Outagamie County, Wisconsin Court Records

Court records are the official documentation of everything that happens in a court proceeding. They include filed documents, witness testimonies, evidence, transcripts, jury verdicts, and judges’ orders. The Outagamie County Clerk of Circuit Court complies with the Wisconsin Open Records Law and Wisconsin Court Rules to maintain and disseminate court records. The clerk releases case information to other law enforcement agencies. Therefore, individuals may find that court records overlap with information found in other public records, such as vital records, arrest information, and federal case files.

Are Outagamie County Court Records Public?

Yes. The Wisconsin Open Records Law extends to court records with certain exemptions. This gives members of the public the right to view or copy all records kept by the Outagamie County Clerk of Circuit Court. Individuals can visit the courthouse during business hours to access public court records or use the statewide online portal. Some court records, or portions of them, are exempted from public disclosure. The clerk releases such records only to case parties, their legal representatives, or anyone with a court order. Examples of such records are:

Adoption
Guardianship
Jane Doe proceedings
Mental Health Act proceedings
Search warrants until executed
Paternity pre-adjudication records
Protective services and placement
Confidential name change petition
Children’s proceedings under ch. 48
Terminations of parental rights
Juvenile delinquency proceedings under ch. 938
Grand juror list and grand jury proceedings
Child abuse restraining orders and injunctions
Wills deposited for safekeeping during the life of the testator

What Information is Available in Outagamie County Court Records?

A typical court record contains the following information:

Filing date, the name of the responsible official, class code description, and branch ID
Case type, case status, party type, date of birth, party name, address, sex, race, and party status
Civil judgments (type, debtor name, date and time docketed, service/event date, caption, warrant number, amount, judgment expiration date, satisfaction, address, judgment status, judgment/lien date, and date)
Event, court official, court reporter, and amount
Prosecuting agency’s name, charges, and disposition
Citations (violation date, appearance date and time, statute, address, officer name, bond amount, plate number, charge description, and severity.
Total receivables (court assessments, adjustments, amount paid to the court, probation/other agency amount, balance due, and due date)

Outagamie County Court Records Search

Outagamie County residents can search and access court records through the following means:

Online: The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal is the best place to find case information without charges. The search parameters are party name, business name, or case number.
In-Person: Individuals can visit the clerk’s office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., to obtain copies of court records for a fee. The Clerk may provide a record request form or just collect basic information to help facilitate the search.
Phone and Fax: The Outagamie County Circuit Court Clerk provides court records to members of the public by phone at (920) 832-5131 and by fax at (920-832-5115). Requesters will need to provide basic information that will help locate the desired record.

Fees for Court Records in Outagamie County

Per Wis. Stat. 814.61(10), copies of court records cost up to $1.25 per page. Payments can be made by credit card. However, anyone who cannot pay by credit card should send a written request to the circuit clerk’s office. If the requester is seeking vital records maintained by the Outagamie County Register of Deeds, the fee differs. Vital records cost up to $20 for the first copy and up to $3 for each additional copy. Payments can be made by cash, check, or credit/debit cards.

Outagamie County Courthouse Locations

The circuit court is the major court in Outagamie County, and it is located below:

Outagamie County Circuit Court Branch

Justice Center

320 South Walnut Street

2nd floor

Appleton, WI 54911

Phone: (920) 832-5131

Fax: (920) 832-5115

Criminal Records Access in Outagamie County

Individuals can find Outagamie County criminal records at the state and county levels. The Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) maintains the state’s central repository for criminal history records through its Centralized Criminal History (CCH) database. The DOJ does not provide information on criminal court records. The Outagamie County Circuit Court maintains such records. Requests can be made by phone at (920) 832-5131 or by fax at (920-832-5115) and emailed to record seekers after payment. Individuals can also visit the clerk’s office during business hours to access plain and certified copies of criminal records. The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal also provides access to Outagamie County criminal records. The search criteria are party name, business name, or case number.

Outagamie County Probate Records

The Circuit Court is responsible for handling probate cases. Once a case is filed, the clerk records all wills and probate filings in the court’s database and keeps all documents submitted to or created during the case to form the probate record. Outagamie County probate records include conservatorships, guardianship, wills, trusts, and estates. Most of these records are public, but others, such as guardianship records and wills deposited for safekeeping during the testator’s lifetime, are confidential.

Individuals can use the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal to access public probate records for free. However, they will need a name or case number to search. The Outagamie County Clerk of Circuit Court also releases probate records by phone, fax, and in person at the courthouse for a fee. All requests should be made during business hours to avoid delays.

Outagamie County Family Court Records

The Outagamie County Circuit Court handles several family law cases, including divorce, adoption, child custody and visitation, paternity, legal separation, annulment, and property division. The Clerk of Circuit Court maintains records of these cases. Most family court records are confidential, but those that are public can be viewed without charge on the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal. Users will need a party name, business name, or case number to access this public family case information. Set the county to ’Outagamie’ to narrow the search. Individuals can also complete family court record requests by phone at (920) 832-5131 or by fax at (920-832-5115). The clerk will respond to the request by email upon payment. Those who need paper copies of family court records may visit the clerk’s office Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Requesters should arrive early to receive same-day service.

Federal Court Records in Outagamie County

The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin is the court that covers federal cases in Outagamie County. The court makes federal court records available online through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) portal. Individuals will need to have an account to access records on the portal. PACER charges up to $0.10 per page for court records. The code for accessing a case document is capped at up to $3. Fees may be waived for users who accrue up to $30 or less in a quarter. Individuals who cannot afford this fee may visit the clerk’s office to view court electronic records related to a federal case for free during regular business hours. However, anyone who wants to print a record after viewing it will pay a fee. The Clerk charges up to $0.10 per page for electronic access printouts and up to $0.50 per page for paper copies of federal court records. Certified copies cost up to $12 each.