Dodge County Court Records
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Dodge County sits in south-central Wisconsin, with Juneau as its county seat. The county's circuit court system handles criminal, civil, family, and probate matters for residents spread across dozens of cities, towns, and villages. If you need to verify a legal proceeding, check on a pending case, or get certified copies of court filings, you can do that through online tools, in-person visits, or written requests directed to the right office. This guide walks through the specific procedures, fees, locations, and digital resources available for searching and obtaining Dodge County court records.
Several official channels can help you find case information. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) database is the state's main online portal for searching circuit court records by party name, case number, or date of birth. The Dodge County Clerk of Courts office in Juneau also makes records available for in-person review. For broader orientation to the state's judicial system — including court locations, filing procedures, and self-help resources — WisconsinCourts.us can help you find publicly available court case information and related materials.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Dodge County?
You can locate Dodge County court case information through online databases, direct contact with the Clerk of Courts, or a visit to the courthouse. The right method depends on what type of case you're looking for and how much detail you need.
Online Search via WCCA
Start with the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access system — it's the fastest way to look up Dodge County case records. This free, publicly accessible database covers circuit court cases statewide. You can search by:
- Party name
- Business name
- Case number
- Date of birth
Search results show case summaries, party names, case type descriptions, and a chronological record of court events. WCCA does not display confidential records, sealed filings, or documents restricted by statute or court order.
In-Person Requests
You can also visit the Dodge County Clerk of Courts to review paper or electronic case files. Public access computers are available in the office for looking up case numbers. If you don't have a case number and staff must conduct a search for you, a $5.00 search fee applies under Wis. Stat. 814.61(11).
Dodge County Clerk of Courts
Address: 210 W. Center Street, Juneau, WI 53039
Phone: (920) 386-3570
Fax: (920) 386-3587
Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (except holidays)
Requests by Phone, Mail, Fax, or Email
The Clerk of Courts accepts record requests through multiple channels. When submitting a request, include the case number (if you have it), the names of the parties, and a description of the specific document you need. Include a phone number so the clerk can arrange payment and delivery.
- By mail or fax: Send a written request to the Clerk of Courts at the address above, or fax to (920) 386-3587.
- By email: Submit copy requests only — not filings — to dodge.records@wicourts.gov.
Copy and Certification Fees
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Regular copies | $1.25 per page |
| Certified copies | $5.00 per document + $1.25 per page |
| File/record search (no case number) | $5.00 per search |
| Digital audio recording (thumb drive) | $10.00 per recording |
Transcript requests for proceedings before Circuit Court Judges (Branches 1–4) should go to the court reporter assigned to that branch. Transcripts from proceedings before the Court Commissioner in Branch 5 are handled by the Clerk of Courts office.
Are Court Records Public in Dodge County?
Court records in Dodge County are generally open to public inspection. The Wisconsin Public Records Law, codified in Wis. Stat. 19.31–19.39, establishes a strong presumption of public access to government records, including those kept by the courts. Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule Chapter 72 also addresses the retention and maintenance of court records, and sets standards for protecting sealed or impounded materials.
Under Wis. Stat. 801.19, special protections apply to five categories of personal identifiers that often appear in court files: Social Security numbers, employer identification numbers, financial account numbers, driver's license numbers, and state identification numbers. Parties who file documents are required under Wis. Stat. 801.20 to flag any confidential information at the time of filing, and courts may redact or seal that information to prevent unauthorized disclosure.
Categories of restricted records in Dodge County include:
- Juvenile delinquency proceedings
- Termination of parental rights records
- Guardianship records involving minors
- Mental health commitment and treatment records
- Financial disclosure statements from divorce proceedings
- Records sealed or expunged by court order
- Information identifying confidential law enforcement informants
- Documents containing protected personal identifiers
The WCCA system automatically excludes confidential case information from public search results. That said, complete case files — including non-confidential portions of restricted cases — may be available for in-person review at the Clerk of Courts office, subject to applicable statutory limitations.
Dodge County Criminal Court Records
Criminal prosecutions in Dodge County are handled by the Circuit Court and brought by the Dodge County District Attorney's Office, which files between 1,100 and 1,300 criminal cases each year.
District Attorney's Office
Address: 210 W. Center Street, Juneau, WI 53039
Phone: (920) 386-3610
Searching Criminal Case Records
Criminal case records can be searched through WCCA by entering the defendant's name or case number. Results include case type, charges, court dates, and disposition information. For cases handled by Dodge County's municipal courts — which deal with ordinance violations and certain forfeiture matters — records are typically maintained by the individual municipal court clerk.
Key municipal courts in Dodge County include:
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Dam Municipal Court | 123 Park Avenue, Beaver Dam, WI 53916 | (920) 887-4622 |
| Fox Lake Municipal Court | 248 East State Street, Fox Lake, WI 53933 | (920) 928-3708 |
| Horicon Joint Municipal Court | 220 Ellison Street, Horicon, WI 53032 | (920) 485-4376 |
Statewide Criminal History Checks
The Criminal Information Bureau (CIB) within the Wisconsin Department of Justice is the state's central repository for criminal history records. Name-based background checks are available to employers, landlords, and individuals through two methods:
-
By mail: Complete the Single Name Request Form or the Multiple Record Request Form. Send the completed form with a check or money order payable to the Wisconsin Department of Justice, along with a self-addressed postpaid envelope, to:
Criminal Information Bureau
Attn: Records Check Unit
P.O. Box 2688
Madison, WI 53701-2688 - Online: Use the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). Account registration may be required. The site provides training documentation to walk you through the process.
CIB Criminal History Check Fees:
- $7.00 per name-based search
- $5.00 additional for each paper copy requested
Sheriff's Office
The Dodge County Sheriff's Office may hold certain arrest and incident records. The non-emergency line is (920) 386-3726, and the office can be reached for general information at (920) 386-3600.
Dodge County Civil Court Records
Civil litigation in Dodge County — including contract disputes, personal injury actions, property matters, foreclosures, small claims, and other non-criminal proceedings — is handled by the Dodge County Circuit Court at the Justice Facility in Juneau. Civil case files typically contain complaints, answers, motions, discovery materials, court orders, judgments, and settlement records.
Searching Civil Case Records
WCCA lets you search Dodge County civil cases by party name, business name, or case number. The advanced search function allows you to filter by specific civil case type categories. Results include case summaries, party names, and event histories.
For complete case file access — including documents not viewable online — visit the Clerk of Courts office in person. Copies cost $1.25 per page; certified copies are $5.00 per document plus the per-page charge, as set by Wis. Stat. 814.61.
Civil Filing Fees (Selected)
| Action Type | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Civil claim over $10,000 | $265.50 |
| Personal injury/tort claim over $5,000 up to $10,000 | $147.50 |
| Small claims ($10,000 or less) | $94.50 |
| Small claims (tort/personal injury, $5,000 or less) | $94.50 |
| Foreclosure | $265.50 |
| No money judgment (name change, declaratory judgment, etc.) | $164.50 |
| E-filing fee (per case, per party) | $35.00 |
Fees are set by Ch. 814 of the Wisconsin Statutes and include base filing fees plus court support services and justice information surcharges. The complete fee schedule is published by the Wisconsin Court System.
Foreclosure Mediation
Dodge County offers a foreclosure mediation program for qualifying cases. Details are available through the Circuit Court's website.
Dodge County Family Court Records
The Dodge County Family Court handles custody, placement, child support, divorce, and related domestic matters. Family Court Services — overseen by Court Commissioner Steve Seim ((920) 386-3543) and Family Court Counsel Director Jennifer Smith ((920) 386-3888) — provides co-parent education, mediation, and parenting plan evaluations for parents navigating custody and placement disputes.
Divorce and Legal Separation
Divorce and legal separation actions are filed with the Dodge County Clerk of Courts. The filing fee for a family action without a request for support or maintenance is $184.50; with a support or maintenance request, the fee is $194.50. These totals include the $75.00 base filing fee, a $20.00 family court counseling services surcharge under Wis. Stat. 767.405, and applicable court support and justice information surcharges. Post-judgment motions cost $30.00, and a custody/placement revision petition costs $50.00.
The Wisconsin Court System provides self-help divorce and legal separation forms online, which walk filers through a guided questionnaire to generate the necessary documents.
Dodge County also requires parents in newly filed divorce cases to attend a co-parenting education class run by Family Court Services.
Confidentiality of Family Court Records
Many family court records carry restricted access. Financial disclosure statements from divorce proceedings are not publicly available. Juvenile-related records, termination of parental rights proceedings, and guardianship matters involving minors are confidential under Wisconsin law, and WCCA excludes these categories from public search results.
Marriage Records
Certified copies of marriage certificates are available from the Dodge County Register of Deeds. Each certified copy costs $20.00; additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $3.00 each. Applicants must complete the Marriage Record Request Application and present acceptable identification for records dated 2016 to the present.
Register of Deeds (Vital Records)
Address: 127 E. Oak Street, 3rd Floor, Administration Building, Juneau, WI 53039-1391
Phone: (920) 386-3720
Fax: (920) 386-3902
Email: rod@co.dodge.wi.us
Hours: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday (Vital Records cutoff: 3:45 PM)
Mail requests must include a completed application, a photocopy of valid photo ID, and a $20.00 check or money order sent to the Register of Deeds at the address above. Birth and death records are available through this same office at the same fee, using the Birth Record Request Application or Death Record Request Application respectively.
Dodge County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Dodge County are administered through the Circuit Court, with day-to-day support provided by the Register in Probate office. This office oversees proceedings involving estates of deceased persons, guardianships of adults, guardianships of minors, adoptions, conservatorships, and trust-related proceedings. Wisconsin Statutes Chapters 851 through 882 set the substantive and procedural rules for all probate actions in the state.
Register in Probate Office
Address: Dodge County Justice Facility, Room 2042, 210 West Center Street, Juneau, WI 53039-1091
Phone: (920) 386-3550
If you're looking for records or information about a pending estate or guardianship matter, call ahead to schedule an appointment.
Searching Probate Records Online
Probate case information is searchable through the WCCA database. You can look up open or closed estate cases, verify the name of a personal representative, check the deadline for filing claims against an estate, and confirm whether an inventory has been submitted. Standard probate court forms are available on the Wisconsin Court System website, and the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association at wripa.org offers additional guidance and county-specific information.
Probate Filing Fees
Probate inventory fees, set by Wis. Stat. 814.66(1)(a)2, are not paid at the time of case filing — they are due when the inventory is submitted. The minimum inventory fee is $20.00, with estates valued above $10,000 subject to a fee of 0.2% of the value exceeding that threshold. For minor guardianships of the estate or adult guardianships of the estate, the minimum inventory fee is also $20.00, calculated at 0.2% of estate value over $50,000. Trust proceedings filed under Chapter 701 carry a $250.00 filing fee.
The Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration, prepared by the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association, offers a step-by-step handbook for those navigating the probate process without an attorney. Additional probate law resources are available through the Wisconsin State Law Library.