Wisconsin ranks 13th out of 51 (the 50 states and D.C.) for how easy, fast and affordable it is to get certified birth, marriage, divorce and death records.
Cost#27 (tie)of 51
Speed#8of 51
Ease of ordering#14 (tie)of 51
Birth certificates #16 of 51
Cost
$20 first copy, $3 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: about 5 business days; mail: about 10 business days; in person: at the county Register of Deeds; wait time not published
Time until the copy is in hand
About 13–15 business days by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from October 1907
Marriage records #17 of 51
Cost
$20 first copy, $3 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: about 5 business days; mail: about 10 business days; in person: at the county Register of Deeds; wait time not published
Time until the copy is in hand
About 13–15 business days by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from October 1907
Divorce records #15 of 51
Cost
$20 first copy, $3 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: about 5 business days; mail: about 10 business days; in person: at the county Register of Deeds; wait time not published
Time until the copy is in hand
About 13–15 business days by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from October 1907
Death certificates #18 of 51
Cost
$20 first copy, $3 each extra copy
Processing time
Online: about 5 business days; mail: about 10 business days; in person: at the county Register of Deeds; wait time not published
Time until the copy is in hand
About 13–15 business days by mail (estimate)
Where to order
State office or a local county office
Order online
Yes, through the state’s approved vendor, for an extra fee
Records available
State records from October 1907
Note: These rankings were done on . Prices, processing times and ordering rules may have changed since then, so check with the issuing office before you order. Times marked “estimate” add typical mail delivery to the office’s posted processing time. “Not published” means the office does not post that detail.
How to order Wisconsin birth, death, marriage and divorce records
How do I get a Wisconsin birth certificate?
A certified Wisconsin birth certificate costs $20, plus $3 for each extra copy. Order online through VitalChek (about 5 business days), by mail from the State Vital Records Office in Madison (about 10 business days plus mail time), or in person at any county Register of Deeds office.
Wisconsin birth records: ordering details
Who can order
Certified copies are limited to people with a “direct and tangible interest”: the person named, or a parent (if named on the record), child, brother or sister, current spouse or registered domestic partner, or maternal or paternal grandparent, a legal custodian or guardian, an authorized representative such as an attorney, or someone who can show the record is needed to protect a personal or property right. Grandchildren and step-relatives qualify only under the last three categories. Anyone else can get an uncertified copy, which can’t be used for legal or ID purposes. Some birth records of children born to unmarried parents aren’t available as uncertified copies.
Fee
$20 for the first copy, $3 for each additional copy of the same record. The $20 covers one search period and isn’t refunded if no record is found (you get a “not found” letter); each extra search period is another $20. VitalChek adds its own fee, plus more for faster service or UPS shipping, shown at checkout. The long form costs the same as the short form; write “Long Form” on the application to get it.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek, the state’s vendor, or call 877-885-2981. Major credit cards accepted. By mail: send the Wisconsin Birth Certificate Application (F-05291), a copy of your ID, a self-addressed stamped business-size envelope, and a check or money order payable to “State of Wis. Vital Records” to State Vital Records Office, PO Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309. In person: the state office’s counter in Madison is closed to walk-in service. Order in person at a county Register of Deeds office, or for births, the City of Milwaukee Health Department or the Southwest Suburban Health Department (West Allis and Greenfield); check with the office for hours and fees.
ID needed
A copy of one unexpired ID: a state driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. government photo ID, a U.S. or foreign passport, or a tribal or military ID. Or copies of two of: a bank or earnings statement, a current signed lease, a health insurance card, a utility bill or traffic ticket, or a vehicle registration or title. Expired documents aren’t accepted. Don’t send originals.
Processing time
Online (VitalChek): about 5 business days, with faster service available for an extra fee. Mail: about 10 business days once received, plus mail time both ways (the forms say up to 2 weeks plus mail time). Estimate: about 3 weeks door to door by mail. Register of Deeds: contact the office.
Older and local records
State records run from October 1907. Earlier births filed with the state can be searched as one $20 search period, and county registration began as early as the 1810s to 1900, depending on the county (see the DHS genealogy page). The Wisconsin Historical Society has an online index of pre-October 1907 records.
Tip: Give an exact date and county if you can. Births from 1907 to 1947 are indexed by year, so each five-year range searched costs another $20.
A certified Wisconsin death certificate costs $20, plus $3 for each extra copy. Order online through VitalChek, by mail from the State Vital Records Office, or in person at a county Register of Deeds office. You choose a Fact of Death copy, or an Extended Fact of Death copy that shows the cause of death.
Wisconsin death records: ordering details
Who can order
Certified copies are limited to people with a “direct and tangible interest”: a parent (if named on the record), child, brother or sister, current spouse or registered domestic partner, or maternal or paternal grandparent, a legal custodian or guardian, an authorized representative such as an attorney, or someone who can show the record is needed to protect a personal or property right. Grandchildren and step-relatives qualify only under the last three categories. Anyone else can get an uncertified copy, which can’t be used for legal or ID purposes. For deaths less than 50 years ago, the cause and manner of death are shown only to people with a direct and tangible interest or direct descendants.
Fee
$20 for the first copy, $3 for each additional copy of the same record. The $20 covers one search period and isn’t refunded if no record is found (you get a “not found” letter); each extra search period is another $20. VitalChek adds its own fee, plus more for faster service or UPS shipping, shown at checkout. Fact of Death and Extended Fact of Death copies cost the same.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek, the state’s vendor, or call 877-885-2981. Major credit cards accepted. By mail: send the Wisconsin Death Certificate Application (F-05280), a copy of your ID, a self-addressed stamped business-size envelope, and a check or money order payable to “State of Wis. Vital Records” to State Vital Records Office, PO Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309. In person: the state office’s counter in Madison is closed to walk-in service. Order in person at a county Register of Deeds office, or for deaths, the City of Milwaukee Health Department or the Southwest Suburban Health Department (West Allis and Greenfield); check with the office for hours and fees.
ID needed
A copy of one unexpired ID: a state driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. government photo ID, a U.S. or foreign passport, or a tribal or military ID. Or copies of two of: a bank or earnings statement, a current signed lease, a health insurance card, a utility bill or traffic ticket, or a vehicle registration or title. Expired documents aren’t accepted. Don’t send originals.
Processing time
Online (VitalChek): about 5 business days, with faster service available for an extra fee. Mail: about 10 business days once received, plus mail time both ways (the forms say up to 2 weeks plus mail time). Estimate: about 3 weeks door to door by mail. Register of Deeds: contact the office.
Older and local records
State records run from October 1907; earlier deaths filed with the state can be searched as one $20 search period. County registration dates vary (see the DHS genealogy page). The Wisconsin Historical Society has an online index of pre-October 1907 records.
Tip: Most banks and financial accounts only need the Fact of Death copy. Order the Extended Fact of Death copy for insurance claims.
A certified Wisconsin marriage certificate costs $20, plus $3 for each extra copy. Order online through VitalChek, by mail from the State Vital Records Office, or in person at a county Register of Deeds office. County clerks issue marriage licenses, but certificate copies come from the Register of Deeds or the state.
Wisconsin marriage records: ordering details
Who can order
Certified copies are limited to people with a “direct and tangible interest”: either person named, or a parent, child, brother or sister, or maternal or paternal grandparent of either one, a legal custodian or guardian, an authorized representative such as an attorney, or someone who can show the record is needed to protect a personal or property right. Grandchildren and step-relatives qualify only under the last three categories. Anyone else can get an uncertified copy, which can’t be used for legal or ID purposes.
Fee
$20 for the first copy, $3 for each additional copy of the same record. The $20 covers one search period and isn’t refunded if no record is found (you get a “not found” letter); each extra search period is another $20. VitalChek adds its own fee, plus more for faster service or UPS shipping, shown at checkout.
How to order
Online or by phone:VitalChek, the state’s vendor, or call 877-885-2981. Major credit cards accepted. By mail: send the Wisconsin Marriage Certificate Application (F-05281), a copy of your ID, a self-addressed stamped business-size envelope, and a check or money order payable to “State of Wis. Vital Records” to State Vital Records Office, PO Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309. In person: the state office’s counter in Madison is closed to walk-in service. Order in person at a county Register of Deeds office; check with the office for hours and fees.
ID needed
A copy of one unexpired ID: a state driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. government photo ID, a U.S. or foreign passport, or a tribal or military ID. Or copies of two of: a bank or earnings statement, a current signed lease, a health insurance card, a utility bill or traffic ticket, or a vehicle registration or title. Expired documents aren’t accepted. Don’t send originals.
Processing time
Online (VitalChek): about 5 business days, with faster service available for an extra fee. Mail: about 10 business days once received, plus mail time both ways (the forms say up to 2 weeks plus mail time). Estimate: about 3 weeks door to door by mail. Register of Deeds: contact the office.
Older records
State records run from October 1907; earlier marriages filed with the state can be searched as one $20 search period. County marriage registration began as early as the 1820s in some counties (see the DHS genealogy page). Need proof you’ve never married in Wisconsin? Use the Letter of Non-Marriage application (F-05260).
Tip: Include the spouse’s name and the county, especially for common last names. It speeds up the search.
A certified Wisconsin Certificate of Divorce costs $20 (plus $3 per extra copy) from the State Vital Records Office or a county Register of Deeds. For the full divorce decree or judgment, contact the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted.
Wisconsin divorce records: ordering details
Certified copy vs. verification
The Certificate of Divorce is a one-page record with the names and the date and place of the divorce. The decree or judgment is the longer court document; only the Clerk of Circuit Court issues it.
Who can order
Certificate of Divorce: Certified copies are limited to people with a “direct and tangible interest”: either person named, or a parent, child, brother or sister, or maternal or paternal grandparent of either one, a legal custodian or guardian, an authorized representative such as an attorney, or someone who can show the record is needed to protect a personal or property right. Grandchildren and step-relatives qualify only under the last three categories. Anyone else can get an uncertified copy, which can’t be used for legal or ID purposes. Court decree: contact the clerk of court.
Fee
Certificate of Divorce: $20 for the first copy, $3 for each additional copy of the same record. The $20 covers one search period and isn’t refunded if no record is found (you get a “not found” letter); each extra search period is another $20. VitalChek adds its own fee, plus more for faster service or UPS shipping, shown at checkout. Court decree copies: set by the clerk of court; contact the office.
How to order
Certificate of Divorce:Online or by phone:VitalChek, the state’s vendor, or call 877-885-2981. Major credit cards accepted. By mail: send the Wisconsin Divorce Certificate Application (F-05282), a copy of your ID, a self-addressed stamped business-size envelope, and a check or money order payable to “State of Wis. Vital Records” to State Vital Records Office, PO Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309. In person: the state office’s counter in Madison is closed to walk-in service. Order in person at a county Register of Deeds office; check with the office for hours and fees. Decree or judgment: the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted.
ID needed
Certificate of Divorce: A copy of one unexpired ID: a state driver’s license or ID card, a U.S. government photo ID, a U.S. or foreign passport, or a tribal or military ID. Or copies of two of: a bank or earnings statement, a current signed lease, a health insurance card, a utility bill or traffic ticket, or a vehicle registration or title. Expired documents aren’t accepted. Don’t send originals. Court decree: contact the clerk of court.
Processing time
Certificate of Divorce: Online (VitalChek): about 5 business days, with faster service available for an extra fee. Mail: about 10 business days once received, plus mail time both ways (the forms say up to 2 weeks plus mail time). Estimate: about 3 weeks door to door by mail. Register of Deeds: contact the office. Court decree: contact the clerk of court.
Older records
State divorce records run from October 1907. Divorces from 1907 through 1935 are one $20 search period. Older court files: contact the Clerk of Circuit Court in the county where the divorce was granted.
Tip: Ask the agency that wants the record whether the one-page Certificate of Divorce is enough or it needs the full court decree. They come from different offices.
Note: Fees, processing times and rules are set by the issuing offices and can change. Times are estimates. Check with the office before you order. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
Other records
Other Wisconsin records people search for
Official Wisconsin sites for other common lookups. Some records are kept by counties or carry fees; the note on each line says so.
Note: Links go to official state sites or services the state designates. Access rules, fees and coverage are set by each office and can change. PublicLibraries.com is not a government agency.
About Wisconsin public records
Certificate Information
The Wisconsin Vital Records Office is responsible for the collection and distribution of birth, death, marriage and divorce
certificates. Vital records are available from 1907 to present from the state office for a fee of $20 dollars.
Additional copies are $3 dollars each. Expedited service is an additional $20 dollars.
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
1 West Wilson Street, Room 158
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701-0309
(608) 266-1373
DHSVitalRecords@wisconsin.gov
Adult age (18) adoptees can make a request to obtain medical and genetic information regarding their birth family. Identity
not being included. Requesting identifying information requires an affidavit of consent from each living birth parent or
family member. There are a number of private voluntary adoption information centers to share information with separated
family.
Property Records
Local county government manages parcel and record searches including ownership information, tax information and land history.
