Columbia County Court Records Search

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    Columbia County is in south-central Wisconsin, with its county seat in Portage. The county’s court system is anchored by a three-branch Circuit Court that exercises general jurisdiction over criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and probate matters. Municipal courts in the county handle local ordinance violations and certain traffic offenses. The offices responsible for maintaining court records include the Clerk of Circuit Court, the Register in Probate, the County Clerk, and the Register of Deeds, each managing distinct categories of documents from government buildings in Portage.

    Wisconsin court records can be searched through a number of official channels, including clerk offices, public-access terminals at the courthouse, and online databases. WisconsinCourts.us may assist users in locating court information across the state. The Wisconsin Court System operates the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal, which provides free public access to case records from circuit courts statewide. Between these resources and direct contact with Columbia County offices, individuals can identify and retrieve most publicly available court case information.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Columbia County?

    There are several practical methods for finding a court case in Columbia County, depending on whether the user needs online case information or physical copies of documents.

    Online Case Search — WCCA

    The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal is the primary statewide tool for searching circuit court case records. Users can perform searches using several methods:

    • Case number search — Enter the county and case number directly.
    • Name search — Enter a party’s last name and first name; the system covers all Wisconsin counties or can be narrowed to Columbia County.
    • Docketed civil judgment search — Locate judgments by debtor name.
    • Lien search — Search for liens by debtor name.

    Search results include case type, filing date, party names, charges or claims, hearing dates, and disposition information. The WCCA displays records for circuit court cases; it does not include municipal court records.

    For appellate matters, the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Case Access (WSCCA) portal provides status information on appeals filed with those courts.

    In-Person Access

    Individuals may visit the Clerk of Circuit Court’s office during regular business hours to review case files and conduct searches. The office is located in the Columbia County Courthouse:

    Columbia County Clerk of Circuit Court
    Address: 400 DeWitt Street, Portage, WI 53901
    Mailing: P.O. Box 587, Portage, WI 53901
    Phone: (608) 742-2191
    Fax: (608) 742-9601
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

    A search fee of $5 per action applies when no case number is provided. Staff can locate files and produce copies, though they cannot provide legal advice. Legal questions should be directed to an attorney or to the State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 362-9082.

    Mail Requests

    Written requests for copies of court documents may be mailed to the Clerk of Circuit Court at the P.O. Box address above. Include the case number, the names of the parties, a description of the documents needed, and payment. Checks or money orders should be made payable to Columbia County Clerk of Court.

    Copy Fees (Set by Wisconsin Statute Chapter 814)

    ServiceFee
    Regular copies$1.25 per page
    Certified copies$5.00 plus $1.25 per page
    Search (per action, no case number provided)$5.00
    Docketing a judgment, lien, or satisfaction$5.00
    Certifying and transmitting documents$15.00 plus postage
    E-filing fee (per case, per party)$35.00

    The complete statewide fee schedule is published in the Wisconsin Circuit Court Fee, Forfeiture, Fine and Surcharge Tables.

    Paying Fines and Fees

    Court fines and fees can be paid online through the Wisconsin Courts payment portal or by phone at (888) 604-7888 (Allpaid services, pay location code #2026). In-person payments at the Clerk’s office are accepted in cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card. A convenience fee is assessed for card transactions.

    Are Court Records Public in Columbia County?

    Court records in Columbia County are broadly accessible to the public. Wisconsin Statute § 19.35 establishes a general right of inspection, providing that any requester may inspect any record held by a government authority unless a specific statutory exception applies. Additionally, Wisconsin Statute § 59.20(3) requires the circuit court clerk and other county officials to keep their offices open during regular business hours for the examination and copying of records.

    The WCCA portal makes most circuit court case information freely accessible online, including case details, party names, charges, hearing dates, and dispositions for both open and closed matters.

    Confidential and Restricted Records

    Under Wisconsin Statute § 801.20, certain categories of documents and cases are treated as confidential by default and are closed to general public inspection. The Wisconsin Court System maintains a detailed guide to confidential records identifying the following restricted categories:

    • Adoption records
    • Juvenile proceedings under Chapter 48 (Children’s Code) and Chapter 938 (Juvenile Justice Code)
    • Guardianship files under Chapters 54 and 55
    • Mental health commitment proceedings under Chapter 51
    • Grand jury proceedings and grand juror lists
    • Paternity records prior to adjudication
    • Presentence investigation reports (Wis. Stat. § 972.15(4m))
    • Child abuse restraining orders and injunctions
    • Confidential name-change petitions
    • Jane Doe proceedings
    • Search warrants until executed
    • Wills deposited for safekeeping during the testator’s lifetime

    Additional categories of documents must be identified as confidential by the filing party using Form GF-244. These include wiretap records, sealed documents, criminal competency reports prior to hearing, and certain treatment records under Chapters 971 and 975.

    Records that identify informants may also be restricted under Wisconsin law. If a record has been sealed by court order, it is not available for public inspection absent a subsequent order authorizing release.

    Wisconsin Statutes §§ 801.19 and 801.20 also require that social security numbers, employer identification numbers, financial account numbers, and driver’s license numbers be redacted from publicly filed documents.

    Columbia County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Columbia County are adjudicated in Circuit Court, with three branches sharing the caseload. Felonies, misdemeanors, and certain forfeiture actions are all within the Circuit Court’s jurisdiction. Municipal courts in the county — the City of Wisconsin Dells Municipal Court, the Eastern Columbia County Joint Municipal Court, and the Portage Municipal Court — handle local ordinance violations and traffic offenses.

    Court Locations

    CourtAddressPhone
    Circuit Court (all branches)400 DeWitt Street, Portage, WI 53901(608) 742-2191 (Clerk); Branch I: (608) 742-9619; Branch II: (608) 742-9653; Branch III: (608) 742-9633
    City of Wisconsin Dells Municipal Court300 La Crosse Street, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965(608) 254-2442
    Eastern Columbia County Joint Municipal Court641 South Main Street, P.O. Box 96, Fall River, WI 53932(920) 484-6320
    Portage Municipal Court115 West Pleasant Street, Portage, WI 53901(608) 742-2258

    Searching Criminal Records

    Criminal case records — including charges, plea information, sentencing details, and case status — can be searched through the WCCA portal by defendant name or case number. The WCCA is not an official criminal history check; it reflects only circuit court case data and does not include municipal court records or records from other states.

    Criminal Background Checks Through the DOJ

    For a formal Wisconsin criminal history report, the Wisconsin Department of Justice offers two options:

    1. Online — WORCS (Wisconsin Online Record Check System)
      Access through the WORCS portal. The fee is $7 per name-based search. Results are typically returned quickly.

    2. Mail — Form DJ-LE-250
      Complete the DJ-LE-250 form and mail it with a $12 payment and a self-addressed stamped return envelope to:

      Wisconsin Division of Law Enforcement Services
      Crime Information Bureau – Record Check Unit
      P.O. Box 2688
      Madison, WI 53701-2688
      Phone: (608) 266-5764

      Processing time is approximately seven to ten business days.

    3. Fingerprint-based check
      Submit a set of fingerprints along with the DJ-LE-250 form and a fee of $20. Fingerprinting services are available at the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office or local police departments.

    Sheriff’s Office

    The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office handles law enforcement, maintains arrest and incident records, and processes fingerprint requests.

    Columbia County Sheriff’s Office
    Address: Law Enforcement Center, 711 East Cook Street, Portage, WI 53901
    Mailing: P.O. Box 132, Portage, WI 53901
    Phone: (608) 742-4166
    Fax: (608) 742-0598

    Columbia County Civil Court Records

    Civil litigation in Columbia County falls within the Circuit Court’s jurisdiction. The Clerk of Circuit Court is the official custodian of all civil case records, from the initial filing through the expiration of the retention period.

    Jurisdictional Breakdown

    • Civil actions with claims exceeding $10,000 — Filed in Circuit Court with a total filing fee of $265.50 (comprising the $75 filing fee, $169 court support services surcharge, and $21.50 justice information surcharge).
    • Civil actions with claims between $5,000 and $10,000 (non-tort) — Filed in Circuit Court; total filing fee of $147.50 ($75 filing fee, $51 court support services surcharge, $21.50 justice information surcharge).
    • Small claims ($10,000 or less) — Filed as small claims actions; total filing fee of $94.50 ($22 filing fee, $51 court support services surcharge, $21.50 justice information surcharge). This category includes evictions, replevin, forfeitures, and money claims at or below the threshold.
    • Tort/personal injury claims of $5,000 or less — Also filed as small claims with a total fee of $94.50.
    • Garnishment actions — Fees vary; amounts over $10,000 carry a total fee of $210.50, while amounts of $10,000 or less total $92.50.

    The complete fee structure, including surcharge breakdowns, is detailed in the circuit court fee tables.

    Searching Civil Case Records

    The WCCA portal allows users to search civil case information at no charge. Available search options include case number lookup, party name search, docketed civil judgment search, and lien search. Results display case details, party names, and disposition data.

    For documents not available online, contact the Clerk of Courts at (608) 742-2191 or visit the office at 400 DeWitt Street during business hours. Regular copies cost $1.25 per page; certified copies cost $5.00 plus $1.25 per page.

    Property and Land Records

    Property records in Columbia County — including deeds, land contracts, mortgages, UCC filings, plats, condominium plats, certified survey maps, and lis pendens — are maintained by the Register of Deeds, not the Clerk of Courts:

    Columbia County Register of Deeds
    Address: 112 East Edgewater Street, Portage, WI 53901
    Phone: (608) 742-9677
    Fax: (608) 742-9875
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

    Online property searches can be conducted through the Columbia County Ascent Land Records Suite. The county also offers an Interactive Map and a Property & Taxes page linking to tax assessment data and parcel information.

    Columbia County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Columbia County are handled by the Circuit Court. The Clerk of Circuit Court maintains records for divorce, legal separation, annulment, custody, child support, paternity, and domestic abuse cases. The Register in Probate handles juvenile and certain guardianship proceedings that intersect with family law.

    Divorce and Legal Separation

    Divorce, annulment, and legal separation actions are filed in Circuit Court. Filing fees include:

    • Without a request for support or maintenance: $184.50 total ($75 filing fee, $68 court support services, $21.50 justice information, $20 family court counseling services fee).
    • With a request for support or maintenance: $194.50 total (adds a $10 fee under Wis. Stat. § 814.61(13) for parties not receiving public assistance).
    • Post-judgment motion to modify custody or placement: $50.
    • Post-judgment motion (other modifications): $30.
    • Stipulated modifications: No fee.

    Case records for divorce and family matters can be searched via the WCCA portal by party name or case number. Copies of filed documents are available from the Clerk of Courts at the standard per-page rates.

    Domestic Violence and Protective Orders

    Petitions for temporary restraining orders and injunctions under domestic abuse (§ 813.12), child abuse (§ 813.122), or individual-at-risk (§ 813.123) statutes carry no filing fee. Harassment injunctions alleging stalking, sexual assault, or physical violence also have no filing fee. Other harassment injunctions require the standard civil filing fee of $164.50. Protective order case information is available through WCCA, though address information provided on certain forms (such as CV-502) is treated as confidential.

    Juvenile Court

    Juvenile proceedings under Chapters 48 and 938 of the Wisconsin Statutes are managed by the Register in Probate. These files are confidential and closed to public inspection. Access requires a court order or authorized party status.

    Register in Probate (Juvenile and Family)
    Address: 400 DeWitt Street, Portage, WI 53901
    Phone: (608) 742-9636
    Fax: (608) 742-9601
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

    Marriage Licenses

    Marriage licenses in Columbia County are issued by the County Clerk’s Office — not the courts or the Register of Deeds. Both applicants must appear in person, by appointment, with the following: a certified birth record (or valid passport for non-U.S. citizens), government-issued photo ID, proof of residence, social security number, and, if previously married, proof of termination (divorce decree, death certificate, or annulment order).

    Columbia County Clerk’s Office
    Address: 112 East Edgewater Street, Portage, WI 53901
    Phone: (608) 742-9654
    Office Hours: 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
    Marriage License Appointment Hours: 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m.

    The license fee is $85. A three-day waiting period applies after the application date; a waiver may be granted for good cause with an additional $25 fee. Payment is accepted in cash or by credit/debit card (no checks).

    Vital Records (Birth, Death, Marriage, and Divorce Certificates)

    Certified copies of vital records are available through the Columbia County Register of Deeds or the Wisconsin Vital Records Office. Under Wisconsin Statute § 69.20(1), access to certified copies is restricted to eligible requestors: the individual named on the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, or persons with a court order.

    Fees at the county and state levels are $20 for the initial search and first copy, plus $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time. Application forms for county-level requests are available from the Register of Deeds office:

    State-level requests can be submitted by mail to:

    Wisconsin Vital Records Office
    P.O. Box 309
    Madison, WI 53701-0309
    Phone: (608) 266-1373
    Email: dhsvitalrecords@dhs.wisconsin.gov

    State application forms include the marriage record application, divorce record application, birth record application, and death record application.

    Columbia County Probate Court Records

    Wisconsin does not have a separate probate court. Probate jurisdiction rests with the Circuit Court, and the Register in Probate manages the day-to-day administration of probate, guardianship, and related filings.

    Register in Probate Office

    Columbia County Register in Probate
    Address: 400 DeWitt Street, Portage, WI 53901
    Phone: (608) 742-9636
    Fax: (608) 742-9601
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
    Website: Register in Probate

    The office maintains records for estate administration, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, adoptions, terminations of parental rights, and certain mental health and juvenile proceedings.

    Types of Probate Records

    • Formal and informal administration of estates (testate and intestate)
    • Wills admitted to probate
    • Guardianship petitions, orders, and annual reports (Chapters 54 and 55)
    • Conservatorship accounts
    • Adoption files (confidential)
    • Termination of parental rights proceedings (confidential)
    • Claims against estates (filed using Standard State Form PR-1819 with a $3 filing fee)

    Settlement Timeline

    Wisconsin Statutes require estates to be settled as soon as reasonably possible. The Fifth Judicial District benchmark is fourteen months from the date of initial filing. All estates in Columbia County are expected to be closed within this timeframe.

    Searching Probate Records

    Probate case information classified as “open record” can be searched through the WCCA portal. Enter Columbia County and the case number, or search statewide by name. Some older probate records may not be available online; the State Historical Society of Wisconsin may have archived records.

    Confidential probate-related files are not accessible through WCCA and require a court order for access. These include:

    • Children’s and juvenile files under Chapters 48 and 938
    • Civil mental health, drug, and alcohol commitments under Chapter 51
    • Guardianship and protective placement files under Chapters 54 and 55

    Requesting Copies

    To obtain copies of probate records, contact the Register in Probate at (608) 742-9636 or visit the office in person. The records request and fees page on the county website provides additional guidance. Probate-specific forms are also available on the Register in Probate’s website.

    Probate Filing Fees

    The inventory fee for estates is the greater of $20 or 0.2% of the estate value over $10,000. For minor guardianships of the estate or adult guardianships of the estate, the fee is the greater of $20 or 0.2% of the value over $50,000. Trust proceedings under Chapter 701 carry a filing fee of $250. The e-filing fee of $35 per party also applies to probate cases. The full probate fee schedule is included in the circuit court fee tables.