La Crosse County Court Records
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La Crosse County sits within Wisconsin's Seventh Judicial Administrative District, with its main courthouse and law enforcement center at 333 Vine Street in La Crosse. The Circuit Court anchors the county's judicial system and handles criminal, civil, family, juvenile, and probate matters. Two municipal courts also operate in the county—one for the City of La Crosse and one for the Coulee Region—dealing with local ordinance violations and traffic offenses. Because records are split across several distinct offices—the Clerk of Circuit Court, the Family Court Commissioner, and the Register in Probate—knowing which one to contact will save you considerable time.
If you're searching for court case information, WisconsinCourts.us can help you find publicly available case data, court forms, fee schedules, and county court directories. The statewide Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) database also lets you search circuit court records from any county free of charge.
How to Look Up a Court Case in La Crosse County?
You can search for court cases in La Crosse County online, in person at the courthouse, or by submitting a written request by mail or email. The best option depends on what you need and how quickly you need it.
Online Searches
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) — The WCCA simple case search lets you look up cases by party name, date of birth, or case number. The advanced case search gives you additional filtering options for more targeted queries. Keep in mind that La Crosse County began using the CCAP system in 1993—anything filed before that year exists only in paper form or on scanned records at the courthouse.
- Email requests — Send a written request to the Clerk of Circuit Court at LaCrosse.Clerk@wicourts.gov. Each email search costs $5.00 (payable to Clerk of Courts) and must include the individual's first name, last name, date of birth, and the type of record you're looking for.
In-Person and Mail Searches
- Public access terminals — The Clerk of Courts office keeps public access computers in a room just off the main office. Searching at these terminals is free. Copies of documents cost $1.25 per page under Wis. Stat. 814.61(1)(a).
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Mail requests — Send a written request with a $5.00 fee (per Wis. Stat. 814.61(11)) to:
Clerk of Courts
333 Vine Street, Room 1200
La Crosse, WI 54601Include the party's full name, date of birth, and the type of record you need. If you want copies of specific documents, mention that in your request—per-page charges will apply on top of the search fee.
Clerk of Circuit Court Contact Information
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 333 Vine Street, Room 1200, La Crosse, WI 54601 |
| Phone | (608) 785-9590 |
| Fax | (608) 789-7821 |
| LaCrosse.Clerk@wicourts.gov | |
| Office Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM |
Specialized clerks handle particular case types and can be reached directly: Criminal Clerk at (608) 785-9691, Jury Clerk at (608) 785-9690, Small Claims Clerk at (608) 785-9689 (formerly 785-9705), and Traffic Clerk at (608) 785-9706. Court staff cannot give legal advice. If you need an attorney, contact the State Bar of Wisconsin's Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 362-9082.
Are Court Records Public in La Crosse County?
Most court records in La Crosse County are open to public inspection. Wisconsin's Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. 19.31–19.39) establishes a strong presumption of access to government records, including court records. The Wisconsin Department of Justice compliance guide explains in detail how these requirements work in practice.
That said, several categories of records are kept confidential by statute or court order and are not available to the public:
- Social Security numbers, tax identification numbers, passport numbers, driver's license numbers, and financial account numbers
- Personally identifiable information of minors
- Records protected by attorney-client privilege
- Work product and materials compiled in preparation for litigation
- Records sealed by a judge
- Adoption records (Wis. Stat. 48.93 restricts release without a court order)
- Juvenile court records
- Paternity case records
When you request documents, the clerk may redact certain confidential information before releasing them. The La Crosse County local court rules may also include additional provisions on record access and document handling.
La Crosse County Criminal Court Records
All criminal cases in La Crosse County—felonies and misdemeanors alike—are prosecuted in the Circuit Court by the District Attorney's Office. Felonies carry potential sentences in the Wisconsin State Prison System, while misdemeanors are punishable by fines and/or county jail time. The court's traffic division also handles criminal traffic violations, county ordinance infractions, State Patrol citations, and Department of Natural Resources citations.
Searching Criminal Court Cases
Criminal docket information is freely searchable through the WCCA case search tool. You can look up cases by defendant name, case number, or other criteria. For records predating 1993, you'll need to visit the courthouse in person.
Written search requests by mail or email are also accepted through the Clerk of Circuit Court for a $5.00 fee per search, plus $1.25 per page for copies.
Criminal Background Checks
For a formal criminal history report, the Wisconsin Department of Justice runs the Wisconsin Online Record Check System under Wis. Stat. 165.83(2). You can either register for an account or use the Public Access option to search arrest summaries and criminal history data.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Online criminal background check | $7.00 |
| Signed and notarized results (additional) | $5.00 |
Fees are set under Wis. Stat. 165.82. Adult criminal history information is a public record in Wisconsin, and anyone may order it by paying the applicable fee. Mail requests can be sent to:
Wisconsin Department of Justice
P.O. Box 7857
Madison, WI 53707-7857
The DOJ also publishes a complete fee schedule for its various record check services.
Sheriff's Office Resources
The La Crosse County Sheriff's Office maintains a publicly searchable active warrant list hosted on behalf of the Clerk of Courts. This database shows the names of individuals wanted on outstanding warrants. For questions about specific warrant information, call the Clerk of Courts at (608) 785-9590.
La Crosse County Sheriff's Office
333 Vine Street, La Crosse, WI 54601
Business Office: (608) 785-9629
Jail: (608) 785-9630
Email: sheriffhelp@lacrossecounty.org
The Sheriff's Office also offers an inmate locator service for looking up individuals currently held in the county jail.
La Crosse County Civil Court Records
The La Crosse County Circuit Court handles virtually all civil disputes filed in the county—contract actions, personal injury claims, foreclosures, equity matters, and landlord/tenant disputes. The Clerk of Circuit Court maintains all civil case records.
Small Claims
Small claims cases cover disputes up to $10,000. All eviction cases are also filed in small claims court, regardless of the dollar amount involved. Key small claims fees include:
| Filing/Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Summons & Complaint | $94.50 |
| Garnishment | $92.50 |
| Third-party complaint | $117.50 |
| Service by mail (per defendant) | $2.00 |
| Docketing a judgment | $5.00 |
| Writ of eviction | $5.00 |
| Writ of execution | $5.00 |
| Satisfaction | $5.00 |
| Copies (per page) | $1.25 |
Small claims forms are available at the Clerk of Courts office in Room 1200 or through the Wisconsin Court System's self-help forms assistant. La Crosse County also publishes a basic guide to small claims actions with detailed procedural instructions. Reach the Small Claims Clerk at (608) 785-9705.
For filing fees across all civil case types, the Wisconsin Court System publishes a statewide circuit court fee schedule. The case classification codes directory can help you identify the correct fee category for a specific type of action.
Searching Civil Records
Civil case records are searchable through the WCCA database or at the public access terminals in the Clerk of Courts office. Written search requests by mail or email follow the same $5.00 fee structure described above.
Municipal Courts
La Crosse County has two municipal courts that handle traffic, parking, and local ordinance violations:
City of La Crosse Municipal Court
400 La Crosse Street, La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 789-7290
Fax: (608) 789-8099
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Coulee Region Joint Municipal Court
415 Main Street, Room 150, Onalaska, WI 54650
Phone: (608) 781-9558
Fax: (608) 779-7903
Records from municipal court proceedings must be requested directly from the relevant municipal court office.
La Crosse County Family Court Records
Family law matters in La Crosse County fall under the Family Court Commissioner, whose office oversees divorce, paternity, child support, and injunction cases. Most family law hearings happen before the Commissioner; a Circuit Court judge typically steps in only after the Commissioner has issued a decision. The Family Court's weekly schedule covers custody and placement disputes, injunctions, child support reviews, paternity establishment, and default divorces.
Family Court Commissioner's Office
333 Vine Street, Room 2500
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 785-5600
Fax: (608) 785-5622
Types of Family Court Cases
Chapter 767 of the Wisconsin Statutes governs family actions, covering divorce and legal separation, child custody and placement, child and spousal support, property division, and paternity. The court also handles restraining orders for domestic abuse, harassment, child abuse, and individuals at risk. Restraining order forms are available at the Clerk of Courts office or through the Wisconsin Courts self-help portal. There is no filing fee for domestic abuse or child abuse restraining orders, though fees do apply for harassment and individual-at-risk injunctions.
Mediation Requirement
Under Wisconsin law, all custody and placement disputes are referred to mediation through Mediation & Family Court Services (M&FCS). The initial screening session is free. After that, sessions cost a flat fee of $100 per person. If you can't afford the fee, you can petition for a waiver using forms CV-410A and CV-410B, available at the Clerk of Courts office or at wicourts.gov. Reach the mediation office at (608) 785-6162.
Divorce
To file for divorce in La Crosse County, at least one spouse must have lived in Wisconsin for six months and in the county for at least 30 days. A complete divorce forms packet can be purchased from the Clerk of Courts for $20.00, or you can use the state's online forms assistant. Call the Clerk of Courts at (608) 785-9590 for specific filing fees.
Searching Family Court Records
Family court case records can be searched through the WCCA database or at the public access terminals in the courthouse. Most family court records, including divorce filings, are generally available to the public. Juvenile proceedings and paternity cases, however, are confidential and cannot be accessed by the general public.
Marriage and Divorce Vital Records
Marriage and divorce certificates are classified as vital records under Wis. Stat. 69.21 and are only available to individuals with a direct and tangible interest—generally immediate family members such as spouses, parents, children, siblings, or grandparents.
The La Crosse County Register of Deeds maintains marriage records from 1907 to the present and divorce records from January 1, 2016, onward. Vital records can be requested in person, by mail, or online.
| Record Type | Fee (first copy) | Additional copies |
|---|---|---|
| Birth certificate | $20.00 | $3.00 each |
| Death certificate | $20.00 | $3.00 each |
| Marriage certificate | $20.00 | $3.00 each |
| Divorce certificate | $20.00 | $3.00 each |
La Crosse County Register of Deeds
Administrative Center, Room 1400
212 6th Street North
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 785-9644
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:15 PM
In-person requests receive same-day service. For mail requests, send a money order or cashier's check (personal checks are not accepted), a completed marriage application or divorce application form, a photocopy of acceptable identification, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. If you'd prefer certified mail return, include an extra $8.00 in place of the self-addressed envelope. Birth and death records use their own application forms: birth application and death application.
For divorces that occurred before January 1, 2016, contact the Clerk of Circuit Courts office or the Wisconsin Vital Records Office in Madison.
La Crosse County Probate Court Records
Probate matters in La Crosse County are handled through the Circuit Court's probate division, with day-to-day operations managed by the Register in Probate. The probate court oversees wills, estate administration, trusts, adult and minor guardianships, conservatorships, protective placements, and name changes.
Register in Probate
Nicole Schroeder
333 Vine Street, Room 1201
La Crosse, WI 54601
Phone: (608) 785-9882
Fax: (608) 789-7821
Common Probate Proceedings
The Wisconsin Court System offers a probate guide for self-represented individuals along with a full set of probate forms. If the estate is valued at $50,000 or less, you may be able to use a Small Estate Transfer Affidavit to transfer property without going through full probate administration. The probate office does not supply this form directly—you'll need to download it online.
Guardianship proceedings—whether for adults found incompetent or for minors—require specific forms and often the appointment of a Guardian ad Litem. The Register in Probate can point you toward the appropriate adult guardianship forms, minor guardianship forms, and conservatorship forms. Note that a conservatorship—unlike a power of attorney—requires the conservator to file an annual accounting with the court.
Adoption proceedings also run through the probate division. Wisconsin law prohibits releasing adoption information—including details about birth parents and adoptees—without a court order. If you're seeking adoption records, you'll need to file a search request through the Wisconsin Department of Children & Families Adoption Records Search Program:
Adoption Records Search Program
P.O. Box 8916
Madison, WI 53703-8916
Phone: (608) 266-7163
Searching Probate Records
All La Crosse County probate court records are generally open to public inspection unless sealed by a judge or restricted by statute. You can search them through the WCCA database or at the public access terminals in the Clerk of Courts office. Written search requests follow the standard $5.00 fee per search. For additional guidance, the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association maintains a helpful probate FAQ page that addresses common questions about the estate administration process.