Dane County Court Records
What Is Dane County Court Records
Court records in Dane County encompass all official documentation generated during legal proceedings within the county's court system. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.31, these records are maintained as part of the state's commitment to governmental transparency and public oversight. Court records typically include case files, dockets, pleadings, motions, orders, judgments, transcripts, exhibits, and sentencing information.
Dane County court records differ from other public records such as:
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens)
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates)
- Tax records
- Voting and election records
The Wisconsin court system maintains various types of records across different jurisdictions within Dane County:
- Circuit Court (primary trial court)
- Municipal Courts (handling ordinance violations)
- Probate Court (wills, estates, guardianships)
- Family Court (divorce, custody, support)
- Small Claims Court (civil matters under $10,000)
These courts generate records for civil, criminal, family, probate, and traffic matters. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system serves as the central repository for most court records in the state, including those from Dane County.
Are Court Records Public In Dane County
Court records in Dane County are generally accessible to the public under Wisconsin's Open Records Law, also known as the Public Records Law § 19.31-19.39. This statute establishes that "all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them."
The following court records are typically available for public inspection:
- Most civil case files
- Criminal case files (post-charging)
- Judgments and orders
- Docket sheets
- Hearing schedules
- Court calendars
However, certain records may be restricted or sealed by court order or statute. According to Wisconsin Statute § 801.21, records that may be restricted include:
- Juvenile records
- Adoption proceedings
- Mental health commitments
- Certain family court matters
- Cases involving minors
- Records sealed by judicial order
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has established specific rules governing access to court records through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access system, balancing public access with privacy concerns. Federal court records for cases heard in the Western District of Wisconsin, which includes Dane County, are accessible through the separate federal PACER system rather than county or state repositories.
How To Find Court Records in Dane County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Dane County may utilize several methods to locate and access these documents. The Wisconsin court system provides multiple pathways for record retrieval:
In-Person Requests:
- Visit the Dane County Clerk of Circuit Court office during regular business hours.
- Complete a records request form, specifying the case number or party names.
- Present valid identification if requesting certified copies.
- Pay applicable fees for copies or certification.
Dane County Clerk of Circuit Court
Dane County Courthouse, Room 1000
215 S Hamilton St
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-4311
Dane County Clerk of Courts
Online Access:
- Navigate to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal.
- Select search parameters (name, case number, citation number).
- Review case summaries and available documents.
- Note that some documents may only be available as summaries online.
Written Requests:
- Submit a written request to the Clerk of Courts office.
- Include specific case information and requested documents.
- Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for return delivery.
- Include payment for applicable fees.
Email Requests:
- Send detailed requests to dane.courtrecords@wicourts.gov.
- Provide case number, party names, and specific documents needed.
- Inquire about fees and payment methods.
Fees for court records currently include $1.25 per page for regular copies and $5.00 for certified copies of specific documents. Additional research fees may apply for requests requiring extensive staff time.
How To Look Up Court Records in Dane County Online?
Dane County offers comprehensive online access to court records through several digital portals. The primary online resources include:
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA):
- Visit the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website.
- Select the desired search method (name, case number, citation).
- For name searches, enter last name and first name.
- Narrow results by county (select Dane) or case type if needed.
- Review the list of matching cases.
- Click on case numbers to view detailed information.
The WCCA system provides access to:
- Case summaries
- Party information
- Charge details
- Judgment information
- Scheduled court dates
- Financial information
- Case history
Dane County Clerk of Courts Website:
- Navigate to the Dane County Clerk of Courts website.
- Select "Court Records" from the resources menu.
- Follow links to specific record types or search tools.
- Complete any required forms for specialized requests.
Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals:
- Access the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Case Search.
- Enter search criteria for appellate cases.
- Review docket entries and available documents.
Users should note that while case summaries are generally available online, complete case files with all documents may require in-person requests or formal document orders through the clerk's office.
How To Search Dane County Court Records for Free?
Wisconsin law guarantees the public's right to inspect court records without charge, as established in Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1). While fees may apply for copies or certified documents, several free options exist for searching and viewing Dane County court records:
Free Online Resources:
- The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal provides free, unlimited searches of circuit court records, including those from Dane County.
- The Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Case Access system offers free searches of appellate cases.
- The Dane County Public Records Portal provides information on accessing various county records at no cost.
Free In-Person Access:
- Visit the Dane County Courthouse Law Library during regular business hours to use public access terminals.
- Inspect physical court files at the Clerk of Circuit Court office without charge (copying fees apply).
Dane County Law Library
Dane County Courthouse, Room L1007
215 S Hamilton St
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-6316
Dane County Law Library
While searching records is free, users should be aware of potential fees for:
- Printed copies ($1.25 per page)
- Certified copies ($5.00 per document)
- Research assistance ($20 per hour after the first hour)
- Electronic document delivery (varies by size and format)
What's Included in a Dane County Court Record?
Dane County court records contain comprehensive documentation of legal proceedings. The specific contents vary by case type but typically include:
Case Initiation Documents:
- Complaints or petitions
- Summonses
- Indictments or information (criminal cases)
- Initial appearances
- Bail/bond information
Procedural Documents:
- Motions and responses
- Briefs and memoranda
- Discovery materials (when filed with the court)
- Subpoenas
- Notices of hearing
- Court orders and decisions
Evidentiary Materials:
- Exhibits admitted into evidence
- Affidavits
- Depositions (when filed)
- Expert reports
- Documentary evidence
Disposition Documents:
- Judgments
- Verdicts
- Sentencing information
- Dismissal orders
- Settlement agreements (when filed)
- Final orders
Financial Information:
- Filing fees
- Court costs
- Restitution orders
- Payment records
- Fine information
Transcripts and Recordings:
- Hearing transcripts (when ordered)
- Trial transcripts
- Audio recordings (available by request)
According to the Wisconsin Court System Records Management, certain sensitive information may be redacted or filed separately, including:
- Social Security numbers
- Financial account numbers
- Personal identifying information
- Juvenile information
- Health records
How Long Does Dane County Keep Court Records?
Dane County adheres to the Wisconsin Circuit Court Records Retention Schedule established by the Director of State Courts under Wisconsin Statute § 758.18. This schedule mandates specific retention periods for various court documents:
Criminal Cases:
- Felony case files: 75 years after entry of final judgment
- Misdemeanor case files: 20 years after entry of final judgment
- Traffic and ordinance violations: 8 years after entry of final judgment
Civil Cases:
- General civil cases: 20 years after entry of final judgment
- Small claims: 20 years after entry of final judgment
- Domestic/family cases: 30 years after entry of final judgment
Probate Matters:
- Wills: Permanently
- Estate proceedings: 75 years
- Guardianship records: 7 years after termination of guardianship
Other Records:
- Judgment and lien dockets: 75 years
- Court minutes and registers of actions: 75 years
- Exhibits: Typically returned to parties after appeal period expires
- Recordings of proceedings: 10 years for felonies, 7 years for other cases
Certain records are maintained permanently, including:
- Adoption records
- Mental commitment records
- Paternity judgments
- Divorce judgments
- Records designated as historically significant
The Wisconsin Historical Society may select certain case files for permanent preservation based on historical significance. Digital records are subject to the same retention requirements as paper records, though storage methods may differ.
Types of Courts In Dane County
Dane County's judicial system consists of several courts with distinct jurisdictions and responsibilities:
Dane County Circuit Court
Dane County Courthouse
215 S Hamilton St
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-4311
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Dane County Circuit Court
The Circuit Court is divided into specialized branches:
- Criminal Division
- Civil Division
- Family Division
- Juvenile Division
- Probate Division
Municipal Courts in Dane County:
City of Madison Municipal Court
210 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Room 203
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-4218
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Madison Municipal Court
Village of DeForest Municipal Court
120 S Stevenson St
DeForest, WI 53532
608-846-6773
Hours: Varies by court date
DeForest Municipal Court
Village of Waunakee Municipal Court
500 W Main St
Waunakee, WI 53597
608-850-5227
Hours: Varies by court date
Waunakee Municipal Court
Appellate Courts (serving Dane County):
Wisconsin Court of Appeals - District IV
10 East Doty Street, Suite 700
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-9250
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wisconsin Court of Appeals
Wisconsin Supreme Court
16 East State Capitol
Madison, WI 53702
608-266-1880
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wisconsin Supreme Court
The court hierarchy flows from Municipal Courts (handling local ordinance violations) to Circuit Courts (primary trial courts), then to the Court of Appeals, and finally to the Wisconsin Supreme Court as the court of last resort.
What Types of Cases Do Dane County Courts Hear?
Dane County courts adjudicate a wide range of legal matters, with jurisdiction determined by case type and severity:
Dane County Circuit Court:
Civil Division:
- Personal injury claims
- Contract disputes
- Property disputes
- Civil rights cases
- Small claims (under $10,000)
- Eviction proceedings
- Consumer protection matters
Criminal Division:
- Felony prosecutions
- Misdemeanor cases
- Criminal traffic offenses
- Preliminary hearings
- Bail/bond determinations
- Sentencing proceedings
- Post-conviction matters
Family Division:
- Divorce proceedings
- Child custody and placement
- Child support determinations
- Paternity cases
- Domestic abuse injunctions
- Name changes
- Adoption proceedings
Probate Division:
- Estate administration
- Will probate
- Guardianships
- Conservatorships
- Mental health commitments
- Protective placements
Municipal Courts:
- Local ordinance violations
- Traffic citations
- Parking violations
- Noise complaints
- Animal control violations
- Building code violations
- First-offense OWI/DUI (in some jurisdictions)
According to the Wisconsin Court System, Dane County Circuit Court handles approximately 50,000 new case filings annually across all divisions. The court employs 17 circuit court judges who are elected to six-year terms.
How To Find a Court Docket In Dane County
Court dockets in Dane County provide schedules of upcoming hearings and proceedings. Members of the public can access these dockets through several methods:
Online Docket Access:
- Visit the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access website.
- Select "Court Calendar" from the search options.
- Choose Dane County from the dropdown menu.
- Select a date range and specific courtroom if desired.
- Review the calendar of scheduled proceedings.
Specialized Docket Searches:
- For specific case dockets, search by case number or party name.
- Select the case of interest from search results.
- View the "Future Court Dates" section for upcoming proceedings.
In-Person Docket Review:
- Visit the Dane County Clerk of Circuit Court office.
- Request to view the daily court calendar or specific case docket.
- Court calendars are typically posted outside each courtroom.
Dane County Clerk of Circuit Court
Dane County Courthouse, Room 1000
215 S Hamilton St
Madison, WI 53703
608-266-4311
Dane County Clerk of Courts
Municipal Court Dockets:
- Contact the specific municipal court directly.
- Visit the municipal court website for calendar information.
- Some municipal courts provide online docket access through city websites.
Court dockets typically include:
- Case numbers
- Party names
- Hearing types
- Scheduled times
- Assigned courtrooms
- Presiding judges
For specialized dockets such as drug court, veterans court, or mental health court, contact the Dane County Circuit Court Administration office at 608-266-6828 for schedule information.
Which Courts in Dane County Are Not Courts of Record?
In Wisconsin's judicial system, "courts of record" are those required by law to create and maintain verbatim records of all proceedings. According to Wisconsin Statute § 753.01, circuit courts are designated as courts of record. Conversely, courts not of record typically handle minor matters and do not maintain complete transcripts of proceedings.
In Dane County, the following courts are not courts of record:
Municipal Courts:
- City of Madison Municipal Court
- Village of DeForest Municipal Court
- Village of Waunakee Municipal Court
- Other municipal courts within Dane County
These municipal courts handle ordinance violations, traffic citations, and other minor infractions. While they maintain case files and disposition records, they do not typically create verbatim transcripts of proceedings unless specifically requested for appeal purposes.
Key characteristics of courts not of record in Dane County include:
- Proceedings are not automatically recorded verbatim
- Judges are not required to be attorneys (though many are)
- Appeals from these courts proceed to Circuit Court as trials de novo (new trials)
- Simplified procedures compared to courts of record
- Limited jurisdiction over minor offenses and ordinance violations
When cases are appealed from municipal courts to the Dane County Circuit Court, they receive a completely new hearing rather than a review of the municipal court proceedings. This reflects their status as courts not of record.
All other courts serving Dane County—including Circuit Court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court—are courts of record and maintain complete transcripts and records of all proceedings.
Lookup Court Records in Dane County
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access
Dane County Clerk of Courts records
Dane County District Attorney's Office records