Ozaukee County, Wisconsin Court Records
Ozaukee County court records are documents filed in cases heard by the Ozaukee County Circuit Court and managed by the Clerk of Circuit Court. These records include civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and other cases handled by the court. Some of the information may also be connected to other public records. For example, an arrest may lead to a criminal court case, but arrest and law-enforcement records are maintained separately. Birth, death, and marriage records are maintained by the Ozaukee County Register of Deeds instead of the Clerk of Circuit Court.
Are Ozaukee County Court Records Public?
Yes. Ozaukee County court records are presumed open to the public per the Wisconsin Public Records Law and court regulations. However, information may be removed or kept from public view for privacy reasons, such as Social Security numbers and financial account numbers. Likewise, records may be subject to sealing or redaction when Wisconsin law permits it. Juvenile cases have separate confidentiality requirements. Wis. Stat. §§ 59.20(3), 801.19, and 801.21 address public access, protected information, and the sealing or redaction of court records.
What Information Is Available in Ozaukee County Court Records?
Court records can contain different information depending on the case. Some of the details you may see include:
- Case number
- Case type
- Filing date
- Names of the parties
- Court orders and judgments
- Motions and pleadings
- Hearing and trial dates
- Docket entries
- Attorney information
- Sentencing or disposition information
Ozaukee County, Wisconsin Court Records Search
There are several ways to look for court records in Ozaukee County. The option you use depends on whether you only need basic case information or want to view or request copies of documents.
- Online Access: The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal lets users search certain public circuit court records. Confidential case types do not appear in the search. WCCA provides case information, but filed documents are not available there. Those documents can be viewed on the public-access computers at the Ozaukee County Justice Center.
- In-Person Access: Court records can be viewed at the Ozaukee County Justice Center, where public-access computers are available. The Clerk of Circuit Court's office is at:
1201 S. Spring Street
Port Washington, WI 53074
The Clerk's Office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Mail and Phone Requests: Copies can be requested by mail, email, phone, or fax. Mail requests can be sent to Ozaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court, P.O. Box 994, Port Washington, WI 53074. The office can be reached at (262) 284-8420 for record requests. Requests generally take up to 10 working days to process. Copies cost $1.25 per page, or $1 per page for probate records, and certified copies have an additional fee. If you do not have a case number, the office charges a $5.00 search fee for each name searched.
Fees for Court Records in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
When it comes to checking public court records, a charge isn't involved, but a fee may apply if you ask for copies or need the Clerk of Circuit Court to help look for a record. Ozaukee County charges $1.25 per page for copies, while probate copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies do have an additional fee. It should also be noted that if you do not have a case number, the Clerk charges $5.00 for each name searched. The Ozaukee County Record Request Page lists the current fees and explains how to request copies.
Ozaukee County Courthouse Locations
The Ozaukee County Circuit Court is located at the Ozaukee County Justice Center in Port Washington. The courthouse handles the county's circuit court matters, including civil, criminal, family, probate, and juvenile cases. The Clerk of Circuit Court and Register in Probate are also located at the Justice Center. Federal cases involving Ozaukee County are handled by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, which is located in Milwaukee. The addresses of courts in Ozaukee County are listed below.
|
Courthouse/Office |
Address |
Phone Number |
Divisions/Case Type |
Office Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1201 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074 |
(262) 238-8409 |
Civil, criminal, family, juvenile and other circuit court matters |
Mon - Fri; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | |
|
1201 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074 |
(262) 283-8409 |
Court records and case administration |
Mon - Fri; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | |
|
1201 South Spring Street, Port Washington, WI 53074 |
(262) 284-8370 |
Probate, guardianship, conservatorship, and related matters |
Mon - Fri; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. | |
|
517 East Wisconsin Avenue, Room 362, Milwaukee, WI 53202 |
(414) 297-3372 |
Federal civil and criminal cases |
Mon - Fri; 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. |
Criminal Records Access in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
Wisconsin criminal history records are handled at the state level by the Wisconsin Department of Justice through its Wisconsin Online Record Check System (WORCS). This system is separate from the criminal court records filed in Ozaukee County. For local criminal cases, case information can be searched through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA). Cases can be searched by party name or case number, with the available information shown through the portal. Court records can also be viewed or requested through the Ozaukee County Clerk of Circuit Court.
Ozaukee County, Wisconsin Probate Records
Probate records in Ozaukee County are documents containing information on the handling of a person's estate and other matters overseen by the Probate Court. Examples include wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and estate proceedings.
The Register in Probate is the custodian of probate records and provides access to records that are available to the public. Some probate matters may have restrictions when the information is confidential. Access to non-confidential probate court records is through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system. Guardianship and mental health commitment cases are not available to the public, so they may not appear in the search. Copies of probate records can also be requested by visiting the Office of the Register in Probate.
Ozaukee County, Wisconsin Family Court Records
In Ozaukee County, family court cases like divorce, child custody, adoption, and child support are handled by the Ozaukee County Circuit Court. Copies of records generated or submitted during these cases are available through the WCCA system unless otherwise restricted by the court. Additionally, you may visit the Ozaukee County Justice Center or the Office of the Clerk of Circuit Court to obtain copies of family case records. Certified copies of family court records are only available from the Clerk's Office.
Federal Court Records in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin
Federal court records are records from cases handled by the federal courts rather than the Ozaukee County Circuit Court. Ozaukee County falls within the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin, which handles federal civil and criminal cases from the county. Federal case information and documents can generally be searched through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). Users can search for a case through the Eastern District of Wisconsin or use the PACER Case Locator if they are unsure which federal court handled it. Some federal records may be sealed or otherwise restricted and therefore will not be available to the public.
