Waupaca County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Waupaca County?
Public records in Waupaca County are defined under Wisconsin state law as any record created or maintained by a government authority in the course of conducting official business. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.32, a "record" includes 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 an authority.
The following categories of public records are currently maintained by various Waupaca County offices:
- Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Waupaca County Clerk of Courts. Members of the public may submit court records requests directly through the Clerk of Courts office.
- Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and related instruments are recorded and maintained by the Waupaca County Register of Deeds. Real estate vital statistics and deed records are accessible through that office.
- Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are filed with the Register of Deeds and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
- Business records — Fictitious name registrations, business licenses, and permits are maintained by the County Clerk and relevant municipal offices.
- Tax records — Property tax and parcel assessment data are managed by the Waupaca County Treasurer. Members of the public may conduct a parcel and tax information search through the county's online portal.
- Voting and election records — Voter registration data and election results are maintained by the Waupaca County Clerk.
- Meeting minutes and agendas — County board and committee meeting minutes, agendas, and resolutions are maintained by the County Clerk and published on the county's official website.
- Budget and financial documents — Annual budgets, audits, and expenditure reports are available through the County Administrator's office.
- Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are maintained by the Waupaca County Sheriff's Office.
- Land use and zoning records — Zoning maps, permits, and land use applications are maintained by the Waupaca County Planning and Zoning Department.
Is Waupaca County an Open Records County?
Waupaca County fully complies with Wisconsin's statewide open records framework, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government records. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.31, it is the public policy of Wisconsin 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. This policy applies to all county agencies, departments, and offices operating within Waupaca County.
Key provisions of the Wisconsin Open Records Law currently in effect include:
- Every person has a right to inspect any record maintained by a government authority, subject only to specific statutory exemptions.
- Government authorities must respond to records requests in a timely manner and may not require requestors to state a reason for their request in most circumstances.
- Denial of access must be accompanied by a written explanation citing the specific legal basis for the denial.
Waupaca County does not maintain a separate county-specific open records ordinance that supersedes state law. All county offices are bound by the provisions of the Wisconsin Open Records Law, commonly referred to as the "Sunshine Law," which promotes transparency and accountability in local government operations.
How to Find Public Records in Waupaca County in 2026
Members of the public may access Waupaca County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the standard process:
- Identify the custodial office. Determine which county department maintains the record being sought. Property and vital records are held by the Register of Deeds; court records by the Clerk of Courts; tax records by the County Treasurer; and law enforcement records by the Sheriff's Office.
- Submit a written request. Most offices accept requests submitted in person, by mail, or by email. Written requests should identify the record with reasonable specificity, including relevant names, dates, and document types.
- Use online portals where available. The Wisconsin Court System provides a statewide case search tool for locating circuit court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court records. The County Treasurer's office offers an online parcel and deed search. The Register of Deeds maintains searchable real estate records.
- Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records in person during regular business hours at the relevant county office without charge.
- Request copies if needed. If physical or electronic copies are required, applicable fees will be assessed at the time of fulfillment.
- For vehicle and driver records, members of the public may access Wisconsin DMV records through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation's system for obtaining vehicle or driver record information.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Waupaca County?
Current fees for public records in Waupaca County are governed by state statute and vary by record type and the office fulfilling the request. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3), an authority may impose a fee for locating a record that is not readily available and for providing a copy of a record, provided the fee is limited to the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction and transcription.
Standard fees currently applicable include:
- Paper copies: Typically $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white copies, though individual offices may set rates based on actual reproduction costs.
- Certified copies of vital records: The Register of Deeds charges a statutory fee per certified copy of birth, death, or marriage certificates, as set by Wisconsin law.
- Court record copies: The Clerk of Courts assesses fees per page for printed copies of case documents; certified copies carry an additional certification fee.
- Property record copies: The Register of Deeds charges per-page fees for copies of recorded instruments such as deeds and mortgages.
- Electronic records: Fees for electronic copies are generally limited to the cost of the medium used, such as a USB drive or the cost of transmission.
Accepted payment methods vary by office but commonly include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances, particularly where disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the records custodian.
Does Waupaca County Have Free Public Records?
Members of the public are entitled to inspect public records free of charge at the office of the custodial authority during regular business hours, without the need to purchase copies. This right of free inspection is established under Wisconsin's open records statutes and applies to all Waupaca County offices.
The following free access options are currently available:
- In-person inspection at any county office during public counter hours, at no cost.
- Wisconsin Court System case search — The statewide online portal allows free searching of circuit court case records, including Waupaca County cases.
- County Treasurer's online portal — Property tax and parcel data may be searched at no cost through the county's online tax information system.
- Register of Deeds online index — Basic property record indexes are searchable online without charge.
- County website — Meeting minutes, agendas, budgets, and other administrative documents are published on the Waupaca County official website at no cost.
Who Can Request Public Records in Waupaca County?
Any person may request public records maintained by Waupaca County government offices, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Wisconsin's open records law does not restrict access based on the identity or location of the requestor.
Specific eligibility provisions currently in effect include:
- Residency is not required. Non-residents of Waupaca County and Wisconsin have the same right of access as county residents.
- Identification is generally not required. Requestors are not obligated to provide identification when submitting a public records request, except in limited circumstances involving records with restricted access.
- Purpose need not be stated. Under current law, government authorities may not require a requestor to explain the reason for seeking a record as a condition of access, except where a specific statutory exemption applies.
- Requesting records about oneself. Individuals seeking their own records, such as vital records or court documents, may be required to provide proof of identity to verify eligibility for certified copies.
- Restrictions for specific record types. Certain records, such as juvenile court records, adoption records, and sealed case files, are accessible only to authorized parties as defined by statute.
What Records Are Confidential in Waupaca County?
Not all government records in Waupaca County are subject to public disclosure. Wisconsin law establishes specific categories of records that are exempt from the general right of public access. The following records are currently withheld from public inspection under applicable state and federal law:
- Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection.
- Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Wisconsin statutes.
- Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active criminal investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation.
- Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar personally identifiable information are redacted from publicly released records.
- Medical records — Health and medical information is protected under both Wisconsin law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
- Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed and accessible only to authorized parties under Wisconsin adoption statutes.
- Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential.
- Personnel records — Employee personnel files are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for certain information about public officials.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Commercially sensitive information submitted to government agencies may be withheld.
- Security plans and infrastructure details — Records relating to the security of public facilities and critical infrastructure are exempt from disclosure.
Wisconsin's open records law provides a balancing test under which the public interest in disclosure is weighed against the public interest in nondisclosure. Where no specific statutory exemption applies, the custodian must determine whether the harm from disclosure outweighs the public benefit of transparency before withholding any record.
Waupaca County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
The Waupaca County Register of Deeds serves as the principal office for recording and maintaining real estate documents and vital records. Members of the public may visit the office in person, submit requests by mail, or access available records through the county's online systems.
Waupaca County Register of Deeds 811 Harding Street, Waupaca, WI 54981 (715) 258-6220 Waupaca County Register of Deeds
Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding county-observed holidays.
Waupaca County Clerk of Courts 811 Harding Street, Waupaca, WI 54981 (715) 258-6429 Records Requests – Waupaca County Clerk of Courts
Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding county-observed holidays.
Waupaca County Treasurer 811 Harding Street, Waupaca, WI 54981 (715) 258-6200 Waupaca County Tax Information Search
Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding county-observed holidays.
Wisconsin Department of Transportation – Division of Motor Vehicles 4802 Sheboygan Avenue, Madison, WI 53707 (608) 264-7447 Wisconsin DMV Driver and Vehicle Records