Sauk County Court Records

Sauk County sits in south-central Wisconsin, with Baraboo as its county seat. The county's unified circuit court handles criminal, civil, family, and probate matters as part of Wisconsin's 5th Judicial Circuit. As cases move through the system, the court generates a range of records — complaints, motions, orders, judgments, dockets, and exhibits. Three municipal courts also serve communities within the county, handling local ordinance violations. The Clerk of Courts is the official keeper of circuit court records and your main point of contact for obtaining court documents. The Sauk County Circuit Court website provides additional background on how the court operates.

Wisconsin provides several ways to find court case information at both the state and county level. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) database, maintained through the Consolidated Court Automation Programs (CCAP), lets anyone search circuit court records statewide, including Sauk County cases. Beyond WCCA, you can visit the clerk's office in person, submit a request by mail, or use a public access terminal at the courthouse. WisconsinCourts.us is also a useful starting point for general information about the state court system, available forms, and self-help resources.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Sauk County?

You have a few options depending on whether you need basic case information or certified copies of specific documents.

Online Search via WCCA

Start with the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal, which you can reach through the CCAP case search page linked on the Sauk County website. To search:

Navigate to the WCCA case search page.
Enter a party's last name or business name, or type in a known case number.
Select Sauk from the county dropdown to narrow your results.
Review the case details, including filings, scheduled hearings, and dispositions.

This service is free and available around the clock. It covers civil, criminal, family, traffic, forfeiture, and small claims cases filed in the circuit court. Keep in mind that WCCA shows case index information and docket entries only — it does not provide imaged copies of actual documents.

Requesting Records from the Clerk of Courts

If you need copies of actual court documents, contact the Sauk County Clerk of Courts Office directly:

Sauk County Clerk of Courts
Address: 510 Broadway Street, Second Floor, Baraboo, WI 53913
Phone: (608) 355-3287
Fax: (608) 355-3480
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

You can submit requests in person during business hours or by mail. Per the Wisconsin Circuit Court Fee Chart, the office charges $1.25 per page for regular copies and $5.00 to certify a document (plus $1.25 per page for the copy itself). When mailing a request, include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. If you don't have a case number, a $5.00 search fee per name applies to locate the relevant file.

Dedicated Staff Lines

The Clerk of Courts maintains separate staff lines for different case types. Call (608) 355-3287 and press 9 to reach the appropriate extension:

Small Claims: ext. 3407
Civil (name changes, restraining orders): ext. 3402
Criminal Felony & Misdemeanor: ext. 3403
Criminal Traffic, Traffic & Forfeitures: ext. 3405 or ext. 3406
Family & Paternity: ext. 3404

Are Court Records Public in Sauk County?

Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law, court records from case proceedings are presumed open to public inspection. Anyone may request to examine or obtain copies without stating a reason or demonstrating Wisconsin residency.

That said, state law and court rules do exclude certain record categories from public disclosure. The following types of records are generally sealed or restricted in Sauk County:

Juvenile delinquency proceedings
Adoption records
Paternity records prior to adjudication
Grand jury proceedings and juror lists
Confidential name change petitions
Child abuse restraining orders and injunctions
Guardianship proceedings (certain filings)

When a record falls outside these exceptions, the Clerk of Courts must provide access upon request. The Wisconsin Supreme Court Rules, particularly SCR 72.06, set additional guidelines for electronic access to court records and require that sensitive information such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers be redacted before public disclosure.

Sauk County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Sauk County — ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies — are prosecuted in the circuit court and managed by the Sauk County District Attorney's Office. Records generated from these proceedings include complaints, warrants, bail information, plea records, trial transcripts, and sentencing orders.

Searching Criminal Case Records

Criminal case information is searchable for free through WCCA — enter a defendant's name and select Sauk County to get started. The database displays charges, case status, hearing dates, and dispositions for adult criminal cases. Juvenile criminal records are not available through WCCA or any public portal in Wisconsin.

Obtaining Criminal History Reports

For a broader background check that goes beyond individual Sauk County cases, the Wisconsin Department of Justice's Crime Information Bureau (CIB) maintains statewide adult criminal records. Public searches can be conducted through two options:

Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS): A name-based search costing $7 per query. You enter a person's name, date of birth, race, and gender. Results may include arrests, charges, and court dispositions across all Wisconsin counties. Because this is a name-based system, results could potentially match someone who shares similar identifying information.
Fingerprint-Based Checks: Available only for purposes authorized by statute, such as employment, adoption, or immigration. You must submit the Single Name Record Request Form (DJ-LE-250), a complete set of fingerprints, and a $15 fee to the CIB Record Check Unit.

Sauk County Sheriff's Office

The Sauk County Sheriff's Office handles arrests, booking, and detention within the county. Arrest information and incident reports can be requested from the Sheriff's Office or from the local police agency that made the arrest. Keep in mind that an arrest record reflects only that someone was taken into custody — it does not indicate guilt or innocence.

Sauk County Sheriff's Office
Address: 1300 Lange Court, Baraboo, WI 53913
Non-Emergency Dispatch: (608) 356-4895
Toll-Free: (800) 377-1195
Civil Process: (608) 355-3478
Fax: (608) 355-3298

Sauk County Civil Court Records

All civil litigation filed in Sauk County — contract disputes, personal injury claims, foreclosures, evictions, and declaratory judgments — falls under the jurisdiction of the circuit court. The county's three municipal courts handle only local ordinance violations and do not adjudicate civil lawsuits.

Where to Find Civil Records

Civil case details are searchable at no cost through WCCA. For copies of filed documents, contact the Clerk of Courts at (608) 355-3287 or visit 510 Broadway Street in Baraboo. When requesting records by phone or mail, have your case number ready. If you don't have one, a $5.00 search fee per name applies.

Filing Fees for Civil Actions

The Wisconsin Circuit Court Fee Chart sets the following filing fees for civil cases:

Action Type	Filing Fee (Total with Surcharges)
Civil claim over $10,000	$265.50
Civil claim $5,001–$10,000 (personal injury/tort)	$147.50
Civil claim (no money judgment)	$164.50
Small claims $10,000 or less	$94.50
Foreclosure	$265.50

Copy and Certification Fees

Service	Fee
Regular copies	$1.25 per page
Certified copy	$5.00 plus $1.25 per page
File/record search (per name)	$5.00

Electronically filed cases are subject to an additional $35 per case per party.

Small Claims

Small claims cases involving amounts of $10,000 or less are filed through the Clerk of Courts. For small claims inquiries, contact Sheilah at (608) 355-3287, ext. 3407. Civil name changes and restraining orders should be directed to Ann at ext. 3402.

Municipal Courts

The three municipal courts serving Sauk County communities handle citations for local ordinance violations:

City of Reedsburg Municipal Court — 134 South Locust Street, P.O. Box 490, Reedsburg, WI 53959; Phone: (608) 768-3348
River Valley Joint Municipal Court — 230 East Monroe Street, Spring Green, WI 53588; Phone: (608) 588-2125
Sauk Prairie Municipal Court — 640 13th Street, Prairie du Sac, WI 53578; Phone: (608) 643-2427 ext. 106

Sauk County Family Court Records

Family law matters in Sauk County — divorce, legal separation, child custody, placement, child support, paternity, and domestic abuse proceedings — are heard in the circuit court. The Family Court Commissioner handles uncontested proceedings and initial motions, while contested matters go before a circuit court judge.

Family Court Commissioner
Address: 510 Broadway, Room 320, Baraboo, WI 53913
Phone: (608) 355-3246
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

For family and paternity case inquiries at the Clerk of Courts, contact Renee at (608) 355-3287, ext. 3404.

Divorce and Legal Separation

Wisconsin law requires a 120-day waiting period between the filing or service of a divorce petition and the entry of a final judgment. The Sauk County Circuit Court provides instruction forms and packets to guide self-represented parties through the process, including:

Additional family court forms are available on the Sauk County website. The Wisconsin Court System also publishes a comprehensive self-help guide for divorce and family law that walks parties through the necessary filings step by step.

Filing a family action costs $184.50 without a request for support or maintenance, or $194.50 when support or maintenance is requested. Post-judgment motions to revise custody or placement cost $50.00.

Divorce Certificates

While the Clerk of Courts holds official divorce judgments and case files, the Sauk County Register of Deeds maintains divorce certificates for events recorded since 2016. Each certificate costs $20.00, with $3.00 for additional copies ordered at the same time. Certified copies are restricted to individuals who can demonstrate a direct and tangible interest under Wis. Stat. 69.21 — this includes the registrant, immediate family members, legal guardians, and authorized representatives. For certificates of events prior to 2016, contact the Wisconsin State Vital Records Office.

Marriage Records

You can obtain marriage certificates from the Sauk County Register of Deeds by completing the Application for Marriage Certificate and submitting it in person or by mail. Each certificate costs $20.00, with $3.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. A valid photo ID is required. Mail requests must include a check or money order and a self-addressed stamped envelope. In-person orders are generally processed within two hours; mail orders may take up to two weeks for certified copies and up to a month for uncertified ones. The same direct-and-tangible-interest requirement applies to certified marriage certificates — uncertified copies are available to anyone.

Sauk County Register of Deeds
Address: 505 Broadway, Room 122, Baraboo, WI 53913
Phone: (608) 355-3288
Fax: (608) 355-4439

Birth and Death Records

Birth and death certificates are often needed alongside family law proceedings. You can request them from the Register of Deeds using the Birth Certificate Request Form or the Death Certificate Request Form. Each certificate costs $20.00, with a $3.00 fee for additional copies. Certified copies are restricted to parties with a direct and tangible interest; uncertified copies are available to anyone. Acceptable forms of identification are listed on each request form.

Sauk County Probate Court Records

Probate matters in Sauk County are heard in the circuit court and administered through the Office of the Register in Probate. Probate cases cover estate administration, will filings, guardianships, conservatorships, trusts, and related proceedings under Wisconsin Statutes Chapters 851 through 882.

Register in Probate / Juvenile Clerk of Court
Address: 510 Broadway Street, Room C234, Baraboo, WI 53913
Phone: (608) 355-3226
Fax: (608) 355-4436
Email: kathe.koback@saukcountywi.gov

Appointments are encouraged but not required — call (608) 355-3226 to schedule one.

Types of Probate Proceedings

The Sauk County Register in Probate handles a range of proceeding types, including formal and informal administration, summary assignment, summary settlement, special administration, ancillary proceedings, formal termination of joint tenancy, termination of life estate, determination of descent, and testamentary trusts. Wills must be filed with the Register in Probate within 30 days following death, as required by Wis. Stat. 865.05. For estates valued at $50,000 or less, a Transfer by Affidavit may be used instead of full probate — forms for this process are available at wisbar.org.

Searching Probate Records

Basic probate case information is searchable through the WCCA database by entering a party's name or case number. For copies of probate documents, contact or visit the Register in Probate office. Certified copies may also be requested by phone if you have the case number, with payment required before records are released.

Fees for Probate Records

Service	Fee
Copies of probate documents	$1.00 per page
Certification	$3.00 per document
File/record search	$4.00 per name
Inventory fee (standard)	$20.00 minimum or 0.2% of estate value over $10,000
Inventory fee (minor/adult guardianship of estate)	$20.00 minimum or 0.2% of estate value over $50,000

Standard probate court forms are available through the Wisconsin Court System website. The Wisconsin Register in Probate Association also publishes A Personal Representative's Guide to Informal Estate Administration, which walks executors through the process step by step.