Milwaukee County Court Records Search
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Milwaukee County is the most densely populated county in Wisconsin, home to the city of Milwaukee and more than a dozen surrounding municipalities. Its judicial system centers on the Milwaukee County Circuit Court — the First Judicial District and the largest in the state — which operates with 47 judges organized across criminal, civil, traffic, probate, and children’s divisions. Beyond the circuit court, Milwaukee County has more municipal courts than any other Wisconsin county, handling parking, traffic, and local ordinance violations in cities and villages throughout the county. The Clerk of Circuit Court serves as the official custodian of all circuit court records, while municipal courts maintain their own case files independently. Vital records such as birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are held separately by the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds.
Wisconsin provides statewide access to circuit court case data through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal, maintained by the state judicial branch. The WisconsinCourts.us directory may also help users identify the correct court or clerk office for a particular type of record. In Milwaukee County, most open circuit court records can be searched by party name or case number through WCCA at no cost, while physical or certified copies require formal requests to the appropriate clerk division. Some municipal courts — including the City of Milwaukee Municipal Court — also offer their own online case information portals.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Milwaukee County?
Milwaukee County offers distinct search methods depending on whether you need circuit court records or municipal court records.
Online Searches
The WCCA portal is the primary free tool for searching Milwaukee County Circuit Court cases. Users can search statewide or filter by county, entering a party name (with date of birth if known) or case number. Results display case summaries including parties, case number, filing date, case status, and a listing of case actions. The system covers civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters heard in the circuit court.
For City of Milwaukee Municipal Court cases (parking, traffic, and ordinance violations), the court provides a separate case search portal searchable by case number, citation number, defendant name, or business name. Other municipal courts in the county may have their own online access; check the individual court’s website.
In-Person Searches
The Clerk of Circuit Court operates three divisions, each open Monday through Friday. The division you visit depends on the type of case:
Civil Division (civil and family cases)
Milwaukee County Courthouse
901 N. 9th Street, Room 104
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: (414) 278-5362
Criminal and Traffic Division
Milwaukee County Safety Building
821 W. State Street, Room 117
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: (414) 278-4538
Children’s Division (juvenile matters)
Vel R. Phillips Youth and Family Justice Center
10201 W. Watertown Plank Road, Room 1530
Milwaukee, WI 53226
Phone: (414) 257-7700
Office hours are 8:00 a.m. (or 8:30 a.m. for some services) to 4:30 p.m. Walk-in visitors can view nonconfidential case files and request copies at the service windows.
Requesting Copies by Mail or Email
For civil and family records, download and complete the Civil Record Request Form and email it to cticivil-milwaukee@wicourts.gov, or mail it to Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233. Do not include payment with the form — the court will contact you with the amount due once records are located. Payment is accepted by credit or debit card. Requests typically take two to three weeks to process. For questions, contact the Civil Records Center at (414) 278-4135.
Criminal and juvenile case records generally require in-person requests. Contact the Criminal Division at (414) 278-4538 to confirm availability and procedures.
Copy Fees (Circuit Court)
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Regular copies | $1.25 per page |
| Certification | $5.00 per document (plus copy costs) |
| File search | $5.00 per search |
Per Wis. Stat. § 814.61(10)(a), the per-page rate for copies and reports from the clerk of circuit court is $1.25.
Are Court Records Public in Milwaukee County?
Wisconsin has robust open-records protections. Under Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39, the public may freely inspect or copy government records, including court files. Wis. Stat. § 59.20(3) further grants the public an “absolute right of examination” of records held by the clerk of circuit court.
Most circuit court filings are available for public inspection, including criminal complaints, civil petitions, motions, orders, judgments, and probate filings. However, several categories of records are restricted:
- Juvenile court records — adoption proceedings, juvenile delinquency cases, and termination of parental rights are confidential
- Sealed records — a court may seal records when authorized by statute, when disclosure would infringe a constitutional right, or when necessary to administer justice (see Bilder, 112 Wis. 2d 539)
- Treatment records of persons criminally committed
- Wiretap and interception records
- Protected personal identifiers — effective July 1, 2016, Wis. Stat. § 801.19 requires that Social Security numbers, passport numbers, employer and tax identification numbers, financial account numbers, and driver’s license or state ID numbers be redacted from court filings
Case file retention varies by case type under Wisconsin Supreme Court Rule 72: felony records are kept for a minimum of 75 years after final judgment, misdemeanor and criminal traffic records for 20 years, and traffic records for five years.
Milwaukee County Criminal Court Records
All criminal matters in Milwaukee County — felonies, misdemeanors, and criminal traffic offenses — are adjudicated by the Criminal Court Division of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. The division is located at:
Milwaukee County Safety Building
821 W. State Street, Room 117
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: (414) 278-4538
Copies of criminal court documents are available at the customer service window outside Room 117, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Copies cost $1.25 per page, and certification costs an additional $5 per document. Older files stored offsite may require two to three days to retrieve.
Criminal case information can also be searched for free through the WCCA portal by entering a defendant’s name or case number.
Sheriff’s Office Records
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office Public Records Division maintains arrest records, incident reports, crash reports, citations, and criminal history information pertaining to the Sheriff’s jurisdiction. Requests are accepted via email, in person, U.S. mail, or fax:
Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office — Public Records Division
821 W. State Street, Room 102
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: (414) 226-7085
Fax: (414) 223-1267
Email: MCSOopenrecords@milwaukeecountywi.gov
An online public records request form is also available for submitting requests electronically.
Sheriff’s Office Fee Schedule
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Accident reports | $6.00 |
| Booking photo | $1.50 |
| RMS reports | $1.00 |
| CAD reports | $1.00 |
| Citations/tickets | $1.00 |
| CD/DVD for video/photos | $10.00 |
| Other copies | $0.15 per page |
For arrests made by agencies other than the Sheriff’s Office, contact the arresting law enforcement department directly. For statewide criminal history checks, the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Crime Information Bureau operates the Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS) at $7 per name-based background check. Adult criminal history information is considered public in Wisconsin, though juvenile records are restricted under federal and state law.
Milwaukee County Civil Court Records
The Civil Division of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court handles all non-criminal litigation within the county, including small claims (under $10,000), large claims (over $10,000), garnishments, restraining orders, and other civil actions. The division operates from:
Milwaukee County Courthouse
901 N. 9th Street, Room 104
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: (414) 278-5362
Civil case records can be accessed through three channels:
- Online — Search for free through the WCCA portal using a party name or case number
- In person — Visit the Civil Records Center in Room G-9 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse. Call (414) 278-4135 in advance to verify that a specific file is available on-site and to confirm current office hours
- By mail or email — Complete the Civil Record Request Form and email it to cticivil-milwaukee@wicourts.gov or mail it to the courthouse address above
The court contacts requesters with the total amount due once records are assembled. Payment is accepted by credit or debit card. Standard copy and certification fees apply ($1.25 per page; $5 for certification). A $5 search fee is charged for file searches.
Municipal Court Records
Small-scale civil matters such as parking violations, traffic offenses, and local ordinance violations are handled by the municipal courts. Milwaukee County has numerous municipal courts, including:
- Milwaukee Municipal Court — 951 N. James Lovell Street, Milwaukee, WI 53233; (414) 286-3800
- Wauwatosa Municipal Court — 7725 W. North Avenue, Wauwatosa, WI 53213; (414) 471-8488
- West Allis Municipal Court — 11301 W. Lincoln Avenue, West Allis, WI 53227; (414) 302-8181
- Oak Creek Municipal Court — 301 W. Ryan Road, Oak Creek, WI 53154; (414) 766-7621
Each municipal court maintains its own records. Requests should be directed to the individual court where the case was heard.
Milwaukee County Family Court Records
Family law cases — including divorce, legal separation, paternity, child custody, child support, domestic abuse restraining orders, and name changes — are adjudicated by the Civil Division of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N. 9th Street, Room 104, Milwaukee, WI 53233, Phone: (414) 278-5362 Cases involving children under 17, including juvenile delinquency and child protection matters, are handled by the Children’s Division at the Vel R. Phillips Youth and Family Justice Center, 10201 W. Watertown Plank Road, Room 1530, Milwaukee, WI 53226, Phone: (414) 257-7700
Family court records follow the same access procedures as other civil records: search through the WCCA portal online, visit the Civil Records Center in person, or submit the Civil Record Request Form by email or mail. Most family case records are public unless sealed by court order or involving minors.
Divorce Records
Divorce decrees (the final court judgment) can be obtained from the Clerk of Circuit Court’s Civil Division using the same request methods described above. Divorce certificates — separate vital record documents — are issued by the Milwaukee County Register of Deeds for divorces from January 1, 2016, to present. For divorces prior to that date, request a decree from the court using the Civil Records Request Form.
To order a divorce certificate, submit the divorce certificate application by mail, in person, or online. The fee is $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. In-person orders carry a $3 service fee.
Marriage Records
Marriage certificates are also issued by the Register of Deeds. Submit a marriage certificate application in person, by mail, or online. Fees are the same ($20 first copy, $3 each additional). Certified copies — bearing a raised seal and printed on security paper — are only available to persons with a “direct and tangible interest” under Wis. Stat. § 69.20(1). A valid government-issued photo ID is required. Uncertified copies are available to anyone.
The Register of Deeds office is located at 901 N. 9th Street, Room G6, Milwaukee, WI 53233, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. For questions about vital records, call (414) 278-4027 or email RODVitalRecords@milwaukeecountywi.gov. The office also processes genealogy requests for marriage records dating back to the 1830s.
Birth and Death Records
Birth and death certificates can be obtained from the Register of Deeds using the birth application or death application. Fees are $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional. Certified birth certificates are restricted to persons with a direct and tangible interest. Orders can be placed in person, by mail to 901 N. 9th Street, Room G6, Milwaukee, WI 53233, online through VitalChek or the Official Records Online portal, or by phone through VitalChek at (888) 862-3736. Online and phone orders carry additional vendor fees. On-demand orders received by 2:00 p.m. are available for same-day pickup.
Milwaukee County can also issue statewide birth certificates (from October 1, 1907), death certificates (from September 1, 2013), and marriage certificates from all years available in its records.
Milwaukee County Probate Court Records
The Probate Division of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over wills, trusts, decedent estates, guardianships, civil commitments, and protective placements. The Register in Probate oversees day-to-day administration of probate filings.
Register in Probate
Milwaukee County Courthouse
901 N. 9th Street, Room 207
Milwaukee, WI 53233
Phone: (414) 278-4444 (press option 2 for the Register or Deputy Register)
Appointment line for closed/microfilmed records: (414) 278-4452
Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Searching Probate Records
Access to probate records depends on the time period:
- Before 1985 — View in person at the Register in Probate office, Room 207
- 1985 through June 1, 2003 — Available both in person and online through the WCCA portal
- After June 1, 2003 — Available online only through WCCA
Self-conducted searches at the office are free of charge. Written requests submitted by mail must include a $4 search fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Copies cost $1 per page. To view a closed or microfilmed record, call (414) 278-4452 to schedule an appointment.
Probate records are public and include the name and case number of the estate, along with the name and address of the personal representative. The Register in Probate also holds wills for safekeeping at a fee of $10. The probate office provides informal probate guidelines for simpler estate proceedings, and the Wisconsin court system offers downloadable probate forms on its website.