Vital Records: In-Person Research

Advance appointments are required for in-person research. Appointments are available Monday through Friday 2–4 p.m. To make an appointment, call 608-266-1373 or email DHSVitalRecords@wi.gov.

We will be closed to self-search appointments for the month of September to accommodate moving to a new space. Contact us in October to schedule appointments.

Policy for on-site searching

Each person entering the search area must have an appointment. Two persons may request to be scheduled together. We reserve the right to alter the number of searchers allowed in the area.

Each searcher must register each day they enter the search area by completing an application form and showing proper identification. The following are acceptable forms of identification. Expired cards or documents will not be accepted.

One of the following:

  • State issued driver's license or ID card
  • US government issued photo ID
  • US or foreign passport
  • Tribal or military ID card

Or two of the following:

  • Bank/Earnings statement
  • Current, dated, signed lease
  • Health insurance card
  • Utility bill or traffic ticket
  • Vehicle registration/title

Cancellations are allowed. If you do not show up for your appointment, you may be restricted from future searches.

Searchers will be provided an orientation upon request.

Children under 12 are not allowed in the search area. Children age 12 and older must have an appointment to enter the search area.

FAQs (frequently asked questions)

Information that can be accessed in person
Kind of RecordRecordsIndexes
Birth recordsEarliest filed through 1938Earliest filed through 1984
Death recordsEarliest filed through 1971 and
50 years from today's date
Earliest filed through 2016
Marriage recordsEarliest filed through 1967Earliest filed through May 2015
Divorce recordsOctober 1907 through 1967October 1907 through 1986

The Wisconsin State Vital Records Office doesn’t publish any records or indexes online.

To find an online index of Wisconsin birth, death, and marriage records filed before October 1907, visit The Wisconsin Historical Society

Earliest Registration Dates by County
(Adams - Menominee)
CountyBirthsDeathsMarriages
Adams185718761857
Ashland187618771874
Barron187718771868
Bayfield187918701869
Brown181418341823
Buffalo185518731856
Burnett185318461869
Calumet185818561850
Chippewa185818551869
Clark186918771857
Columbia186018771849
Crawford185818761862
Dane186018761839
Dodge187018521843
Door185218561860
Douglas186118771854
Dunn187018771858
Eau Claire187018761857
Florence188218821882
Fond du Lac187918541844
Forest189118771889
Grant187018761842
Green186218741838
Green Lake186418771858
Iowa187618711836
Iron188618871858
Jackson187618761858
Jefferson185218561844
Juneau187718761844
Kenosha187618761850
Kewaunee186118731857
La Crosse187718761851
Lafayette185418771847
Langlade188218681881
Lincoln187518711875
Menominee became a county in 1961N/AN/AN/A
Earliest Registration Dates by County
(Manitowoc - Wood)
CountyBirthsDeathsMarriages
Manitowoc185818641859
Marathon187018681865
Marinette187418791878
Marquette186418761863
Milwaukee183518721851
Monroe187718761856
Oconto187618721855
Oneida188718881877
Outagamie185618691855
Ozaukee185218491855
Pepin186318771857
Pierce187018761851
Polk186718651855
Portage186618751859
Price188018791880
Racine187718801839
Richland187518761864
Rock185618711847
Rusk190019011901
St. Croix185818761852
Sauk186418761852
Sawyer186918831883
Shawano186218731848
Sheboygan185218541852
Taylor187718771875
Trempealeau184518471856
Vernon186318891893
Vilas188918891893
Walworth187218721839
Washburn188318831883
Washington185918731846
Waukesha186018721846
Waupaca185818481852
Waushara185918761852
Winnebago187618761844
Wood187118721844

We cannot confirm if a record exists. We are also unable to confirm any information from a record. An application, accepted identification, and fee must be included to request a search for a record.

You may bring laptop computers, pencils, and paper. Cell phones, tablet devices, such as iPads, imaging devices, such as cameras and scanners, and pens or markers are not allowed in the search area. They must be always kept behind the genealogy counter.

Staff members are available to answer questions and give you a short introduction. However, they cannot search for you.

Yes. You will need to complete an application for each record requested. You will need to show your identification and pay the $20 fee.

Each additional copy (of the same record) costs $3. You may pay for and pick up your records at the end of your search appointment.

Genealogical resources

Questions? Contact us

Glossary

 
Last revised August 22, 2025