Municipal Court
7341 Donna Drive
Middleton, WI 53562
Phone: (608) 824-7370
Fax: (608) 833-9995
Email: court@cityofmiddleton.us

Monona Municipal Court
5211 Schluter Road
Monona, WI 53716
Phone: (608) 222-2525
Fax: (608) 222-4196

Stoughton Municipal Court
321 South Fourth Street
Stoughton, WI 53589
Phone: (608) 873-6676
Fax: (608) 646-0416

Sun Prairie Municipal Court
300 E. Main Street
Sun Prairie, WI 53590
Phone: (608) 837-9541
Fax: (608) 825-1198
Email: cpiper@cityofsunprairie.com

Verona City Municipal Court
111 Lincoln Street
Verona, WI 53593
Phone: (608) 848-9938
Fax: (608) 845-8613
Email: krista.glova@ci.verona.wi.us

Dane County Superior Court Case Search

The Circuit Court is the Superior Court in Dane County. It is a trial court with original jurisdiction in all civil and criminal cases. Individuals can conduct Circuit Court searches online, by mail, by fax at (608) 267-8859, or by email at Dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov, or in person at the courthouse. A name or case number is required to facilitate the search. Copies of Circuit Court records cost $1.25 per page, and certified copies cost $5 per document.

Dane County District Court Records

Dane County is part of the Fifth Judicial Administrative District Court. Individuals can contact the Dane County Clerk of Courts to retrieve District Court records. Typically, court records can be retrieved online, in person, by mail, by fax at (608) 267-8859, or by email at Dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov. Court records can be viewed online for free using the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal. Copies of Court records cost $1.25 per page, and certified copies cost $5 per document. The search fee is $5.00 per name when the case number is unknown. The information needed for mail, fax, and email requests are:

• Full name of the case party
• Requesters’ phone number and current address
• Case number
• A date of birth for criminal court records.
• Details of the desired records.
• State if the request requires documents to be certified.
• Address to send the documents/completed search and by what method, such as by fax, mail, or hold for pick-up.
• Telephone numbers or email addresses where the Clerk can reach them if clarification is needed on a request.

Dane County Criminal Records

The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Crime Information Bureau (CIB) has a centralized database that contains detailed information on the criminal records of Dane County offenders. Record seekers can use the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS) as an authorized user or public user. Authorized users will need to register for an account. The record holder's first and last name, gender, race, and date of birth will then be required to process the request. A copy of an adult criminal history record costs $7, and certified copies attract an additional charge of $5.

A criminal record contains arrest information. Therefore, record seekers can request Dane County arrest records from the Sheriff’s Office online or in person. In-person requesters can visit the office during business hours at:

Dane County Sheriff's Office
115 West Doty Street
Madison, WI 53703
Phone: (608) 284-6800

Dane County Criminal Court Case Lookup

Individuals can conduct criminal court case lookups at the office of the Dane County Clerk of Circuit Courts. Records can be retrieved from the Record Center online, in person, by mail, by fax at (608) 267-8859, or by email at Dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov. The record staff will require case information like full name, date of birth (if known), and case number to process the request. Inspection of criminal court records is free, but copies will require the payment of a small fee. Copies of criminal court records cost $1.25 per page, and certified copies cost $5.00 per document. The processing time is between 1 and 10 business days.

Get Dane County Civil Court Records

Individuals can view civil court records online using the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal. Records can be found in a Simple or Advanced Search. The Advanced Search has a “Case Type” option where requesters can select Civil (CV) to view only civil records.

Copies of civil records can be requested in person, by mail, by fax at (608) 267-8859, or by email at Dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov. A name or a case number is needed to process the request. In-person requests can be made at the Clerk’s Record Center from Monday to Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Plain copies of civil court records cost $1.25 per page, while certified copies cost $5 per document.

Dane County Family Court Records

The Clerk of Courts handles all family court cases in Dane County, including divorce, adoption, paternity, and guardianship. Most family records are restricted to a few selected individuals, such as record holders, family members, legal representatives, or someone with a court order. Interested persons can obtain copies of family court records by mail, email at dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov, fax at (608) 267-8859, or in person. The Clerk also provides access to family court records online through the Court Access tool. Inquirers may conduct a search using a name or case number. The Advanced Search tool allows requesters to select a case type to narrow their search.

Dane County Dissolution of Marriage Records

The Dane County Clerk of Courts publicly disseminates dissolution of marriage records. Interested persons may request copies in person, by mail, email at dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov, or by fax at (608) 267-8859. In-person requests should be made at the Record Center in Room 1002. The Clerk does not provide dissolution of marriage records over the phone. There is a charge of $1.25 per page for copies.

Dane County Marriage and Divorce Records

Marriage and divorce records can be retrieved online, by mail, or in person at the Register of Deeds Office Vital Records Section. Online requests can be made through the Official Records Online or approved third-party portals. Mail requesters must complete the Marriage or Divorce Certificate Application form and pay a $20 fee for the search and first copy. Additional copies will cost $3 per copy. Payments can be made by cash, cashier's check, money order, business check, credit card, or debit card. All mail and in-person requesters must provide valid IDs.

Dane County Birth and Death Records

The Register of Deeds Office Vital Records Section maintains copies of all birth and records in Dane County. Copies of these records can be retrieved through the following methods:

• Online: Individuals can obtain copies of birth or death records online from the Register of Deeds or an approved third-party vendor. Applicants can use the Official Records Online portal to get records from the office. In addition to the standard fees, individuals can pay $10 for expedited fees and up to $40.00 for delivery fees. All major credit cards are acceptable means of payment. Processing time is between 1 and 2 days. The approved third-party vendor charges $12.95 for the processing and the normal standard fees. 
• By mail: Interested persons can mail a completed Death or Birth Certificate Application Form and necessary fees to the office. Payments can be made by cashier's check, money order, or business check. The turnaround time is within 1 to 2 business days of receipt. The mailing address is:
  Dane County Register of Deeds Office
  P.O. Box 1438
  Madison, WI 53701-1438
• In-person: Requests can be made on weekdays (Monday to Friday) from 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Applications should be completed at the counter, and a current photo ID will be needed. Processing time takes about 15 minutes. Birth or death records cost $20.00 for search and first copy (certified or uncertified) and $3 each for additional copies. Payments can be made by cash, cashier's check, money order, business check, or credit and debit cards. Card payments attract an additional fee of $2.50. Personal checks are unacceptable. The office is located at:

Dane County Register of Deeds Office
Vital Records Section
Suite 110
210 Martin Luther King
Madison, WI 53703

Dane County Probate Court Records

The Circuit Courts’ Probate Court handles all probate cases in Dane County. Specifically, the court oversees all cases involving estates, guardianship of estates or conservatorships, and wills. Probate records can be obtained online, by email at Dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov, or in person at the courthouse. Certified copies of probate court records cost $1 per page. Searching for private court records when the case number is unknown attracts a $4 fee.

Online requesters can view probate records using the Circuit Court Access tool. The search criteria are by name or case number. The best way to return probate information via this tool is to conduct an Advanced Search. This allows users to select a case type. Select the Probate (PR) option to view only probate cases.

Dane County Property Records

The Register of Deeds office maintains property records for all of Dane County. Copies of property records can be acquired for a fee, but most records are available for free viewing online and in person. Online requests can be made using approved third-party platforms or the Dane County Parcel Search tool.

The Dane County Treasurer’s Office also disseminates property tax information online or in person. The office uses the same Parcel Search tool as the Register of Deeds to provide property records online. In-person requesters should visit the office during business hours. The record staff would require a tax ID, property owner’s name, or address to conduct the search. Copies of property tax records attract a small fee.

Record seekers can also find property records at the City Assessor’s Offices. For example, the City of Madison Assessor's Office provides property-related information online or in person. Online requests can be made using the Property Look-up tool on the Assessor’s website. A search can be conducted by address, address range, last name, or parcel number. In-person requests can be made in room 101 from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Dane County Court Records Online

Third-party aggregate sites like Wisconsincourtrecords.us have online portals where they disseminate court records across multiple jurisdictions. This allows record seekers to perform name-based searches for Dane County court records. Some third-party sites return search results for free at the initial stage of the search. However, a small fee is charged for complete reports. This fee can cover a 7-day access or monthly subscription. Users are advised to verify information retrieved from third-party websites since they operate independently of government-owned repositories.