Eau Claire County Court Records Search
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Eau Claire County sits in west-central Wisconsin within the state’s 10th Judicial District. The county’s trial-level court of general jurisdiction — the Eau Claire County Circuit Court — operates out of the Eau Claire County Courthouse at 721 Oxford Avenue in the city of Eau Claire and handles the full spectrum of case types, from felony prosecutions and large-dollar civil lawsuits to divorces, probate estates, and juvenile matters. The courthouse is also home to the Clerk of Circuit Court, the Register in Probate, and various support offices that process and store the legal documents generated by each proceeding.
Wisconsin residents and other interested parties can locate Eau Claire County court records through several channels: the Clerk of Circuit Court’s office, public-access computer terminals in the courthouse, written requests by mail, email, or fax, and online search tools. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal provides free, searchable case information for circuit court filings statewide dating back to 1992, including Eau Claire County. Additional background on the Wisconsin court system and its resources is available at WisconsinCourts.us.
Eau Claire County Circuit Court
Address: 721 Oxford Avenue, Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: (715) 839-4816
Fax: (715) 839-4817
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Email: EauClaire.Info@wicourts.gov
The Eau Claire County Circuit Court currently has five branches. The court also has a Municipal Court within county boundaries — the City of Augusta Municipal Court at 145 West Lincoln Street, P.O. Box 475, Augusta, WI 54722, reachable at (715) 286-2555 — which adjudicates local ordinance and traffic violations.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Eau Claire County?
There are multiple ways to search for case information in Eau Claire County, depending on what you know about the case and how you prefer to receive records.
Online search through WCCA. The fastest method for locating case information is the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal. WCCA covers Eau Claire County Circuit Court cases from 1992 forward and is searchable by party name or case number. Search results display basic case details including parties, charges or claims, scheduled events, and disposition information. The portal is free to use and does not require an account.
In-person search. The Clerk of Circuit Court’s office on the second floor of the Eau Claire County Courthouse has public-access terminals in the lobby that anyone may use to look up case information during business hours. Visitors should note that a security screening station operates on the second floor for all non-county employees, so plan to arrive early enough to complete your business before 4:30 p.m. If you need staff assistance to locate a file and do not have the case number, a $5 statutory research fee applies.
Mail, email, and fax requests. Prepare a written request that includes the case number (if known), the names of the parties, and a description of the information or documents needed. Mail requests should be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope and prepayment. Submit your request to:
Eau Claire County Clerk of Courts
721 Oxford Ave, Suite 2220
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Fax: (715) 839-4817
Email: EauClaire.Info@wicourts.gov
The office does not accept case filings by email, but general record inquiries and copy requests may be emailed. For electronic filing of new court documents, parties must use the Wisconsin Circuit Court eFiling system.
Copy and research fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Copies of court documents | $1.25 per page (per Wis. Stat. § 814.61(10)(a)) |
| Certified copies | $5 per certification, plus $1.25 per page |
| Statutory research fee (no case number provided) | $5 per search |
| Judgment/lien search by party name | $5 |
| Postage | Actual cost if mailed |
Payment methods. In-person payments may be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express). Credit card transactions carry a 2.95% service fee with a $3.99 minimum. Online payments can be made through WCCA (electronic check for a flat $1.95 fee, or Visa/MasterCard at 2.75%) or through AllPaid using Pay Location Code 1182. Phone payments are accepted at (888) 604-7888 (same PLC). See the full Fees & Payment page for details.
Are Court Records Public in Eau Claire County?
Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39), court records maintained by Eau Claire County are presumed open to public inspection and copying. Any person may request access to court files, and the Clerk of Circuit Court is obligated to make them available subject to applicable fees. Wisconsin’s strong public-records presumption means that denials must be justified by a specific statutory exemption or a balancing test that weighs the public interest in disclosure against countervailing interests.
That said, several categories of records are restricted from public view, either by statute or by court order:
- Juvenile records. Proceedings involving children in need of protection or services (CHIPS), juvenile delinquency, and juvenile commitments are confidential under Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 48 and Chapter 938.
- Adoption records. Adoption case files are sealed and may only be accessed by court order.
- Sealed and expunged records. Under Wis. Stat. § 973.015, certain criminal convictions may be expunged at sentencing upon successful completion of the sentence, after which those records are sealed from public view.
- Paternity proceedings. Records in paternity cases may remain confidential until paternity has been established.
- Guardian ad litem reports, presentence investigations, and mental health evaluations. These documents are typically filed under seal and are not available to the general public.
- Confidential personal identifiers. Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and other sensitive personal information are restricted from public case-search displays.
When requesting records that may contain restricted information, the Clerk’s office will redact or withhold protected portions and release the remainder. If access is denied, the requester may seek review through the process outlined in Wis. Stat. § 19.35(4).
Eau Claire County Criminal Court Records
Criminal matters in Eau Claire County are heard by the Circuit Court, which has jurisdiction over felonies, misdemeanors, and criminal traffic offenses. For inquiries by phone, the Clerk of Courts phone menu directs callers to press 5 for criminal, traffic, or ordinance cases.
Searching criminal case records. Criminal case information dating back to 1992 is available through the WCCA portal, where searches can be performed by defendant name or case number. Results show the charges, case status, hearing dates, and sentencing details. Physical case files can also be reviewed at the public-access terminals in the Clerk of Courts office, and copies may be purchased at $1.25 per page. If you do not know the case number, court staff can assist for the $5 statutory research fee.
Statewide criminal background checks. For a comprehensive criminal history that extends beyond Eau Claire County, the Crime Information Bureau of the Wisconsin Department of Justice maintains a statewide criminal record repository. Searches can be conducted online through the Wisconsin Online Record Check System for $7 per name (with an additional $5 if the results are to be mailed). To perform an online check, you will need the subject’s full name, sex, race, and date of birth.
Mail-based background checks can be submitted using either the Single Name Record Request Form (DJ-LE-250) or the Multiple Subject Requests Form (DJ-LE-250A). Complete the applicable form, include the required fee, and mail everything to:
Wisconsin Department of Justice
Crime Information Bureau — Record Check Unit
P.O. Box 2688
Madison, WI 53701-2688
Phone: (608) 266-7314
Restricted criminal records. Victim information, sealed or expunged convictions, and juvenile records are not available to the general public. Under Wis. Stat. § 973.015, a court may order expungement at the time of sentencing for certain qualifying offenses; once the defendant successfully completes the sentence, those records are removed from public view.
Eau Claire County Civil Court Records
The Eau Claire County Circuit Court exercises jurisdiction over the full range of civil matters, including large claims (over $10,000), small claims ($10,000 or less), landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosures, name changes, restraining orders, and injunctions. The Clerk of Courts’ phone menu directs callers to press 3 for civil, small claims, or restraining order inquiries.
Searching civil case records. Civil case information is available through WCCA by party name or case number. In-person access is available through the courthouse public-access terminals. Written requests — by mail, fax, or email — should include the case number and party names whenever possible. The same copy fees apply: $1.25 per page, $5 for certification, and $5 for a staff-assisted search when no case number is provided.
Small claims filing. Small claims actions in Eau Claire County cover disputes of $10,000 or less. According to the current Wisconsin fee schedule, the total filing fee for a small claims case is $94.50 (composed of a $22 filing fee, $51 court support services surcharge, and $21.50 justice information surcharge). Electronically filed cases incur an additional $35 per party. Service fees depend on the method chosen:
- Mail service: $2 per defendant
- Certified mail: $8 per defendant
- Personal service (through a process server or sheriff): varies by provider
Step-by-step filing instructions for small claims are available on the Clerk of Courts’ Small Claims instruction sheet. Numbered court forms can be accessed at the Wisconsin Court System forms page or picked up in the Clerk’s office.
Larger civil actions. For civil claims seeking money judgments over $10,000, the total filing fee is $265.50. Claims between $5,000 and $10,000 (non-tort) are $147.50 for claims not requesting a money judgment, while no-money-judgment civil cases (such as declaratory judgments or name changes) carry a fee of $164.50. A jury demand adds $36 to $72 depending on the number of jurors requested.
Judgment and lien searches. The Clerk’s office can perform a judgment or lien search under a party name or business for $5, or you may conduct your own search through WCCA at no charge.
Fee waiver. Individuals who cannot afford filing and service fees may complete a Petition for Waiver of Filing and Service Fees/Affidavit of Indigency (Form CV-410), available through the Wisconsin Court System forms page.
Eau Claire County Family Court Records
Family law matters — including divorce, legal separation, annulment, paternity, child custody and placement, child support, and domestic abuse restraining orders — are heard by the Eau Claire County Circuit Court. The Clerk of Courts’ phone menu directs family-case inquiries to option 2.
Filing a family case in Eau Claire County. Several filing methods are available for self-represented parties:
- E-filing: Contact the Clerk of Court to have your case converted for electronic filing, then set up an account through the circuit court e-filing site and opt in using the code the Clerk provides.
- Counter filing: Bring fully completed and copied paperwork to the Clerk’s office between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Copies are available at $1.25 per page.
- U.S. Mail: Mail completed paperwork with a check or money order for filing fees, plus a self-addressed, postage-paid return envelope, to the Clerk of Courts at 721 Oxford Ave, Suite 2220, Eau Claire, WI 54703.
- Dropbox: A dropbox near the courthouse main entrance accepts filings at any time; include payment and a return envelope.
- Fax: For documents that do not initiate a new case or motion and are fewer than 15 pages, fax to (715) 839-4817 with the case number noted.
Wisconsin Court System family law forms are available online. The state does not provide forms for initiating a new paternity or custody/placement case; guidance on opening such cases in Eau Claire County is available through this instruction document.
Family case filing fees (Eau Claire County Circuit Court):
| Action | Total Fee |
|---|---|
| Divorce or legal separation (no support/maintenance request) | $184.50 |
| Divorce or legal separation (with support/maintenance request) | $194.50 |
| Paternity (private party, with support request) | $194.50 |
| Paternity (state/child support agency) | $0 |
| Post-judgment motion (revision of custody/placement) | $50 |
| Post-judgment motion (other than custody/placement) | $30 |
| Mediation fee (first session free if court-ordered) | $200 |
| E-filing surcharge | $35 per party |
Custody disputes that cannot be resolved by the parties will be referred to mediation. If mediation fails, the court may appoint a Guardian ad Litem to represent the child’s interests. The factors the court considers in making custody and placement decisions are outlined in Wis. Stat. § 767.41.
Marriage and divorce certificates. The Eau Claire County Register of Deeds issues certified copies of marriage certificates and, from January 2016 forward, divorce certificates. Divorce records before 2016 must be obtained from the Clerk of Courts. Certified copies of marriage or divorce records cost $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered simultaneously. Access to certified vital records is restricted to the record subject, immediate family members, legal custodians, and authorized legal representatives.
To request a marriage or divorce certificate, complete the applicable form — Marriage Certificate Application or Divorce Certificate Application — and submit it with payment and a copy of valid identification to:
Eau Claire County Register of Deeds
721 Oxford Avenue, Suite 1310
Eau Claire, WI 54703-5481
Phone: (715) 839-4745
Fax: (715) 855-6242
Email: rod@co.eau-claire.wi.us
Walk-in requests are typically processed within 15 minutes. Mailed requests generally take about two business days plus mailing time. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Certified vital records may also be purchased online through the Register of Deeds’ authorized ordering service.
Birth and death records. The Register of Deeds also issues certified copies of birth and death certificates for events that occurred in Eau Claire County. Fees are the same ($20 first copy, $3 each additional). Eligible requesters should complete the Birth Certificate Application or Death Certificate Application and submit it with payment and identification to the Register of Deeds at the address above. Alternatively, vital records may be obtained from the Wisconsin Division of Public Health by mailing the appropriate state-level application form with the $20 fee to P.O. Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309.
Eau Claire County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in Eau Claire County — including estate administration, will filings, guardianships, conservatorships, protective placements, and mental health commitments — are handled by the Circuit Court. The Register in Probate/Clerk of Juvenile Court maintains probate case files and can be reached at:
Eau Claire County Register in Probate
721 Oxford Avenue, Suite 2201
Eau Claire, WI 54703
Phone: (715) 839-4823
The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Searching probate records. Probate case information from 1992 forward is available on the WCCA portal. In-person review of probate files can be arranged by contacting the Register in Probate. For records older than 1992, the office maintains paper documents dating back to 1953 and microfilm records covering 1915 through 1952. Records predating 1915 are housed at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire McIntyre Library Research Center, Room 5022.
Probate filing fees. Probate fees in Wisconsin are governed by Wis. Stat. § 814.66 and are detailed in the statewide Probate Court Fee Tables. Key filing amounts include:
| Filing Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Petition to open a decedent estate (formal or informal) | $150 (civil filing fee fund) |
| Summary assignment of small estate | $25 |
| Guardianship petition (full or limited) | $150 |
| Conservatorship or protective order petition | $150 |
| Trust proceeding | $250 |
| Motion, objection, or amended petition | $20 |
| Will filed for safekeeping | $25 |
| Inventory fee (estates) | Minimum $20, or 0.2% of estate value over $10,000 |
| Inventory fee (guardianship/conservatorship of estate) | Minimum $20, or 0.2% of value over $50,000 |
| E-filing surcharge (per party, civil actions) | $35 |
| Certified copy | $5 certification + $1.25 per page |
Note that inventory fees cannot be waived even when other fees may be suspended for indigency under Wis. Stat. § 814.66 or MCR equivalent provisions. A $20 motion fee applies to most subsequent filings within a pending case, though several categories — including filings by the ward or protected individual, inventory filings, and notices of continued administration — are exempt.
Requesting probate copies. Copies of probate records may be obtained in person or by mail from the Register in Probate at the standard rate of $1.25 per page, with $5 for each certification. Written requests should include the case number (or sufficient identifying information) and prepayment. Probate records are generally open to public inspection, though mental health commitment files and certain guardian ad litem reports may be restricted.
Property records. While not part of the probate system, real estate documents that may arise during estate administration — such as deeds, mortgages, and land contracts — are recorded by the Eau Claire County Register of Deeds. Online access to the county’s land-record index and images is available through Tapestry (a pay-per-use option) or through the property tax and GIS map portal, which is searchable by owner name, parcel number, or address.