Milwaukee County, Wisconsin Divorce Records

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, divorce occurs when the marriage is irretrievably broken and the spouses can no longer pursue the purposes of the marriage. Milwaukee divorce records are records filed or generated when divorce cases are handled in the county. They include pleadings, settlement terms, evidence, motions, and other details about the divorce.

Milwaukee County divorce records are legal documentation of the dissolution of a marriage. Matters that border on divorce, child custody, and spousal support are governed by the Wisconsin statutes Chapter 767.

As of 2025, the divorce rate in Wisconsin is 2.1 per 1000 people. In 2023, Milwaukee had about 4,856 divorces out of a total population of 927,656.

Marriages may be dissolved by divorce or legal separation. The difference is that both parties may not remarry in a legal separation since the marriage was not completely dissolved. Moreover, Milwaukee, like most jurisdictions, allows for both fault-based and no-fault divorce. Most divorces are filed on no-fault grounds. Other common grounds for divorce include felony charges, substance abuse, incurable insanity, domestic violence, lack of commitment, and infidelity.

Individuals may require divorce records to effect a name change, to update their documentation with financial institutions, to prepare a compelling divorce case, for probate and estate matters, for genealogy and research, and to remarry.

Are Divorce Records Public in Milwaukee County?

Under the Wisconsin Public Records Law § 19.31 - 19.39, divorce records in Milwaukee are public and available to any curious members of the public. The statute mandates custodians to release divorce records upon request, including divorce decrees, divorce certificates, and divorce case files.

The only exception pertains to information about paternity disputes, children’s court, adoption, and records sealed by the court. These are only available to authorized individuals.

How to Find Divorce Records in Milwaukee County

Interested parties have a number of alternatives available to find divorce records in Milwaukee, either online, in person, or by mail.

Online

Record seekers may visit the Circuit Court Access Portal to view recently filed actions. They may also get divorce records from the Wisconsin Vital Records Office website. They are required to provide the full name, case number, and divorce date.

In Person

Record seekers may visit the Milwaukee County Court. They are required to provide information such as the names of the parties, the case number, and the date of divorce. They must also present a government-issued ID.

Milwaukee County Courthouse Family Division

901 N. 9th Street,

Milwaukee, WI 53233,

Phone: (414) 278-5362,

By Mail

Interested parties are required to complete a request form and pay a fee of $20 for the first copy and $3 for each additional copy. They must also provide a government-issued ID.

Wisconsin Vital Records Office

PO Box 309,

Madison, WI 53701.

Method	Where to Go	Info Needed	Cost	Processing Time
Online	WCCA (Wisconsin Circuit Court Access) online portal, Wisconsin Vital Records Office website	Full name, case number, divorce date, and relationship to parties.	$20 for a certified copy, $3 for additional copies.	Online search is immediate. Processing time may vary based on the method of form submission.
In-Person	Milwaukee County Court, Wisconsin Vital Records Office	Valid ID, proof of relationship, and divorce date.	$20 for certified copy, $3 for additional copies	Same day
By mail	Wisconsin Vital Records Office, PO Box 309, Madison, WI 53701	Completed request form, payment, Valid ID, and dates.	$20 for a certified copy, $3 for additional copies.	Processing time may vary due to mail delivery.

Overview of the Milwaukee County Court System

Milwaukee County is part of the first judicial administrative district. It has multiple courts, including a Circuit Court, Municipal Court, and Family Court. The Circuit Court is the central trial court. The Milwaukee County Court family division handles cases such as divorce, paternity disputes, child custody, and separation.

Online Access to Milwaukee County Divorce Records

Interested parties may find Milwaukee divorce records online by visiting the state’s vital records portal. Requesters may search for divorce records using the names of the parties, the case number, and the date of divorce. Some records may also be accessible via third party sites. Such websites operate independently of any government agency, and they simplify the search process because they are not limited by geographic location. Moreover, these third-party websites have search engines for locating specific or multiple records by filtering with particular parameters such as the names of the parties and location. However, the accuracy of information on them is not guaranteed.

What’s Typically Included in a Milwaukee County Divorce Record

Milwaukee divorce records typically contain the divorce case and the couple filing for divorce. The information available in divorce records includes the names of the divorce parties, case number, date and location, settlement, the grounds under which the divorce was filed, and other facts about the case. Also, information about child support, alimony, conditions for child custody, restraining orders, and other issues may be included in the records.

Information about account numbers, paternity disputes, social security numbers, and financial information is also redacted from the record.

Milwaukee County Divorce Record Information	Available to the Public
Names of case parties	Yes
Case number	Yes
Filing date	Yes
Custody arrangements	No
Financial disclosures	No

How to Get Certified Copies of Milwaukee County Divorce Records

Informational copies of divorce records in Milwaukee are public. However, to get certified copies, individuals often need to prove their need and relationship with the divorced parties. A divorce record may either be an informational copy or a certified copy. The former are only for documentation and personal information purposes. They are not legally acceptable.

On the other hand, a certified copy of a divorce record is signed and stamped by the court. It is only available to the case parties and their attorneys. They are useful for name changes, passport applications, insurance claims, and remarriage. There is a fee of $20 to obtain certified copies. Interested individuals may fill out the required form and submit it either by mail or in person.

Type of Copy	Use Case	Who Can Request	Legally Valid?
Certified Copy	Remarriage, divorce filing, probate proceedings, and name change.	Spouse, attorney, court	Yes
Informational Copy	Genealogy, general information	Anyone	No

Why People Request Milwaukee County Divorce Records

Milwaukee County residents may require Milwaukee County Divorce Records in these situations:

• To change their name: Following a major life update, such as a divorce, individuals may require a name change. The divorce record is evidence provided as part of the name change documentation.
• To remarry: In Milwaukee, individuals who were once married must have had the marriage completely dissolved before they can remarry. The divorce record serves as legal evidence.
• For legal or financial matters: Following a divorce, financial documents may need to be updated, such as documents filed with banks and financial institutions.
• For genealogy or family research: Divorce records may provide the missing link in matters of genealogy.
• For probate and estate proceedings: During probate settlements and estate management, family members may be required to prove their relationship and claim inheritance rights.

Milwaukee County Divorce Records Summary

Custodian	Available Record Type	Access Method	Fees & Notes
Clerk of the Circuit Court 901 N. 9th Street, Milwaukee, WI	Divorce decrees, full case files, judgments	WCCA Portal / Mail / In person	$20 first copy, $3 additional copies,
Register of Deeds	Divorce certificates (Jan 1, 2016 - date only)	Online via official portal /Mail-in via form	$20 first copy, $3 additional copies, $3 in-person service fee.
Third-Party Websites	Aggregated records	Online search (paid)	Convenience at cost; accuracy may vary