Monroe County Court Records Search
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Monroe County, Wisconsin is situated in the west-central part of the state, with Sparta serving as the county seat and home to the Monroe County Justice Center. The county’s Circuit Court handles the full spectrum of legal matters filed within Monroe County, from felony criminal prosecutions and civil jury trials to family law disputes, probate proceedings, and juvenile matters. Records from these proceedings are maintained by the Monroe County Clerk of Courts and are generally available to the public under Wisconsin’s open records framework.
Searching for court records in Wisconsin can be done through several channels: online via the state’s public case access portal, in person at the Clerk of Courts office, or through written requests submitted to the appropriate office. WisconsinCourts.us is a useful starting point for finding publicly available court case information across the state. For Monroe County cases specifically, the official Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal is the primary digital resource for searching case records without a visit to the courthouse.
How to Look Up a Court Case in Monroe County?
The Monroe County Clerk of Courts is the official records custodian for all Circuit Court proceedings. The office handles case file management, document copying, certified record requests, and passport services. Court staff are not permitted to provide legal advice; legal questions should be directed to a private attorney or to the Wisconsin Lawyer Referral Service at (800) 362-9082.
Monroe County Clerk of Courts
| Address | 112 South Court Street, Room 2200, Sparta, WI 54656 |
| Phone | (608) 269-8745 |
| Fax | (608) 269-8781 |
| Office Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| Clerk of Court | Laura L. Endres |
Monroe County Circuit Court
| Address | 112 South Court Street, Room 2300, Sparta, WI 54656 |
| Branch I | Hon. Todd L. Ziegler — (608) 269-8700 |
| Branch II | Hon. Mark L. Goodman — (608) 269-8926 |
| Branch III | Hon. Richard Radcliffe — (608) 269-8875 |
| Office Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
Searching records online:
The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal provides free public access to Monroe County circuit court case information including criminal, civil, family, small claims, and traffic matters. Case dockets for most counties are available from 1994 to the present. Note that certain case types — including most juvenile matters — are excluded from online display.
Step-by-step for online searches:
- Visit the WCCA case search page.
- Select “Circuit Courts” and choose Monroe County from the county list.
- Enter the party’s name, case number, or citation number.
- Review the case summary, docket entries, and any available documents.
In-person and mail requests:
- Visit the Clerk of Courts office at Room 2200 during regular hours.
- For mail requests, send a written request to 112 South Court Street, Room 2200, Sparta, WI 54656.
- A $5.00 search fee applies when no case number is provided.
- Document copies cost $1.25 per page; certified copies are $5.00 per document.
- Prepayment is required. Accepted payment methods include cash, check, money order, or online payment.
Municipal courts in Monroe County handle local ordinance violations and traffic citations independently of the Circuit Court:
| Municipal Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| City of Sparta Municipal Court | 201 West Oak Street, Sparta, WI 54656 | (608) 269-4340, ext. 237 |
| City of Tomah Municipal Court | 819 Superior Avenue, Tomah, WI 54660 | (608) 374-7425 |
| Norwalk Municipal Court | 208 South Church Street, P.O. Box 230, Norwalk, WI 54648 | (608) 823-7760, ext. 22 |
Traffic citations can also be paid online or by phone through wicourts.gov/ecourts/payonline.htm or via GovPayNow using Pay Location Code 1479.
Are Court Records Public in Monroe County?
Wisconsin’s public records framework is grounded in Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39, the Wisconsin Public Records Law, which establishes a strong presumption that government records — including court records — are open to public inspection. This law applies to all government bodies in Wisconsin, including the Circuit Court and Clerk of Courts office.
However, specific categories of court records are restricted or entirely withheld from public access:
- Juvenile records — Records from delinquency and child welfare proceedings are confidential under Wis. Stat. § 938.396 and Wis. Stat. § 938.78. These records are generally not accessible to the public and are excluded from WCCA online display.
- Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed and restricted to the parties and those authorized by court order.
- Sealed court records — Any record sealed by judicial order, including certain family law matters and victim identity information in specific criminal cases, is unavailable to the public.
- Confidential medical or financial information — Documents containing such data may be redacted or withheld depending on the nature of the case.
- WCCA display limitations — While the WCCA portal displays most case types, certain records have modified display periods. For example, eviction cases where no money judgment was entered are removed from public display after two years under SCR 72.01.
Members of the public who believe a records request has been improperly denied may seek relief through a Wisconsin court under Wis. Stat. § 19.37.
Monroe County Criminal Court Records
The Monroe County Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over all felony criminal matters filed in the county. Misdemeanor cases, depending on the circumstances, may be handled at the circuit or municipal court level. The Circuit Court Clerk’s office maintains all criminal case files, including charging documents, indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and judgments.
Searching criminal case records:
The WCCA portal displays criminal case information for Monroe County, including charges, court dates, dispositions, and case history. Searches can be conducted by name or case number at no charge.
Arrest records and incident reports:
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and the current warrant list for the county.
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
| Address | 112 S. Court Street, Room 500, Sparta, WI 54656 |
| Phone | (608) 269-2117 |
| Fax | (608) 269-8889 |
| Sheriff.Reports@co.monroe.wi.us | |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. |
| Sheriff | Wesley D. Revels |
Sheriff’s Office record request fees:
| Record Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Accident report (by mail) | $1.00 (typical); additional pages $0.25/page |
| Incident report (printed) | $0.25 per page |
| Accident or incident report (emailed) | Free of charge |
Written requests for accident or incident reports can be mailed to the Sheriff’s Office with a self-addressed stamped envelope and the applicable fee, or emailed to Sheriff.Reports@co.monroe.wi.us. Accident reports can also be requested directly from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation online.
The Warrant List for active arrest warrants in Monroe County is updated and publicly available through the county’s website. The Jail Division at 112 S. Court Street, Room 500, Sparta (Phone: (608) 269-8759) handles inmate inquiries. Crime victims can register for custody notifications through the Victim Inmate Notification System.
Monroe County Civil Court Records
Civil jurisdiction in Monroe County’s Circuit Court covers all civil matters, including contract disputes, personal injury claims, landlord-tenant actions, small claims, and appeals from municipal courts. All civil filings are maintained by the Clerk of Courts.
Small claims court:
Small claims cases — typically for money disputes under a specified threshold — are filed with the Monroe County Clerk of Courts. Wisconsin courts handle small claims in the Circuit Court, and these cases are searchable through WCCA. Wisconsin Court System forms for small claims and other civil matters are available on the Wisconsin courts website.
Civil case copy fees:
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Search fee (no case number) | $5.00 |
| Document copies | $1.25 per page |
| Certified copies | $5.00 per document |
Requests can be made in person at Room 2200, by mail, by fax to (608) 269-8781, or by phone at (608) 269-8745. Prepayment is required for all copy orders.
Online civil case access:
The WCCA portal displays civil case information including parties, filing dates, hearing schedules, and docket entries. Judgment information and lien data may also appear in civil case records.
Monroe County Family Court Records
Family law matters in Monroe County — including divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, paternity, domestic violence, and guardianship — are handled by the Monroe County Circuit Court. The Clerk of Courts maintains all family case files, and many of these cases are visible on WCCA unless sealed by court order.
Divorce records:
Divorce case files and decrees are maintained by the Monroe County Clerk of Courts. For certified copies of divorce documents, contact the Clerk’s office at (608) 269-8745 or submit a mail request to Room 2200, 112 South Court Street, Sparta, WI 54656. Copy fees are $1.25 per page (uncertified) and $5.00 per certified document.
Divorce certificates issued from 2016 to the present can also be obtained from the Monroe County Register of Deeds or by mailing a completed Wisconsin Divorce Certificate Application to:
Wisconsin Division of Public Health — Vital Records
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701-0309
Marriage records:
Marriage certificates for any Wisconsin marriage can be obtained from any County Register of Deeds office statewide. In Monroe County, submit a completed Wisconsin Marriage Certificate Application to:
Monroe County Register of Deeds
202 South K Street, Room 2
Sparta, WI 54656
Phone: (608) 269-8716
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
The fee for any vital record — including birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates — is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time.
Birth and death records:
- Birth certificates for any Wisconsin birth can be obtained from any County Register of Deeds. Complete the Wisconsin Birth Certificate Application and submit with the $20.00 fee and a valid ID.
- Death certificates are available statewide for deaths from September 1, 2013, to the present. For deaths occurring in Wisconsin before that date, contact the Register of Deeds in the county where the death occurred or where the decedent resided. Use the Wisconsin Death Certificate Application.
Both the Monroe County Register of Deeds and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health accept mail requests with the appropriate completed application, fee, and a copy of a valid photo ID.
Juvenile and child welfare proceedings:
Juvenile delinquency and children in need of protection or services (CHIPS) cases are heard by the Circuit Court but are confidential under Wisconsin law. These records are not included in WCCA’s public display and are not available through routine records requests.
Monroe County Probate Court Records
Probate jurisdiction in Wisconsin rests with the Circuit Court. In Monroe County, the Register in Probate office manages all probate filings and is the custodian of probate court records. The Register in Probate is located within the Monroe County Justice Center.
Register in Probate — Monroe County
| Address | 112 South Court Street, Room 2300, Sparta, WI 54656 |
| Phone | (608) 269-8701 |
| Fax | (608) 269-8950 |
| Register | Mary Miller (mary.miller@wicourts.gov) |
Types of proceedings handled:
- Decedent estates — testate (with a will) and intestate (without a will)
- Will filing and admission to probate
- Appointment of personal representatives
- Guardianships for minors
- Guardianships and protective placements for adults
- Conservatorships
- Mental health commitments
- Trust proceedings
Accessing probate records:
Probate case files are generally public records unless sealed by a judge. The WCCA portal includes probate case information for Monroe County. For copies of specific probate documents — such as wills, inventories, petitions, or final decrees — contact the Register in Probate directly by phone or visit the office during regular hours.
Historical probate records including older estate files, wills, and inventories are also available through the Monroe County Local History Room & Museum, which holds indexed historical materials useful for genealogical and estate research.
For real estate documents associated with probate estates — including deeds filed in connection with estate administration — the Monroe County Register of Deeds maintains land record images accessible through the Tapestry EON and Laredo Anywhere online platforms, with records going back to documents recorded after 1935.