Vernon County Court Records Search

    Please enter a valid first name
    Please enter a valid last name

    WisconsinCourts.us is not a consumer reporting agency as defined by the FCRA and does not provide consumer reports. All searches conducted on WisconsinCourts.us are subject to the Terms of Service and Privacy Notice.

    Vernon County, Wisconsin runs its court system through the Circuit Court in Viroqua, along with a joint municipal court that serves several local municipalities. These courts produce records covering criminal cases, civil disputes, family matters, and probate proceedings — all maintained by designated county offices and subject to Wisconsin's public records law. Whether you need to confirm a case outcome, track down a judgment, or dig into older legal proceedings, the first step is knowing which office holds the records you need and how to ask for them.

    If you're searching for case information, you have a few options: visit a county office in person, use public access terminals at the courthouse, or start online. The Wisconsin Court System makes publicly available case information accessible across all Wisconsin counties, which can save you a trip before you contact a specific court office directly.

    How to Look Up a Court Case in Vernon County?

    The Vernon County Clerk of Circuit Court is the main office responsible for Circuit Court records, handling filings for civil, criminal, family, traffic, and ordinance cases. You can contact this office directly for case inquiries, document requests, or questions about court procedures.

    Vernon County Clerk of Circuit Court
    Address: 400 Courthouse Square, Suite 115, Viroqua, WI 54665
    Phone: (608) 637-5340
    Civil Division Phone: (608) 637-5339
    Fax: (608) 637-5554
    Email: sheila.olson@wicourts.gov
    Hours: Monday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM; Tuesday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

    Online Search

    The best place to start online is the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal, a free tool that lets you search Vernon County circuit court cases by party name or case number. You can find dockets, filing dates, case status, and party information — most records go back to 1994. If you need information on appellate or Supreme Court matters, use the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals case search (WSCCA) instead.

    In-Person and Mail Requests

    You can visit the Clerk of Circuit Court office during regular business hours to review records at public access terminals or request copies directly from staff. If you prefer to write in, mail your request to Suite 115 at the Courthouse Square address listed above. Traffic citation payments can also be mailed to the same address. The Clerk of Court's office makes court forms available for a wide range of case types through the Wisconsin Court System's website.

    Municipal Court

    The Hidden Valleys Joint Municipal Court handles traffic citations, first-time OWI offenses, and ordinance violations for the Cities of Viroqua and Westby. It operates separately from the Circuit Court.

    Hidden Valleys Joint Municipal Court
    Address: 702 East Broadway Street, Viroqua, WI 54665
    Phone: (608) 637-8231
    Fax: (608) 637-2131
    Court Clerk: Tammy Bekkum, 723 Main Street, Cashton, WI 54619
    Email: courtclerk20@gmail.com
    Phone: (608) 654-8517

    If you need to pay a municipal court citation in person, you can do so at the Viroqua Police Department, 1130 Nelson Parkway, Viroqua, WI 54665, Monday through Friday between 7:00 AM and 4:30 PM. For after-hours or weekend payments, warrant and citation payment details are available through the Hidden Valleys Municipal Court page on the county's official website.

    Are Court Records Public in Vernon County?

    Court records in Vernon County are subject to the Wisconsin Public Records Law, Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39, which strongly favors public access to government records. Under this law, anyone has the right to inspect or obtain copies of court records unless a specific legal exemption applies.

    That said, several categories of records are restricted or entirely off-limits to the general public:

    • Records involving minors — juvenile case files are generally sealed
    • Sealed and expunged records — removed from public access by court order
    • Adoption records — confidential under Wisconsin law
    • Mental health and commitment proceedings — restricted access
    • Restraining orders and injunctions — certain details may be withheld to protect the parties involved
    • Family court records — information relating to minor children, financial account details, and Social Security numbers is excluded from public copies

    When a record contains both public and protected information, the office holding the record is required to redact the protected portions and release the rest. Under Wis. Stat. § 814.61(10), the standard copy fee for court documents is $1.25 per page, with an additional $5.00 certification fee per document for certified copies.

    Vernon County Criminal Court Records

    Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in Vernon County go through the Circuit Court. The Clerk of Circuit Court keeps all criminal case files, including criminal complaints, bail orders, plea entries, sentencing records, and judgment entries. First-offense OWI and other traffic-related criminal matters are handled separately through the Hidden Valleys Joint Municipal Court.

    Searching Criminal Records Online

    The WCCA case search portal gives you free public access to criminal case dockets in Vernon County. You can search by party name or case number. Keep in mind that confidential criminal case types — such as those involving juveniles — won't appear in the public portal.

    Arrest Records and Law Enforcement Information

    The Vernon County Sheriff's Office maintains law enforcement records, including arrest information. You can submit a public records request for Sheriff's Office documents in four ways:

    • By Email: vcsorecords@vernoncountywi.gov
    • By Mail: Vernon County Sheriff's Office, Attn: Records, 1320 Bad Axe Court, Viroqua, WI 54665
    • In Person: Lobby window at the Sheriff's Office during regular hours (8:30 AM – 4:30 PM, Monday – Friday, excluding holidays)
    • By Phone: (608) 638-5710

    A Record Request Form is available on the Sheriff's Office website. Copy fees at the Sheriff's Office are as follows:

    Record TypeFee
    Black and white copies$0.02 per page
    Color copies$0.25 per page
    Electronic recordsNo charge
    Staff time for locating/redacting (where applicable)$25.40 per hour

    Accident reports can be obtained online through crashdocs.org using the report number, party name, and date of the accident. For jail-related inquiries, reach the Vernon County jail at (608) 638-5780.

    Vernon County Civil Court Records

    Civil matters in Vernon County — including contract disputes, mortgage foreclosures, small claims, civil lawsuits, and worker's compensation appeals — go through the Circuit Court. The Clerk of Circuit Court keeps all civil case filings, judgment dockets, and related court orders.

    How to Access Civil Records

    • Search the WCCA portal online using a party name or case number to review case dockets and filing histories.
    • Visit the Clerk of Circuit Court office at 400 Courthouse Square, Suite 115, Viroqua, WI 54665, during regular office hours to review documents or request copies in person.
    • Submit a written mail request to the same address, identifying the case and the specific documents you need.
    • Contact the civil division directly at (608) 637-5339 for case-specific inquiries.

    Standard copy fees under Wis. Stat. § 814.61(10) are $1.25 per page for photocopies and $5.00 per document for certification, in addition to the per-page cost. Traffic citation payments and case-related payments may also be submitted by mail to the Clerk of Court at Suite 115.

    The Wisconsin Court System maintains a comprehensive library of circuit court forms covering small claims, civil filings, mediation, and other proceedings, available at no cost online.

    Vernon County Family Court Records

    Family law cases in Vernon County — covering divorce, legal separation, child custody, child support, paternity, and domestic violence matters — go through the Circuit Court. The Divorce & Family section of the court's website offers guidance on self-representation and mediation options, along with links to divorce and family law forms through the Wisconsin Court System.

    Divorce Records

    Divorce records filed with the Vernon County Circuit Court are generally public. However, access is restricted for information relating to minor children, financial account numbers, Social Security numbers, and domestic violence-related details. You can search divorce case information through the WCCA portal or contact the Clerk of Circuit Court at clerkofcourt@vernoncountywi.gov to request document copies. In-person visits to 400 Courthouse Square, Suite 115, Viroqua, are accepted during office hours.

    Marriage Records

    Marriage records in Vernon County are maintained by the Register of Deeds. Certified copies are available to record owners and authorized parties. The fee is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time. You can request records in three ways:

    • In Person: Vernon County Register of Deeds, 400 Courthouse Square, Room 110, Viroqua, WI 54665, during regular business hours
    • By Mail: Download and complete the Wisconsin Marriage Certificate Application Form, include a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and payment by check or money order, and mail to the Register of Deeds at the address above
    • Online: Through the VitalChek online ordering system linked from the Register of Deeds website — note that online orders submitted after 2:30 PM CST will be processed the next business day

    Marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk. The County Clerk's office is located at 400 Courthouse Square, Suite 108, Viroqua, WI 54665, Phone: (608) 637-5380, email countyclerk@vernoncountywi.gov. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. A three-day waiting period applies after application before a marriage license takes effect.

    Birth and Death Records

    Birth records in Vernon County are confidential and only accessible to the named subject (if 18 or older), their immediate family, or authorized representatives. Death records are similarly restricted, though they become publicly accessible 75 years after the date of death. The fee for either is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time.

    To request birth or death records from the Register of Deeds:

    • Download the applicable application — the Death Certificate Application Form is available on the county website
    • Enclose a copy of a valid government-issued photo ID and payment by check or money order payable to the Vernon County Register of Deeds
    • Mail to: 400 Courthouse Square, Room 110, Viroqua, WI 54665, or submit in person during office hours

    For statewide records — including deaths in Vernon County after October 1, 1907 — you can also mail requests to the Wisconsin Vital Records Office, P.O. Box 309, Madison, WI 53701, or contact the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Vital Records program by phone at (877) 885-2981.

    The Vernon County Child Support Agency handles paternity establishment, child support and medical support orders, enforcement, and parental location services for family court matters.

    Vernon County Probate Court Records

    Probate matters in Vernon County — including formal and informal estate administrations, will filings, guardianships, protective placements, adoptions, terminations of parental rights, and mental health commitments — go through the Circuit Court's Register in Probate Office.

    Vernon County Register in Probate
    Address: 400 Courthouse Square, Suite 115, Viroqua, WI 54665
    Phone: (608) 637-5364

    Under Wisconsin law, original wills must be filed with the Register in Probate within 30 days of the decedent's death. If you need to file a claim against an estate being probated, you'll need to complete the standard state form PR-1819, available on the Wisconsin Court System forms website. The signature must be notarized, and you'll submit the form to the Register in Probate along with the statutory $3.00 filing fee.

    Searching Probate Records

    • Use the WCCA case search portal to look up probate case dockets online.
    • Visit the Register in Probate Office in person during regular business hours to access records directly — no search fee applies for in-person searches.
    • Submit a written mail request to the Register in Probate. If you're located out of the area and need staff to conduct the search on your behalf, include a $4.00 search fee with your written request.

    The Vernon County Register in Probate holds probate records dating back to 1851, making it a useful resource for genealogical research as well as current legal matters. Wills, estates, and trust-related information are documented on the county's Wills, Estates & Trusts page. All state probate forms are available through the Wisconsin Court System's forms directory. As with all circuit court staff, Register in Probate personnel are not permitted to provide legal advice.

      Vernon County Court Records Search - WisconsinCourts.us