Waushara County Public Records

How to Find Public Records in Waushara County in 2026

Members of the public seeking government documents in Waushara County, Wisconsin, may access a range of publicly available records through official county offices, state databases, and online portals. WausharaRecords.us provides a directory of publicly available information related to public records maintained by Waushara County government agencies. The records accessible through official channels may include, but are not limited to, the following categories:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family)
Property deeds, mortgages, and liens
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
Business licenses and permits
Property tax and assessment records
Voting and election records
County board meeting minutes and agendas
Budget and financial documents
Law enforcement incident reports (where permitted)
Land use and zoning records
Well construction and groundwater records

Records may be searched through official court resources, county clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by state and county agencies.

Online Access:

The Wisconsin Court System provides electronic filing and case information for circuit, appellate, and supreme court proceedings.
Members of the public may conduct a Wisconsin court case search to locate civil, criminal, probate, and family court records statewide, including those originating in Waushara County Circuit Court.
The Wisconsin DNR groundwater and well data portal allows users to look up well construction records, including geology, construction method, well depth, and water yield.
No registration is required to search court case records through the Wisconsin Court System's public access portal.

In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Waushara County Clerk's Office or the Register of Deeds to inspect records during regular business hours. Requestors should identify the specific record sought, provide any known identifying information (such as a name, date, or parcel number), and submit a written or verbal request to the appropriate office staff.

Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should be directed to the custodian of the specific record type sought. Requests must include sufficient identifying information to allow staff to locate the record. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35, custodians are required to respond to records requests as soon as practicable and without delay.

Phone/Email:

Waushara County Clerk: (920) 787-0442
Register of Deeds: (920) 787-0444
Family Court Commissioner: (920) 787-3375

What Are Public Records in Waushara County?

Public records in Waushara County are defined under Wisconsin's open records law as any material on which written, drawn, printed, spoken, visual, or electromagnetic information is recorded or preserved, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that has been created or is being kept by a government authority. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.32(2), a "record" includes any document, paper, letter, map, book, tape, photograph, film, or other documentary material.

The following record types are maintained by Waushara County government offices:

Record Type	Maintaining Office
Civil, criminal, probate, family court records	Waushara County Circuit Court
Property deeds, mortgages, liens	Register of Deeds
Birth, death, marriage records	Register of Deeds
Business licenses and permits	County Clerk
Property tax and assessment records	County Treasurer / Assessor
Voting and election records	County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas	County Clerk
Budget and financial documents	County Administrator
Law enforcement records	Waushara County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records	Zoning/Planning Department
Well construction records	Wisconsin DNR

The Waushara County Legal Resources page maintained by the Wisconsin State Law Library provides a comprehensive directory of county government offices and the record types each office maintains.

Is Waushara County an Open Records County?

Waushara County fully complies with Wisconsin's statewide open records law, which establishes a presumption of public access to government records. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.31, the legislature declares that "the public is entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them." This declaration reflects Wisconsin's strong commitment to government transparency and public accountability.

The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which oversees open records compliance, states that "the denial of public access generally is contrary to the public interest, and only in an exceptional case may access be denied." County offices in Waushara are bound by this standard and must apply a balancing test when considering whether to withhold any record, weighing the public interest in disclosure against any harm that disclosure might cause.

Waushara County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law; the provisions of Wisconsin's open records statutes apply directly to all county offices and agencies.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Waushara County?

The current fee structure for public records in Waushara County is governed by state statute and varies by record type and the office maintaining the record. Standard fees applicable to most county offices are as follows:

Fee Type	Standard Amount
Paper copies (per page)	$0.25 per page
Certification of records	$3.00–$5.00 per document
Vital records (birth, death, marriage certified copy)	$20.00 per copy
Electronic copies	Varies; may be provided at no charge or at actual cost
Record inspection	No charge

Under Wisconsin law, custodians may charge fees that do not exceed the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction. Search and location fees may be assessed only when the cost is substantial, as defined by the applicable statute. Fee waivers are available at the discretion of the record custodian, particularly when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest.

Accepted payment methods at Waushara County offices include cash, check, and money order. Members of the public are advised to confirm current fees directly with the relevant office prior to submitting a request, as fees may vary by department.

Does Waushara County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Waushara County government offices during regular business hours. Wisconsin law requires that custodians permit inspection of records at no charge; fees apply only when copies are requested. The distinction between free inspection and paid copies is an important one: any member of the public may review records in person without incurring a fee.

Several categories of records are available at no cost through official online portals:

Court case records may be searched at no charge through the Wisconsin court case search portal, which provides public access to case information from circuit courts, the Court of Appeals, and the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Well construction and groundwater data are accessible without charge through the Wisconsin DNR's well records database.
County board meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents are available for inspection at the County Clerk's office at no cost.

Public health information and local health department data for Waushara County are accessible through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services local health departments directory.

Who Can Request Public Records in Waushara County?

Any person may request public records in Waushara County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Wisconsin's open records law does not restrict access to residents of the state, nor does it require requestors to provide identification or explain the reason for their request in most circumstances.

Specific eligibility provisions include the following:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Wisconsin retain full rights to request public records.
Identification: Not required for most record types. Certain vital records (birth, death, marriage) may require proof of eligibility or relationship under state vital records statutes.
Purpose: Requestors are not required to state a purpose for most public records requests.
Requesting your own records: Individuals requesting records about themselves may be entitled to access records that are otherwise restricted to the subject of the record, such as certain law enforcement or personnel records.
Restrictions: Access to specific record categories—such as juvenile records, sealed court files, and adoption records—is restricted by statute regardless of who is making the request.

The Wisconsin State Law Library's Waushara County legal resources page provides additional guidance on which offices handle specific record types and the applicable access rules.

What Records Are Confidential in Waushara County?

Certain records maintained by Waushara County government offices are exempt from public disclosure under Wisconsin law. The following categories of records are currently withheld from public access, in whole or in part:

Sealed court records: Records sealed by court order are not accessible to the general public.
Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juveniles in delinquency or child welfare proceedings are confidential under state statute.
Ongoing investigation records: Law enforcement records related to active investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation.
Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released records.
Medical records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under Wisconsin child welfare statutes.
Personnel records: Employee records are exempt from disclosure with limited exceptions, such as records of final disciplinary actions.
Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt when disclosure would harm competitive interests.
Security plans and infrastructure details: Withheld to protect public safety.

Wisconsin's open records exemptions are codified primarily in Wis. Stat. § 19.36, which enumerates specific categories of records that custodians are authorized or required to withhold. When a custodian denies a request, the denial must be in writing and must identify the specific statutory basis for the exemption. A balancing test applies in cases where no specific exemption exists, requiring the custodian to weigh the public interest in disclosure against any harm that release might cause.

Waushara County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

Waushara County Register of Deeds
209 S. Saint Marie Street, Wautoma, WI 54982
(920) 787-0444
Waushara County Register of Deeds

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.

The Register of Deeds maintains birth, death, and marriage records, as well as real estate records including deeds, mortgages, and liens.

Additional Offices:

Waushara County Clerk
209 S. Saint Marie Street, Wautoma, WI 54982
(920) 787-0442
Waushara County Clerk

Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM

Waushara County Circuit Court Clerk
209 S. Saint Marie Street, Wautoma, WI 54982
(920) 787-0444
Wisconsin Court System