Columbia County Court Records

Columbia County sits in south-central Wisconsin, with Portage as its county seat. The county's court system centers on a three-branch Circuit Court with general jurisdiction over criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and probate matters. Municipal courts handle local ordinance violations and certain traffic offenses. The offices you'll deal with most for court records are the Clerk of Circuit Court, the Register in Probate, the County Clerk, and the Register of Deeds — each one manages its own distinct category of documents from government buildings in Portage.

If you're just getting started, WisconsinCourts.us can help you locate court information across the state. The Wisconsin Court System also operates the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal, which gives the public free online access to circuit court case records statewide. Between these tools and direct contact with Columbia County offices, you should be able to find and retrieve most publicly available case information.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Columbia County?

Finding a court case in Columbia County depends on whether you need basic online case information or physical copies of filed documents. Here are the main options.

Online Case Search WCCA

The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal is the main statewide tool for searching circuit court records. You can search in several ways:

Case number search — Enter the county and case number directly.
Name search — Enter a party's last and first name; search all Wisconsin counties or narrow results to Columbia County.
Docketed civil judgment search — Find judgments by debtor name.
Lien search — Search for liens by debtor name.

Results include the case type, filing date, party names, charges or claims, hearing dates, and disposition information. Keep in mind: WCCA only covers circuit court cases and does not include municipal court records.

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

In-Person Access

You can visit the Clerk of Circuit Court's office during regular business hours to review case files and run searches. The office is at 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 $5 search fee per action applies when you don't have a case number. Staff can locate files and produce copies, but they can't give legal advice. For legal questions, contact the State Bar of Wisconsin Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 362-9082.

Mail Requests

Send written requests for copies to the Clerk of Circuit Court at the P.O. Box address above. Include the case number, names of the parties, a description of the documents you need, and payment. Make checks or money orders payable to Columbia County Clerk of Court.

Copy Fees (Set by Wisconsin Statute Chapter 814)

Service	Fee
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 full 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 by cash, check, money order, or credit/debit card. A convenience fee applies to card transactions.

Are Court Records Public in Columbia County?

Court records in Columbia County are broadly open to the public. Wisconsin Statute 19.35 gives anyone the right to inspect any record held by a government authority unless a specific statutory exception applies. Wisconsin Statute 59.20(3) also requires the circuit court clerk and other county officials to keep their offices open during business hours for examining and copying records.

The WCCA portal makes most circuit court case information freely searchable online — 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 types of cases and documents are confidential by default and closed to public inspection. The Wisconsin Court System maintains a detailed guide to confidential records that covers 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 document categories must be flagged 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 withheld under Wisconsin law. If a record has been sealed by court order, it's not available for public inspection without a subsequent order authorizing its 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 heard in Circuit Court across three branches. Felonies, misdemeanors, and certain forfeiture actions all fall within the Circuit Court's jurisdiction. Municipal courts — 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

Court	Address	Phone
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 Court	300 La Crosse Street, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965	(608) 254-2442
Eastern Columbia County Joint Municipal Court	641 South Main Street, P.O. Box 96, Fall River, WI 53932	(920) 484-6320
Portage Municipal Court	115 West Pleasant Street, Portage, WI 53901	(608) 742-2258

Searching Criminal Records

Criminal case records — including charges, plea information, sentencing details, and case status — are searchable through the WCCA portal by defendant name or case number. Note that WCCA is not a formal criminal history check; it reflects only circuit court data and doesn't include municipal court records or records from other states.

Criminal Background Checks Through the DOJ

For an official Wisconsin criminal history report, the Wisconsin Department of Justice offers three options:

Online WORCS (Wisconsin Online Record Check System)
Search through the WORCS portal. The fee is $7 per name-based search, and results typically come back quickly.
Mail Form DJ-LE-250
Complete the DJ-LE-250 form and mail it with a $12 payment and a self-addressed stamped 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

Allow approximately seven to ten business days for processing.
Fingerprint-based check
Submit a fingerprint card along with the DJ-LE-250 form and a $20 fee. The Columbia County Sheriff's Office and local police departments can provide fingerprinting services.

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 cases in Columbia County go through the Circuit Court. The Clerk of Circuit Court keeps all civil case records, from the initial filing through the end of the retention period.

Jurisdictional Breakdown

Claims exceeding $10,000 — Filed in Circuit Court; total filing fee of $265.50 (comprising a $75 filing fee, $169 court support services surcharge, and $21.50 justice information surcharge).
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) — Total filing fee of $94.50 ($22 filing fee, $51 court support services surcharge, $21.50 justice information surcharge). This covers 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 full fee structure, including surcharge breakdowns, is in the circuit court fee tables.

Searching Civil Case Records

The WCCA portal lets you search civil case information at no charge. Options include case number lookup, party name search, docketed civil judgment search, and lien search. Results show case details, party names, and disposition data.

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

You can search property records online through the Columbia County Ascent Land Records Suite. The county also offers an Interactive Map and a Property & Taxes page with links to tax assessment data and parcel information.

Columbia County Family Court Records

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

Divorce and Legal Separation

Divorce, annulment, and legal separation actions are filed in Circuit Court. Filing fees break down as follows:

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.

Search divorce and family case information through 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 the 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 details are available through WCCA, though address information 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 handled by the Register in Probate. These files are confidential and closed to the public. 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 and bring: a certified birth record (or valid passport for non-U.S. citizens), government-issued photo ID, proof of residence, a social security number, and — if either party was previously married — proof of how that marriage ended (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 limited to eligible requestors: the person named on the record, immediate family members, legal representatives, or anyone with a court order.

Fees at both 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. Request forms for county-level orders are available from the Register of Deeds:

State-level requests go 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 doesn't have a standalone probate court. Probate jurisdiction sits with the Circuit Court, and the Register in Probate handles 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 keeps 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 close within that timeframe.

Searching Probate Records

Probate case information that's classified as an open record can be searched through the WCCA portal. Enter Columbia County and a case number, or search statewide by name. Older probate records may not be available online — the State Historical Society of Wisconsin may have archived materials.

Confidential probate-related files don't appear in WCCA and require a court order to 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 get 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 has additional details. 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 $35 e-filing fee per party also applies to probate cases. The full probate fee schedule is in the circuit court fee tables.