Vital Records: In-Person Genealogy Research

All in-person research appointments at the State Office of Vital Records are suspended until further notice.

 

Our office allows in-person searching by appointment only at 1 West Wilson Street, Room 159, Madison, Wisconsin. To schedule an appointment, contact the genealogy receptionist at 608-267-7820.

(Driving Directions)

Days of the Week Time Period
Monday through Friday 8 to 10 a.m.
Monday through Friday 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Available appointment times

Policy for On-Site Searching

  • Advance appointments are required. An appointment must be made for each person entering the search area. Cancellations are allowed. No-shows may be restricted from future searches.
  • Two people are allowed in the search area at one time. We reserve the right to alter the number of searchers allowed in the area.
  • Searchers will be provided an orientation to the archives upon request.
  • Children under 12 are not allowed in the search area. Children 12 and older must have an appointment to enter the area.
  • Each searcher must register by completing an application and showing acceptable identification each day he or she enters the search area. Acceptable forms of identification are listed below.
  • At least one form of identification must show the searcher's name and current address. Expired cards or documents will not be accepted.

ONE of the following:
Wisconsin driver's license
Wisconsin ID card
Out-of-state driver's license/ID card

or TWO of the following:
U.S. government-issued photo ID
Passport
Checkbook/bank statement
Health insurance card
Current, dated, signed lease
Utility bill or traffic ticket
Paycheck or earnings statement

Frequently Asked Questions

What information can in-person searchers access?

Available Information for In-person Access
Kind of Record Records Indexes
Birth records Earliest filed through 1938 Earliest filed through 1984
Death records Earliest filed through 1967 Earliest filed through 2012
Marriage records Earliest filed through 1967 Earliest filed through May 2015
Divorce records October 1907 through 1967 October 1907 through 1986

Are your records or indexes available online?

The Wisconsin State Vital Records Office does not publish any records or indexes online. The Wisconsin Historical Society provides an online index of Wisconsin birth, death, and marriage records filed prior to October 1907.

How far back do your records go?

County Births Deaths Marriages
Earliest Registration Dates by County
(Adams - Menominee)
Adams 1857 1876 1857
Ashland 1876 1877 1874
Barron 1877 1877 1868
Bayfield 1879 1870 1869
Brown 1814 1834 1823
Buffalo 1855 1873 1856
Burnett 1853 1846 1869
Calumet 1858 1856 1850
Chippewa 1858 1855 1869
Clark 1869 1877 1857
Columbia 1860 1877 1849
Crawford 1858 1876 1862
Dane 1860 1876 1839
Dodge 1870 1852 1843
Door 1852 1856 1860
Douglas 1861 1877 1854
Dunn 1870 1877 1858
Eau Claire 1870 1876 1857
Florence 1882 1882 1882
Fond du Lac 1879 1854 1844
Forest 1891 1877 1889
Grant 1870 1876 1842
Green 1862 1874 1838
Green Lake 1864 1877 1858
Iowa 1876 1871 1836
Iron 1886 1887 1858
Jackson 1876 1876 1858
Jefferson 1852 1856 1844
Juneau 1877 1876 1844
Kenosha 1876 1876 1850
Kewaunee 1861 1873 1857
La Crosse 1877 1876 1851
Lafayette 1854 1877 1847
Langlade 1882 1868 1881
Lincoln 1875 1871 1875
Menominee became a county in 1961
County Births Deaths Marriages
Earliest Registration Dates by County
(Manitowoc - Wood)
Manitowoc 1858 1864 1859
Marathon 1870 1868 1865
Marinette 1874 1879 1878
Marquette 1864 1876 1863
Milwaukee 1835 1872 1851
Monroe 1877 1876 1856
Oconto 1876 1872 1855
Oneida 1887 1888 1877
Outagamie 1856 1869 1855
Ozaukee 1852 1849 1855
Pepin 1863 1877 1857
Pierce 1870 1876 1851
Polk 1867 1865 1855
Portage 1866 1875 1859
Price 1880 1879 1880
Racine 1877 1880 1839
Richland 1875 1876 1864
Rock 1856 1871 1847
Rusk 1900 1901 1901
St. Croix 1858 1876 1852
Sauk 1864 1876 1852
Sawyer 1869 1883 1883
Shawano 1862 1873 1848
Sheboygan 1852 1854 1852
Taylor 1877 1877 1875
Trempealeau 1845 1847 1856
Vernon 1863 1889 1893
Vilas 1889 1889 1893
Walworth 1872 1872 1839
Washburn 1883 1883 1883
Washington 1859 1873 1846
Waukesha 1860 1872 1846
Waupaca 1858 1848 1852
Waushara 1859 1876 1852
Winnebago 1876 1876 1844
Wood 1871 1872 1844

Can you tell me if you have a record for a specific person?

We are unable to verify whether or not a record exists, and we are unable to verify any information from a record. An application, acceptable identification, and the appropriate fee are required to request a search for any record.

What can I bring with me to my genealogy appointment?

In-person searchers may bring hard-copy research materials, laptop computers, pencils, and paper. Cell phones, tablet devices such as iPads, imaging devices such as cameras and scanners, and pens/markers are not allowed in the search area and must be kept behind the genealogy counter at all times.

Will staff be available to help me with my search?

In-person searching is a do-it-yourself process. Staff will be on hand to answer questions and give you a brief orientation to our archives, but they are not able to search for you.

Can I get a copy of a record I find while doing an in-person search?

Yes. You will need to complete an application for each record requested and show your identification. The fee is $20 per record, and $3 for each additional copy of the same record. You may pay for and pick up your records at the end of your search appointment.

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Last Revised: July 1, 2021