Waupaca County Court Records Search

Waupaca County lies in central Wisconsin, with the city of Waupaca as its county seat. Three branches of the Circuit Court operate out of the courthouse at 811 Harding Street, alongside two joint municipal courts that cover ordinance violations in nearby communities. Whether the matter involves a felony charge, a small claims dispute, a divorce, or an estate filing, the resulting case records—motions, orders, judgments, docket entries, and more—are kept by either the Clerk of Circuit Court or the Register in Probate.

Wisconsin offers several electronic tools for finding court records across all 72 counties, and Waupaca County is fully included. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) database allows free, no-registration searches of non-confidential circuit court cases statewide. The Wisconsin Court System website pulls together court contact information, downloadable forms, and filing fee details in one place. For a broader look at court directories and public records access across the state, WisconsinCourts.us is another useful starting point. You can also reach the Clerk of Circuit Court's office directly by phone or email, visit the courthouse's public access terminals, or send a written request through the mail.

How to Look Up a Court Case in Waupaca County?

The Circuit Court is the county's court of general jurisdiction. It handles criminal, civil, family, juvenile, traffic, and probate cases across three branches. Two municipal courts take care of non-criminal traffic offenses and local ordinance violations for surrounding cities.

Waupaca County Circuit Court
Address: 811 Harding Street, Waupaca, WI 54981
Phone: (715) 258-6460
Fax: (715) 258-6497
Email: Waupaca.Clerk@wicourts.gov
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

Here are the judges currently assigned to each branch:

Branch	Judge	Phone	Term Expires
Branch I	Hon. Troy L. Nielsen	(715) 258-6430	July 31, 2029
Branch II	Hon. Vicki L. Clussman	(715) 258-6425	July 31, 2026
Branch III	Hon. Diane L. Meulemans	(715) 258-6437	July 31, 2027

The county's two municipal courts:

New London–Weyauwega Joint Municipal Court
Address: 215 North Shawano Street, New London, WI 54961
Phone: (920) 982-8508
Fax: (920) 982-8556

Northern Waupaca County Joint Municipal Court
Address: 50 Tenth Street, Clintonville, WI 54929
Phone: (715) 823-7609
Fax: (715) 823-1352

Online Case Search

Start with the WCCA portal—it's free, open to everyone, and doesn't require an account. You can look up Waupaca County circuit court cases by name, case number, or date range. Expect to see party names, charges, case type, hearing dates, filing dates, and dispositions for non-confidential matters. Keep in mind that WCCA displays docket summaries, not the full text of documents. If you need actual copies of pleadings, motions, or orders, you'll have to contact the clerk's office separately.

In-Person and Mail Requests

During business hours, anyone can walk into the Clerk of Circuit Court's office and review public case files. For probate-related records—including guardianship, mental health commitment, adult adoption, and juvenile files—head to the Register in Probate office instead, which has its own public access terminal for electronic searches. If you'd rather mail a request, send it to 811 Harding Street, Waupaca, WI 54981, and address it to whichever office handles the record type you need.

Copy Fees and Payment

Clerk of Courts copies: $1.25 per page (per Wis. Stat. 814.61(10)(a))
Probate Office copies: $1.00 per page
Certified copies: $5.00 per document
Search fee (no case number provided): $5.00
Docketing fee: $5.00

Paying online? There's a 3.5% service fee. Phone payments carry a 4.75% surcharge. One important note: the Clerk of Courts office does not accept payment over the phone—you'll need to use the online portal for remote payments.

Electronic Filing and Court Forms

Wisconsin's circuit courts now use mandatory electronic filing. Both attorneys and self-represented parties can submit documents through the Wisconsin circuit court eFiling system. If you need blank forms for any case type, the Wisconsin Court System forms page has free downloads covering small claims, civil filings, family matters, probate, and more.

Are Court Records Public in Waupaca County?

The default rule in Wisconsin is that court records are open. The Wisconsin Open Records Law (Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39) gives anyone the right to inspect or obtain copies of public records—including court documents—unless a specific statute or court order says otherwise. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(a), you can inspect any record for which no exemption applies, and you don't need to explain why you want it.

That said, Wisconsin law requires that sensitive personal information be stripped from court filings before they become part of the public record. Under Wis. Stat. § 801.19, these identifiers must be removed or obscured:

Social Security numbers
Employer identification numbers
Financial account numbers
Driver's license numbers
Tax identification numbers

Two related statutes strengthen those protections. Wis. Stat. § 801.20 sets rules for filing documents that contain statutorily confidential information, while Wis. Stat. § 801.21 prohibits courts from putting protected identifiers into publicly accessible orders and judgments.

Beyond redaction, certain entire categories of records are off-limits to the public:

Juvenile records — Confidential under the Wisconsin Children's Code; they won't show up in WCCA searches
Adoption records — Sealed by statute and accessible only through a court order
Mental health commitment records — Filed confidentially through the Register in Probate
Medical and mental health records — Protected by both state and federal privacy law
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — May be sealed when a court order has been entered
Active financial details — Shielded to prevent identity theft
Sealed and expunged records — Entirely removed from public view by court order

If information already in a court file needs protection, parties can use Wisconsin Court System forms to request sealing or redaction.

Waupaca County Criminal Court Records

Every felony, misdemeanor, and criminal traffic offense in Waupaca County is prosecuted through the Circuit Court. The municipal courts only handle non-criminal ordinance violations and forfeitures—they don't try criminal cases.

Searching Criminal Court Records

You can search criminal case records—charges, hearing dates, dispositions, sentences—for free on WCCA. Just enter the defendant's name or case number. If you want to look at the actual paper file, visit the Clerk of Courts office at 811 Harding Street during business hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.).

Arrest Records and Sheriff's Office

Arrest records, incident reports, and jail booking information don't come from the court clerk. Those are maintained by the Waupaca County Sheriff's Office, which operates independently.

Waupaca County Sheriff's Office
Address: 1402 East Royalton Street, Waupaca, WI 54981
Phone: (715) 258-4466
Records Division: (715) 258-4466 (press option for Records)
Email: sheriffrecords@waupacacounty-wi.gov
Records Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.

If you're a crime victim and want automated notifications about an offender's custody status, register with Wisconsin VINE at (888) 944-8463.

Statewide Criminal Background Checks

The Crime Information Bureau (CIB), a division of the Wisconsin Department of Justice, maintains the Centralized Criminal History (CCH) database. This fingerprint-supported system contains adult arrest data, prosecution records, court findings, sentences, and Department of Corrections notices from across Wisconsin.

You can request a background check two ways:

Online through WORCS — Run a name-based criminal history search and get results electronically. A standard check costs $7.00; a caregiver background check costs $10.00. If you need results mailed to you, add $5.00. No registration is needed for a public access search—look for the "Submit Request" option under the Public Access tab.
By mail using Form DJ-LE-250 — Download the Single Name Record Request Form (DJ-LE-250), fill it out, and mail it with your payment to:

Wisconsin Department of Justice
Crime Information Bureau – Record Check Unit
P.O. Box 2688
Madison, WI 53701-2688

These fees are authorized under Wis. Stat. § 165.82. One thing worth knowing: the CCH database only contains records tied to arrest fingerprint cards submitted under Wis. Stat. § 165.84(1) for offenses listed in Wis. Stat. § 165.83(2)(a). If an arrest wasn't accompanied by a fingerprint card, it won't show up in the results.

Waupaca County Civil Court Records

The Waupaca County Circuit Court has original jurisdiction over every civil action filed in the county—contract disputes, personal injury claims, property cases, consumer protection matters, landlord-tenant proceedings, and employment discrimination suits. Small claims cases, which involve $10,000 or less, follow a streamlined procedure within the same court.

Accessing Civil Records

All civil case files are kept by the Clerk of Circuit Court. You can search public civil case data at no cost on WCCA, or walk into the courthouse at 811 Harding Street any weekday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. to review files in person.

Civil Filing Fees

The circuit court fee schedule from the Waupaca County Clerk of Courts lists these common civil filing costs:

Case Type	Filing Fee
Civil claim for money (over $10,000)	$265.50
Personal injury or tort claim (over $5,000)	$265.50
Civil claim, no dollar amount stated	$164.50
Third-party complaint (over $5,000)	$235.50
Third-party complaint (under $5,000)	$117.50
Small claims (up to $10,000)	$94.50
Small claims third-party complaint ($5,000 or less)	$117.50
Small claims crossclaim or counterclaim (over $10,000)	$125.50
Small claims jury trial demand	$89.00
Garnishment (over $10,000)	$210.50
Garnishment ($10,000 or less)	$92.50
Name change	$164.50

On top of these, expect $2.00 per defendant for service by mail in small claims cases, a $5.00 search fee when you can't provide a case number, and $1.25 per page for document copies. If filing fees are a hardship, ask the Clerk of Courts about Wisconsin's fee waiver process.

Waupaca County Family Court Records

Divorce, annulment, legal separation, paternity, custody, child support, and domestic violence cases are all heard in the Circuit Court's family division. The Clerk of Courts handles filings and maintains the records, though some juvenile proceedings may also flow through the Register in Probate.

Family Case Filing Fees

Case Type	Filing Fee
Annulment (no support or maintenance)	$184.50
Divorce/legal separation with support or maintenance	$194.50
Action by Child Support Agency (fee waived for paternity and Ch. 769 cases)	$194.50
Paternity acknowledgment (Wis. Stat. § 767.805)	$184.50
Paternity private party action	$184.50
Paternity with request for support	$194.50
Grandparent visitation (new action)	$184.50
Revision of judgment — custody or placement	$50.00
Revision of judgment — other	$30.00
Mediation (payable to Waupaca County DHHS)	$200.00
Enforcement of custody/placement/visitation order	No fee

Restraining Orders

There's no filing fee for domestic abuse, child abuse, or vulnerable adult restraining order petitions. Harassment restraining orders are also free when the petition alleges stalking, sexual assault, physical violence, impaired physical condition, or threats. Any other harassment petition costs $164.50 to file.

Marriage Records

The Waupaca County Register of Deeds maintains marriage certificates. Wisconsin law limits who can get a certified copy—you generally need to be the individual named on the record, an immediate family member, or someone with legal authorization. To request one, fill out the Marriage Certificate Application and submit it to:

Waupaca County Register of Deeds
Address: 811 Harding Street, Waupaca, WI 54981
Phone: (715) 258-6250

The first certified copy costs $20.00, with each additional copy of the same record at $3.00. Payment is limited to cash, personal checks (in-state only), and money orders. If you walk in, allow 15 to 20 minutes for processing because of the statewide issuance system. Requests made after 3:30 p.m. may not be completed that same day.

Divorce Records

Local copies of divorce certificates are on file with the Register of Deeds, and uncertified copies are generally available to the public. You can submit a completed Divorce Certificate Application to the Register of Deeds, or mail it to the Wisconsin Vital Records Office at P.O. Box 309, Madison, WI 53701. What the state office sends back is a Certificate of Divorce—a one-page summary with the essential details. If you need the complete court decree or judgment, reach out to the Clerk of Circuit Courts in the county where the divorce was finalized. Either way, the cost is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional.

Birth and Death Records

Birth and death certificates are also held by the Register of Deeds. Certified copies are restricted to immediate family members and authorized representatives, but uncertified copies may be available to the general public when you can show a direct and tangible interest in the record. Grab the Birth Certificate Application or the Death Certificate Application, fill it out, and submit it with your payment. Fees run $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy of the same record. You can also mail requests to the Wisconsin Vital Records Office—processing usually takes about 10 business days once your request arrives.

One convenience worth noting: Wisconsin's statewide issuance system means any Register of Deeds office in the state can issue birth certificates (from October 1, 1907 to the present), death certificates (from September 1, 2013), marriage certificates (from October 1, 1907), and divorce certificates (from January 1, 2016). You don't necessarily have to go to the county where the event was originally recorded.

Waupaca County Probate Court Records

Probate cases in Waupaca County are heard by the Circuit Court but administered day-to-day through the Register in Probate office. That office handles estate filings, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health commitments, adult adoptions, and certain juvenile cases. The Register in Probate is appointed by the Circuit Court judges.

Waupaca County Register in Probate

Address: 811 Harding Street (basement level, near elevators), Waupaca, WI 54981
Phone: (715) 258-6429
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. (closed on observed holidays)

Due to construction, the Probate Office has moved to the basement of the courthouse. It's a good idea to call ahead and schedule an appointment before visiting.

Types of Probate Matters

Estates and wills — Formal and informal administration of decedents' estates, including the filing of wills, inventories, accountings, and claims against estates
Guardianships and conservatorships — Petitions for guardianship of minors or incapacitated adults, along with annual reports and accountings
Mental health commitments — These are filed and kept confidentially
Adult adoptions — Processed through the Probate Office
Juvenile matters — Certain case types that are routed through the probate branch

Searching Probate Records

Probate case dockets that aren't confidential can be searched online through WCCA. The Probate Office also has a public access terminal for electronic case searches, and you can ask to look at paper files at the counter during business hours. Estate records going back to 1860 are stored on site, though original files from 1930–1939 are held by the Wisconsin Historical Society. If you need microfilm copies of estate records from before 1930, contact the Historical Society's Archives Reference Staff at askarchives@wisconsinhistory.org or (608) 264-6460.

Probate Copy Fees

Copies of public probate records cost $1.00 per page. Confidential records—mental health commitments, certain guardianship files, and adoption files—are not open to public inspection. Accessing them requires a court order.

Staff in the Register in Probate office are happy to help you find records and walk you through the process, but keep in mind they're prohibited by law from giving legal advice about your specific situation.