Marinette County Court Records Search

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    Marinette County, Wisconsin is served by the Circuit Court of the 8th Judicial District, which handles the full range of trial-level matters — criminal, civil, family, small claims, probate, and guardianship — all operating out of the county’s main courthouse complex in the city of Marinette. Court records generated through these proceedings document the complete arc of each case, from initial filing through final disposition, and typically include case filings, motions, orders, judgments, sentencing information, and related exhibits.

    Those seeking Wisconsin court case information can consult WisconsinCourts.us as a starting point for understanding the state’s court structure and for locating links to county-level resources. In Wisconsin, court records can be searched through the statewide electronic case database, at the clerk’s office in person, through public access terminals at the courthouse, and via written request. Each of these pathways is covered in the sections below.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Marinette County?

    Online via Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA)

    The Wisconsin Court System maintains the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access database — commonly known as WCCA — which provides free public access to case information for circuit court cases statewide. Using WCCA, anyone can search Marinette County cases by party name, case number, attorney, or citation number. The database includes docket entries, case status, charge information, and scheduled hearing dates. Case dockets for most Wisconsin counties are available from 1994 to the present. WCCA does not allow users to download full court documents, but it provides sufficient information to identify a case and then request documents through the clerk.

    In Person at the Clerk of Circuit Court

    The Clerk of Circuit Court is Marinette County’s official keeper of all circuit court case records. Staff can assist with locating specific case files and processing copy requests.

    Marinette County Clerk of Circuit Court
    Address: 1926 Hall Avenue, 1st Floor, Courthouse Annex, Marinette, WI 54143
    Phone: (715) 732-7450
    Fax: (715) 732-7461
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (open during lunch)

    By Written Request

    Individuals who cannot appear in person may submit a written request under Wisconsin Statutes § 19.35. Written requests must include sufficient identifying information to allow the clerk to locate the record — typically the case number, names of the parties, and the approximate date of the proceeding or filing. Mail requests to the address listed above.

    Are Court Records Public in Marinette County?

    Wisconsin’s Public Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39) establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government records, including court documents. Any person may inspect and copy qualifying records; requesters are not required to state a reason for the request. The circuit clerk may charge fees to cover reasonable costs of reproduction and location of records.

    That said, specific categories of records are restricted from public view. In Marinette County, access is withheld or limited for the following:

    • Juvenile records — Sealed under Wis. Stat. § 938.396; accessible only to authorized parties such as the juvenile, parents, guardian, and certain agencies
    • Expunged records — Removed from public access under Wis. Stat. § 973.015; once expunged, the record is treated as though the person was not convicted
    • Mental health records — Sealed under Wis. Stat. § 51.30 to protect the privacy of individuals subject to commitment proceedings
    • Certain family law records — Child custody evaluations, adoption files, and domestic violence-related materials may be sealed under Wis. Stat. § 767.24
    • Personally identifiable information — Social Security numbers, financial account details, and similar data are redacted from public filings

    When a record contains a mix of public and restricted content, the clerk will typically produce a redacted version of accessible portions rather than denying access to the document in its entirety.

    Marinette County Criminal Court Records

    Criminal cases in Marinette County originate in the Circuit Court for felony matters and proceed through either the Circuit Court or Municipal Court depending on the severity of the charge.

    Marinette County Circuit Court — Criminal Division
    Address: 1926 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143
    Phone: (715) 732-7523
    Fax: (715) 732-7448
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    The Circuit Court handles felony charges and related matters including post-conviction relief, expungement petitions, and criminal appeals. Misdemeanors, traffic violations, and ordinance infractions are handled at the municipal level by the City of Marinette Municipal Court, which operates separately from the county circuit court:

    City of Marinette Municipal Court
    Address: 1905 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m. – Noon and 12:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Court sessions: Generally held on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month

    Searching Criminal Case Records

    Criminal case dockets at the circuit court level can be searched at no cost through WCCA. Records include charge information, hearing dates, plea entries, and sentencing data for cases dating back to approximately 1994. For older records or certified copies of criminal documents, contact the Clerk of Circuit Court directly.

    Arrest Records and Jail Roster

    The Marinette County Sheriff’s Office maintains records of individuals booked into the county jail and handles law enforcement records for unincorporated areas of the county:

    Marinette County Sheriff’s Office
    Address: 2161 University Drive, Marinette, WI 54143
    Phone: (715) 732-7607 (main) | (715) 732-7630 (jail)
    Fax: (715) 732-7606
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (open during lunch)

    The county also participates in the statewide Wisconsin VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system, which allows crime victims and other interested parties to check an offender’s custody status online or by phone. The statewide VINE toll-free number is (888) 868-4631.

    Statewide Criminal History Checks

    For a comprehensive Wisconsin criminal history report, the Wisconsin Department of Justice processes requests through the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). Online criminal background checks cost $7 per request through the WORCS portal. Caregiver background checks carry a $10 fee. WORCS results reflect Wisconsin records only and do not include federal or out-of-state criminal history.

    Marinette County Civil Court Records

    Civil cases in Marinette County — including money judgments, contract disputes, property matters, mortgage foreclosures, evictions, garnishments, and injunctions — are filed with the Clerk of Circuit Court and managed as part of the circuit court’s civil docket. The Wisconsin Circuit Court governs filing procedures and fee structures statewide.

    Civil Filing Fees — Selected Case Types

    Case TypeBase Filing Fee
    Civil money judgment / general civilVaries by claim amount; see statewide fee table
    Small claims (up to $10,000)$22 base filing fee
    Small claims — eviction$22 base filing fee
    Small claims — replevin$22 base filing fee
    Electronic filing surcharge (per party)$35 per case

    Small Claims Court

    Wisconsin’s small claims docket, governed by Wis. Stat. § 799, handles money disputes of $10,000 or less (tort/personal injury claims are capped at $5,000), eviction actions, replevin, garnishments, and arbitration award confirmations. Small claims proceedings are filed with the Clerk of Circuit Court and are designed to allow self-represented parties to navigate them without an attorney. The Wisconsin Court System provides a Small Claims Self-Help Law Center with forms, instructions, and a guided forms assistant at no charge.

    To look up civil case records in Marinette County, use the WCCA case search by party name or case number. For certified copies of judgments, orders, or other civil documents, contact the Clerk of Circuit Court directly.

    Marinette County Family Court Records

    Family law matters in Marinette County are heard in the Circuit Court and encompass divorce, legal separation, annulment, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic abuse proceedings, and related modifications. All family case filings are maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court at the 1926 Hall Avenue courthouse.

    Divorce Records

    Divorce proceedings are filed in the Circuit Court under Wisconsin’s dissolution statutes, codified at Wis. Stat. § 767.01. Divorce decrees are generally public records accessible through WCCA or by requesting copies from the clerk. Information about minor children’s placement arrangements and any sealed protective order details may be redacted from publicly available documents.

    Domestic Abuse and Restraining Orders

    Domestic abuse restraining orders and injunctions are filed with the Circuit Court and tracked in the WCCA database. Individuals seeking protective orders can access Wisconsin Supreme Court approved forms through the Wisconsin Court System’s forms page. The filing fee for a domestic abuse restraining order or injunction is not assessed against the petitioner.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage records for events occurring from January 1, 1907 to the present are available through Wisconsin’s statewide issuance program. This means requesters can visit any Register of Deeds office in Wisconsin to obtain a certified copy of a Marinette County marriage record — not just the local office. Certified vital records require the requester to demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record.

    Marinette County Register of Deeds
    Address: 1925 Ella Court (Marinette County Resource Center), Marinette, WI 54143
    Phone: (715) 732-7553
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Birth and Death Records

    Birth records from January 1, 1907 to present and death records from September 1, 2013 to present are available through statewide issuance at any Wisconsin Register of Deeds. Death records predating September 1, 2013 must be requested from the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred — in this case, the Marinette County office. Divorce records from January 1, 2016 forward are also available statewide; earlier divorce records must be requested from the Wisconsin Vital Records office in Madison.

    The standard Wisconsin vital records fee is $20 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time, consistent with fees charged by Register of Deeds offices statewide. Requesters must demonstrate a direct and tangible interest in the record and present valid identification. Vital records can also be ordered online through VitalChek for births, deaths, and marriages. Access restrictions on birth records are governed by Wis. Stat. § 69.14, and death records by Wis. Stat. § 69.18.

    Marinette County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Marinette County are administered through a dedicated division within the Circuit Court and managed by the Register in Probate office. The Register in Probate, Nancy J. Kallgren, oversees estate proceedings, guardianships, conservatorships, mental commitments, and related matters.

    Register in Probate — Estates/Probate
    Address: Marinette County Courthouse, 1926 Hall Avenue, Room A125, Marinette, WI 54143
    Phone: (715) 732-7475
    Fax: (715) 732-7461
    Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

    Register in Probate — Guardianship
    Phone: (715) 732-7478 (separate line for guardianship inquiries)
    Address and hours: Same as above

    Types of Probate Proceedings

    Marinette County handles the following types of probate matters, all under Wis. Stat. § 851.01 and related provisions:

    • Formal estate administration (court-supervised; attorney required)
    • Informal estate administration (overseen by the Probate Registrar without continuous court supervision; may proceed without an attorney)
    • Summary assignment and summary settlement for smaller estates
    • Transfer by Affidavit — available for estates with total assets of $50,000 or less, allowing asset transfer without court involvement; the State Bar of Wisconsin maintains this form, but it is not filed with the Register in Probate
    • Determination of descent, trust proceedings, and wills filed for safekeeping
    • Guardianships and conservatorships for adults with disabilities, minors, spendthrifts, and individuals with the infirmities of aging
    • Mental health, alcohol, and drug commitment proceedings

    Key Probate Procedures to Know

    • If a decedent left a Last Will and Testament, the original must be filed with the Register in Probate within 30 days, even if no formal probate is required
    • A named personal representative has no legal authority to act until the Register in Probate issues Domiciliary Letters following proper filing
    • Informal administration is managed without continuous court supervision and is an option for qualifying estates; the Wisconsin Register in Probate Association publishes A Personal Representative’s Guide to Informal Administration, available at no charge through the Wisconsin Court System
    • Guardians of the person must file an Annual Report on the Condition of the Ward each year; guardians of the estate must file annual accounts of the ward’s assets

    Searching Probate Records Online

    Marinette County probate records from 1994 to the present are available through the WCCA case search. For older records, contact the Register in Probate office directly or visit in person during business hours. While most probate filings are public under Wisconsin’s Public Records Law, records involving mental health commitments are sealed under Wis. Stat. § 51.30 and require a court order or specific statutory authorization for access.