Wisconsin birth, death, marriage and divorce records: where to look
Wisconsin's state office has birth, death, marriage and divorce records from October 1907. A first copy is $20 and each extra copy of the same record is $3. A search of a five-year period, or of a multi-year index, is $20. The office does not put records or indexes online, but it offers in-person research by appointment.
At a glance
| Record | Years at the state | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Birth | October 1907 to present at the state office. The in-person research page says records earliest filed through September 30, 1907 and indexes through 1984 can be searched on site. [1][2] | $20 for the first copy of each record and $3 for each additional copy of the same record. The search fee is $20 per search period: five-year blocks from October 1907 to 1947, the earliest filed through September 1907 index, or the 1948-to-present index. [1] |
| Death | October 1907 to present. On-site research covers death records through 1971 plus those older than 50 years, and indexes through 2016. [1][2] | $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. The search fee is $20 for each five-year block from October 1907 to 1958, and $20 for the 1959-to-present index. [1] |
| Marriage | October 1907 to present. On-site research covers records through 1967 and indexes through May 2015. [1][2] | $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. The search fee is $20 for each five-year block from October 1907 to 1972 and $20 for 1973 to present. [1] |
| Divorce | October 1907 to present. On-site research covers October 1907 through 1967 and indexes through 1986. [1][2] | $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. The search fee is $20 per period: October 1907 to 1935, five-year blocks from 1936 to 1964, and 1965 to present. [1] |
Superscript numbers point to the official page each fact came from, listed at the bottom of this page.
Birth records
- Where it is kept
- The Wisconsin Vital Records Office in Madison (mail), VitalChek online or by phone, or a county Register of Deeds. Birth records are also at the Milwaukee City Health Office and a southwest suburban health department. [1][4]
- Years covered
- October 1907 to present at the state office. The in-person research page says records earliest filed through September 30, 1907 and indexes through 1984 can be searched on site. [1][2]
- Who can get a certified copy
- The page says state law limits who can get a certified copy, and the details are on page two of the application, which we did not read. An uncertified copy has the same information and is stamped as not valid for legal use. [1]
- Fee
- $20 for the first copy of each record and $3 for each additional copy of the same record. The search fee is $20 per search period: five-year blocks from October 1907 to 1947, the earliest filed through September 1907 index, or the 1948-to-present index. [1]
- Processing time
- Online and phone orders are completed in about five business days. Mail orders take about 10 business days after the office gets them, not counting mail time. [1]
The long-form birth certificate costs nothing extra; write Long Form on the application. VitalChek charges an extra fee.
Death records
- Where it is kept
- The state Vital Records Office, VitalChek, or a county Register of Deeds. Milwaukee City Health also has birth and death records. [1][4]
- Years covered
- October 1907 to present. On-site research covers death records through 1971 plus those older than 50 years, and indexes through 2016. [1][2]
- Who can get a certified copy
- For deaths under 50 years ago, the page says an extended fact of death certificate needs a direct descendant or someone with direct and tangible interest. [1]
- Fee
- $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. The search fee is $20 for each five-year block from October 1907 to 1958, and $20 for the 1959-to-present index. [1]
- Processing time
- Same as births. [1]
A fact of death certificate has demographic information. An extended one adds place, manner and cause of death and burial place.
Marriage records
- Where it is kept
- The state Vital Records Office, VitalChek, or a county Register of Deeds. County clerks issue the marriage licenses. [1][4]
- Years covered
- October 1907 to present. On-site research covers records through 1967 and indexes through May 2015. [1][2]
- Who can get a certified copy
- Not confirmed on the official pages we read.
- Fee
- $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. The search fee is $20 for each five-year block from October 1907 to 1972 and $20 for 1973 to present. [1]
- Processing time
- Same as births. [1]
Divorce records
- Where it is kept
- The state Vital Records Office. Clerks of Court issue copies of divorce decrees and file the divorce certificates. [1][4]
- Years covered
- October 1907 to present. On-site research covers October 1907 through 1967 and indexes through 1986. [1][2]
- Who can get a certified copy
- Not confirmed on the official pages we read.
- Fee
- $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. The search fee is $20 per period: October 1907 to 1935, five-year blocks from 1936 to 1964, and 1965 to present. [1]
- Processing time
- Same as births. [1]
About ordering online
The state says online and phone orders go through VitalChek, an independent company that charges an additional fee. Mail orders to the state are $20 for the first copy. [1][3]
Archives and other places to look
- The state office does not publish records or indexes online. Its page points to the Wisconsin Historical Society for an online index of Wisconsin births, deaths and marriages filed before October 1907. It also offers in-person research at the state office, by appointment. [2] State in-person research page
The National Archives describes FamilySearch.org as free with account creation (see our census page), but we could not open FamilySearch's own pages, so we do not describe what it holds for Wisconsin.
Historical newspapers
The Library of Congress's Chronicling America lists 70 digitized newspaper titles published in Wisconsin, with issues dated from June 16, 1840 to December 25, 1946. Coverage is uneven inside that span: it is a list of titles, not a promise that every town or year is there. Chronicling America includes select digitized newspapers through 1963.
Browse Wisconsin titles at the Library of Congress
New to newspaper research? See our guide to finding old newspapers (obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements).
Counts come from the Library of Congress's "All Digitized Titles" list, read October 27, 2026. The Library of Congress says it believes these newspapers are in the public domain or have no known copyright restrictions.
How we verified this page
Last verified October 27, 2026. Offices change fees and rules without notice. If something here no longer matches the official page, trust the official page.
Confirmed on official pages
- $20 for the first copy of each record, $3 for each additional copy of the same record.
- The state holds records from October 1907. It does not publish records or indexes online.
- Online and phone orders take about five business days; mail about 10 business days after receipt.
- In-person research needs an appointment on weekdays 2 to 4 PM and ID, per the state's page.
- Divorce decrees come from the Clerk of Court.
Could not verify
- Who may get a certified copy. The rule is on page two of the application, which we did not read.
- Whether in-person research has any fee beyond the application.
- What the Wisconsin Historical Society's pre-1907 index covers. We did not read that site.
- County Register of Deeds fees and years.
Pages read 2026-10-27.
Sources
- Wisconsin DHS: Requesting a Vital Record Official state page read 2026-10-27
- Wisconsin DHS: In-Person Research Official state page read 2026-10-27
- Wisconsin DHS: Application Forms Official state page read 2026-10-27
- Wisconsin DHS: Local Vital Records Services Official state page read 2026-10-27