Wisconsin Marriage, Death, Birth Records

Wisconsin issued marriage applications as early as the 1820s in some counties, although most jurisdictions began maintaining them with county organization. The state directed the counties, in 1852, to record births and deaths, a mandate generally ignored. In 1878 a similar law received more attention and adherence. A separate volume was kept for recording births which had occurred prior to 1852. The earliest delayed birth record dates to 1746.

However, it was 1907 before the State Bureau of Vital Statistics was established. Researchers may apply to this office for records (certified, for descendants) of births, deaths, and marriages. The nonrefundable charges are presently $20 for births and $7 for deaths and marriages. A self-addressed stamped envelope is required. The address is State of Wisconsin Department of Health and Social Services, Division of Health, 1 West Wilson Street, P.O. Box 309, Madison, Wisconsin 53701-0309.

On-site searching in the state vital records is possible with advance appointments at particular hours and on particular days, for one-hour time blocks. Contact the office for complete information on this procedure before traveling to Madison. Some records are not accessible.

Vital records at the county level are held by the register of deeds at each county government center. Indexes and original records may be searched within established guidelines. Photocopies or certificates of county records can be obtained at the same rate schedule as the state's.

Of great value to the genealogist in Wisconsin is the statewide microfiche index to the births, deaths, and marriages recorded in the state prior to October 1907. The State Historical Society of Wisconsin, all Area Research Centers (see Archives, Libraries, and Societies), and the FHL hold copies of this index that has to be searched in person. The State Historical Society of Wisconsin Library at Madison has microfilmed copies of all the actual records referred to in the index, and each Area Research Center has those microfilmed records for the counties covered by that center. There will be some records at the county level not included in the statewide index. Some specific counties are not indexed for specific types of vital events. In the marriage records index, for example, the entries for Racine County are incomplete, and counties following Racine alphabetically are not included. It is necessary to go directly to the microfilm records for those counties to locate marriage records. However, the index is a tool that should certainly be used in Wisconsin research.

Divorce records are usually found in the county government centers and most often in the civil court records. Post-1907 divorce decrees, although they actually contain very little genealogical information, can be located at the State Bureau of Vital Statistics. From 1836 through 1848, the territorial legislature granted the divorces listed in the Wisconsin State Genealogical Society Newsletter (April, 1980).

The “Wisconsin Necrology” at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin is a collection of several thousand selected obituaries of Wisconsin citizens (1890–1945). The obituaries are in scrapbooks that are indexed in the library's subject and printed card catalogs. The scrapbooks have been microfilmed and are available on interlibrary loan.

Other obituary indexes can be located in numerous local libraries and in some Area Research Centers. Some early vital records have been extracted and published in state and county genealogical periodicals.

Choose A County in Wisconsin

  Wisconsin Division of Health, Vital Records, 1 West Wilson Street, Rm 158, Madison, WI 53701. Thier mailing address is Wisconsin Vital Records Office, P.O. Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309. Telephone:  For automated assistance 24 hours a day, please call (608) 266-1371. To contact our service counter during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 4:15 P.M. (C.S.T.), Monday through Friday, please call (608) 266-1373. All fees are not refundable if no record is found.  You must enclose a personal check or money order made payable to "Wis. Vital Records".  Please do not send cash. Please include a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope with your request.

They have the following records:

• Birth, Marriage & Death Certificates: In Wisconsin, official registration of births, marriages & deaths vary by county, see the table below for the Earliest available records.
  • Cost: $20.00 is the cost for the search, which includes one copy of the birth, marriage or death certificate, if found. Additional copies of the same record, requested at the same time as the first, are $3.00 each.  The cost is the same whether you request a certified or uncertified copy of the birth certificate.
  • Processing Time: Filled requests take 3-6 months when ordered by mail (Application for Birth, Marriage or Death) or 2-5 Days when you order online.
• Divorces: Divorces on availible since Oct 1907.
  • Cost: $20.00 is the cost for the search, which includes one copy of the divorce certificate, if found. Additional copies of the same record, requested at the same time as the first, are $3.00 each.  The cost is the same whether you request a certified or uncertified copy of the birth certificate.
  • Processing Time: Filled requests take 3-6 months when ordered by mail (Application) or 2-5 Days when you order online.

Order On-Line:  To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek.

Order In Person: You can apply in person for a copy of a marriage certificate at 1 West Wilson Street, Room 158, in Madison, Wisconsin (driving directions/parking). The office is open from 8:00 A.M. until 4:15 P.M. (C.S.T.), Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Identification is required to pick up certified copies of vital records in person. The acceptable forms of identification are listed below.

Click Here to Search Wisconsin Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.

Below is a list of online resources for Wisconsin Vital Records.

• Pre-1907 Birth Index (22 kb)
• Pre-1907 Death Index (19 kb)
• 1959-1979 Death Index (23 kb)
• 1979-1984 Death Index (7 kb)
• Pre-1892 Wisconsin Brides and/or Grooms from Maine State Archives Cards
• Wisconsin Marriage Index 1852-1907
• Wisconsin Marriage Index (selected entries pre-1907)
• Wisconsin Births, 1820-1907: This database indexes over 985,000 births recorded in the State of Wisconsin, USA, prior to 1907. Information provided in the index includes: name, birth date, country, and source information.
• Wisconsin Deaths, 1820-1907: This database indexes over 435,000 deaths recorded in the state of Wisconsin prior to 1907.
• Wisconsin Marriages, 1835-1900: Marriage records from various counties in Wisconsin between 1835 and 1900.
• Wisconsin Marriages, 1973-1997: This database is an index to approximately 949,000 marriages that took place in the State of Wisconsin, USA, between 1973 and 1997. Information that may be found in this database includes groom's name, groom's age, groom's residence (county and/or state), bride's name, bride's age, bride's residence (county and/or state), marriage date, marriage county, and marriage certificate number.
• Wisconsin Marriages, pre-1907: This index contains over 920,000 individuals married in the State of Wisconsin, USA, prior to 1907. Information that may be found in this database for each individual includes their name, marriage date, county of marriage, and source information.
• Search All U.S and Foriegn Birth, Marriage and Death Records
• Search U.S. and International Marriage Records, 1560-1900
• Search Obituary Collection
• Search the Social Security Death Index for FREE

Registration of events prior to 1907 was voluntary and vital records were not filed for most events.  It has been estimated that less than 50% of the records were prepared and submitted for permanent filing before that time.  Records are not on file for events that occurred before the dates listed in the following table.  Divorce certificates from any county are not available before October 1907.

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