Lincoln County Court Records

Lincoln county court records encompass all documents, information, and other materials collected, received, or maintained by a clerk of court in connection with a judicial proceeding, regardless of form, characteristics, or means of transmission.

Courts preserve records for varying reasons, primarily to promote transparency. By keeping records open, the courts maintain the judiciary's integrity and facilitate public participation or scrutiny of legal proceedings. Furthermore, court records are useful for policy-making, researching a person's background, appealing lower court decisions, uncovering precedents, and analyzing legal trends and advancements.

Motions, answers, subpoenas, orders, notices, dockets, calendars, summonses, jury lists, interrogatories, and warrants are only some examples of Wisconsin court records (which include the Lincoln County court records).

Are Court Records Public in Lincoln County?

Yes. Members of the public have extensive access to the Lincoln County court records under the Wisconsin Open Records Law (codified in Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39) and Wis. Stat. § 59.20(3). Following these regulations, anybody can inspect or obtain copies of court records, regardless of their intended usage or nationality.

Restrictions on the public's access, however, prevent absolute access to Lincoln court records, as particular documents cannot be disclosed due to their sensitive contents or because disclosure would impede litigation or investigative processes, among other reasons.

Examples of confidential court records include:

• Adoption proceedings
• Mental health commitment records
• Guardianships reports
• Confidential name change petitions
• Financial disclosure statements
• Protected information, as defined in Wis. Stat. § 801.19, such as Social Security, passport, employee, driver's license, and credit card numbers
• Unexecuted search warrants
• Records of pending paternity cases

Lincoln County Court Records Search

To look up Lincoln County court records, an individual may query a court clerk's office in person, via mail, by phone, or through any other means a court provides. Searching for these records may also mean accessing online databases operated by judicial agencies or third-party businesses, as detailed in the subsequent sections.

Lincoln County Courts

The Lincoln County judicial system is made of a circuit and municipal court. The circuit court handles nearly all cases filed or initiated in the county, including misdemeanor and felony criminal, family law, probate, juvenile, and divorce cases. Meanwhile, the municipal court hears ordinance, parking, and traffic violations within the city it serves.

Below is the county's court directory:

Lincoln County Circuit Court
Lincoln County Courthouse.
1110 East Main Street
Merrill, WI 54452
Phone: (715) 536-0319
Fax: (715) 536-0361

Merrill/Tomahawk Joint Municipal Court
1004 East First Street
Merrill, Wisconsin 54452
Phone: (715) 539-3714
Fax: (715) 722-2668

Lincoln County Criminal and Civil Records

The first action an individual seeking criminal or civil court records in Lincoln County may take is to visit the courthouse where a case was litigated. At the courthouse, record inspection may be available at public access terminals or the clerk's public counter, and visitors may request and immediately obtain copies of court records from clerk staff. Document copies typically attract fees payable by the inquirer, especially when the party needs a certified copy.

Online access is also an option for obtaining records of Lincoln County civil (noncriminal) and criminal proceedings. For example, Lincoln County Circuit Court records (case summaries and case filings) are accessible through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal, a publicly accessible website displaying many case records retained by circuit courts. The system can be searched with a case number or party name.

Other Lincoln County criminal records, like Lincoln arrest records and inmate information, may be obtained from criminal justice departments, such as law enforcement and the Wisconsin DOJ's Crime Information Bureau (CIB). If requesting Lincoln County arrest records from local police, one will need to query the specific department that made an arrest. On the other hand, statewide criminal history records, which includes all Lincoln criminal records reported to the CIB, can be obtained via name- or fingerprint-based checks. More information about CIB checks is available on the Criminal Background Check Resources page.

Lincoln County Marriage Records

The Register of Deeds maintains all Lincoln County vital records, including marriage records. Thus, interested persons can stop by the office address below to complete an application form and obtain certified or uncertified copies:

Lincoln County Register of Deeds
801 North Sales Street
Suite 102
Merrill, WI 54452
Phone: (715) 539-1061
Fax: (715) 539-8094

Where a personal visit is not feasible, an individual can fill out the Lincoln County Marriage Certificate Application, print it, and mail it—along with a legible ID photocopy and the certificate fee—to the Register's office.

Only those with a "direct and tangible interest",as defined in Wis. Stat. §69.20(1), can obtain certified copies of Lincoln County marriage records. Others can receive uncertified copies. Each copy of a Lincoln County marriage certificate costs $20, plus $3 for each additional copy of the same record.

Lincoln County Divorce Records

Decrees, orders, and other documents produced during divorce cases filed in Lincoln County can be obtained from the local circuit court. Individuals may access the WCCA web portal, visit the county courthouse when it is open, or contact the Clerk of Courts to inspect or copy divorce case records. Copy requests attract fees stated in the state judiciary's Circuit Court Fee Schedule.

On the other hand, a Lincoln County divorce certificate request can be sent to the local Register of Deeds office. Although this certificate is not the actual court judgment, it can help verify a divorce event. Requesters can obtain uncertified or certified copies of divorce certificates for $20 for the initial copy and $3 for each additional copy ordered simultaneously. Certified copies are only disseminated to parties with a direct and tangible interest.

Lincoln County Birth Records

A Lincoln County birth certificate is vital for verifying a person's parentage, identity, and age. This document can be procured by completing a birth certificate application and mailing or hand-delivering the form to the Lincoln County Register of Deeds office.

Only applicants eligible under Wis. Stat. §69.20(1) can obtain certified copies of Lincoln County birth records, but any member of the public can retrieve uncertified copies. Each copy of a Lincoln County birth certificate costs $20, but parties who order additional copies of the same record pay an extra $3 per copy.

Lincoln County Death Records

Death records serve as official documentation of a person's demise, which can be used to settle their estates, claim insurance benefits, and claim pensions. The Register of Deeds in Lincoln County is responsible for disseminating these records to interested parties, who must hand-deliver or mail a completed Lincoln County Death Certificate Application to the office.

Death certificates are charged $20 for the first copy and $3 for each extra copy issued simultaneously. While applicants can obtain certified and uncertified copies, state law only permits the dissemination of certified copies to recognized parties, such as a decedent's immediate family, legal custodian or guardian, or someone who needs the certificate to determine or protect a personal or property right.

Lincoln County Probate Court Records

Probate is a legal matter heard in the Lincoln County Circuit Court. It mainly involves administering deceased people's assets and settling their debts or outstanding taxes. Instead of the Clerk of Courts, the Office of the Register in Probate/Clerk of Juvenile Court in Lincoln County keeps probate court records.

Personal visits can be paid to the Register in Probate's physical address to search probate court records:

Register in Probate
Lincoln County Courthouse
1110 East Main Street
2nd Floor
Merrill, WI 54452
Phone: (715) 536-0342
Fax: (715) 539-2762

Alternatively, individuals can view probate case information on the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) website.

In either situation, the requester will need to possess a party name or case number to see or obtain probate records. The WCCA system is free of charge for public inspections of court records, but anyone requesting a copy of a probate court record from the Register in Probate is liable for the associated fees.

Lincoln County Property Records

Property records contain critical information about real estate within a particular region, including market values, ownership chains, boundaries, and physical characteristics.

Property record inquiries in Lincoln County can be made (at first) to the Register of Deeds office. Serving as the county's recorder, the Register disseminates various categories of property documents to members of the public, including deeds and mortgages. Records can be obtained in person at the Register's physical location (copies attract fees) or by seeking Online Records Access through the Register's vendors.

Internet access to Lincoln County court records can also be obtained via the county's Land Records Suite, a web application for researching land ownership, assessments, and property taxes. Other search tools are available on the county's Online Mapping Portal.

Lincoln County Court Records Online

Lincoln County public records, such as Lincoln court records, are accessible to members of the public on third-party aggregator websites, like Wisconsincourtrecords.us. A person's first and last name is the basic requirement for searching these sites, and users can see or obtain record matches instantly. Third-party sites also streamline access to public records from other jurisdictions. However, it is crucial to check for record accuracy, as the risk of incomplete or outdated information exists.