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What Are Wisconsin Vital Records?
Vital records in Wisconsin consist of official birth certificates, marriage certificates, fetal death records, divorce records, and death certificates. The county register of deeds in Wisconsin is the Department of Health Services (DHS).
The Wisconsin DHS register of deeds office sets the requirements for the necessary documentation that you will need to obtain your vital record application forms.
An authorized copy of your essential documents relating to family history is required for various purposes. You may also need to replace lost copies of birth certificates, marriage certificates, and death certificates.
How Can I Get a Copy of a Birth Certificate in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin birth records dating from October 1907 to the present are available from the Wisconsin Vital Records Office. The ordering options and instructions are detailed below.
Wisconsin Vital Records office only issues certified copies of Wisconsin birth certificates for passport, social security, employment, personal identification, and other legal purposes.
Who Can Order?
Provided a valid form of photo ID is presented, access to copies of Wisconsin birth certificates is restricted to the following persons:
- The person named on the birth record.
- A spouse of the individual.
- Someone with domestic partnership records.
- Parents of the person.
- Siblings of the person.
- A child of the person.
- A grandparent of the person.
- Someone authorized in writing by one of the above. The written authorization has to accompany the request and the relationship of the authorizing party to the subject of the birth record.
- Individuals that can show that the birth record is required to protect a personal or property right.
To order a certified copy of a Wisconsin birth record online, you may contact VitalChek. VitalChek is the only vital records service approved by the state of Wisconsin.
The application fees are $20.00, and each additional copy is $3. Ordering online costs extra. You have the option of expediting your request for an average wait time of one to three business days. Expediting costs an additional $20 per order. There is also a $10 service fee request if you order online.
VitalChek accepts all primary credit cards and debit cards, including Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover.
You may also order copies of vital records via VitalChek by calling 877-885-2981. The fees for phone orders are the same as those for online orders.
To order a Wisconsin birth certificate by mail, you will need to send your completed application, with a certified copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order payable to "The State of Wisconsin" in the proper amount to:
Vital Request Requests
P.O. Box
309 Madison,
WI 53701
The fees for mail-in orders are $30 for the first certified copy (The cost for someone over 65 years of age is $14 if they are requesting their birth certificate), plus $16 for each additional copy. If expedited service is desired, it will cost an additional $12.
A notification will be sent to you via email or text once your certified birth certificate is ready.
How Can I Get a Copy of a Death Certificate in Wisconsin?
Anyone may obtain a copy of a death certificate in Wisconsin. However, you will need to complete the Certified Copy – Wisconsin Death Record application. You may receive a copy in-person, by mail, phone, or online.
However, there are limitations to this in Wisconsin. Only those who are authorized or those related to the deceased can request a certified copy. These copies can be used to verify someone's identity for legal or financial purposes.
To order a certified copy of a Wisconsin death record online, you may contact VitalChek. The fees for online orders are $58.50 for the two-week processing option or $78.25 for the one-three business days expedited service. VitalChek accepts all primary credit cards and debit cards, including Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover.
You may also order a copy of a Wisconsin death record via VitalChek by calling 877-885-2981. The fees for phone orders are the same as those for online orders.
You will need to schedule an appointment available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for in-person orders. The Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics is located at 1W. Wilson Street, Room #158, Madison, WI 53703. You may also contact the office at the telephone number 877-885-2981.
If you prefer to fill out a paper application by mail, you can download the Wisconsin Death Certificate Application forms from the Wisconsin Department of Health website and follow the steps.
How Can I Get a Copy of a Wisconsin Marriage Certificate?
Anyone may obtain a copy of a Wisconsin marriage record, considered public records. However, you will need to complete the application forms, which can be found here: Application for a Certified Copy – Wisconsin Marriage Record.
To order a certified copy of a Wisconsin marriage record online, you may contact VitalChek. The fees for online orders are $58.50 for the two-week processing option or $78.25 for the one-three business days expedited service. VitalChek accepts all primary credit cards and debit cards, including Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover.
You can order a copy of a Wisconsin marriage certificate via VitalChek by calling 877-885-2981. The fees for phone orders are the same as those for online orders.
You will need to schedule an appointment available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for in-person orders. The Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics is located at 1W. Wilson Street, Room #158, Wisconsin. You may also contact the office at 877-885-2981.
To order a Wisconsin marriage license certificate by mail, you will need to send your completed application forms, along with a copy of your photo ID and a check or money order payable to "The State of Wisconsin" in the proper amount to the Department of Public Health at:
Vital Request Requests
P.O. Box
309 Madison,
WI 53701
The fees for mail-in orders are $34 plus $16 for each additional copy, and if expedited service is required, there is an additional fee of $12.
How Can I Get a Copy of a Divorce Certificate in Wisconsin?
Anyone can obtain a copy of a Wisconsin divorce certificate from the Wisconsin Office of Vital Records. The divorce verification is not a copy of the divorce record. Still, it is a verification that a document is or is not on file in the state offices that match the names and information supplied by the applicant. If you need the actual divorce record, you will need to contact the Wisconsin county clerk's office or the Family and Probate clerk of court's office where the divorce occurred.
You will need to complete the Certified Copy – Wisconsin Divorce Record application.
To order a copy of a Wisconsin divorce verification online, you may contact VitalChek. The fees for online orders are $58.50 for the two-week processing option or $78.25 for the one-three business days expedited service. VitalChek accepts all primary credit cards and debit cards, including Visa, Master Card, American Express, and Discover.
It's possible to also order a copy of a Wisconsin divorce verification via VitalChek by calling 877-885-2981. The fees for phone orders are the same as those for online services.
You will need to schedule an appointment for in-person orders on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The Division for Vital Records and Health Statistics is located at 1W Wilson Street, Room #158, Madison, WI 53703. For additional information, you may also contact this office at 877-855-2981. You will need to provide the parties' full names and the district court where the divorce occurred.
To order a Wisconsin divorce verification by mail, you will need to send in your completed application with a certified copy of your photo ID (such as a valid driver's license). You would also need to send a check or money order payable to "The State of Wisconsin." This should be addressed to the vital records office at:
Vital Request Requests
P.O. Box
309 Madison,
WI 53701
The fees for mail-in orders are $34 for the first copy plus $16 for each additional copy, and if you require expedited service, there will be an additional $12 fee.