Fond du Lac County Public Records
What Are Public Records in Fond du Lac County?
Public records in Fond du Lac County are defined under Wisconsin Public Records Law § 19.31-19.39, which declares that all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding government affairs and the official acts of government officers and employees. According to Wisconsin Statute § 19.32(2), a "record" means any material on which written, drawn, printed, spoken, visual, or electromagnetic information or sounds are recorded or preserved, regardless of physical form or characteristics, which has been created or is being kept by an authority.
Fond du Lac County maintains numerous types of public records, including:
- Court Records - Civil, criminal, traffic, family, and probate cases maintained by the Fond du Lac County Circuit Court
- Property Records - Deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and property transfers recorded by the Register of Deeds
- Vital Records - Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates (with access restrictions)
- Business Records - Business licenses, permits, and fictitious business name registrations
- Tax Records - Property tax information, assessment records, and tax liens
- Voting and Election Records - Voter registration data and election results
- Meeting Minutes and Agendas - County Board and committee proceedings
- Budget and Financial Documents - County expenditures, revenues, and audits
- Law Enforcement Records - Sheriff's reports and jail records (with statutory limitations)
- Land Use and Zoning Records - Planning documents, zoning maps, and building permits
The Fond du Lac County Clerk serves as the primary custodian for many county records, while specialized departments maintain records specific to their functions. The Fond du Lac County Register of Deeds maintains property and vital records, while the Clerk of Circuit Court maintains judicial records.
Is Fond du Lac County an Open Records County?
Fond du Lac County fully complies with Wisconsin's Public Records Law, making it an open records county. Under Wisconsin Statute § 19.31, the legislature has declared that providing citizens with information about government affairs is "an essential function of a representative government and an integral part of the routine duties of officers and employees."
The statute explicitly states: "To that end, ss. 19.32 to 19.37 shall be construed in every instance with a presumption of complete public access, consistent with the conduct of governmental business." This presumption of openness guides all public records decisions in Fond du Lac County.
The county adheres to Wisconsin's sunshine laws, which require governmental bodies to conduct their business in open session and provide public notice of meetings. These provisions are outlined in Wisconsin Statute § 19.81-19.98, known as the Open Meetings Law.
Fond du Lac County has established policies for handling public records requests in accordance with state law. Each department has designated records custodians responsible for responding to requests within statutory timeframes. The county's commitment to transparency is reflected in its official public records policy, which outlines procedures for requesting and accessing public information.
How to Find Public Records in Fond du Lac County in 2026
Members of the public seeking records in Fond du Lac County may follow these procedures to obtain the information they need:
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Identify the appropriate department that maintains the desired records. The Fond du Lac County website provides a directory of departments and their record-keeping responsibilities.
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Submit a records request to the appropriate department's records custodian. Requests may be made:
- In person at the relevant department office
- By mail to the department address
- By email to the designated records custodian
- Through online portals for certain record types
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For court records, utilize the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system, which provides public access to court case information.
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Property records can be searched through the Fond du Lac County Land Records Portal, which offers access to property information, tax data, and GIS mapping.
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For vital records such as birth, death, and marriage certificates, contact:
Fond du Lac County Register of Deeds
160 S. Macy Street
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
(920) 929-3018
Fond du Lac County Register of Deeds
- For law enforcement records, submit requests to:
Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office
180 S. Macy Street
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
(920) 929-3390
Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office
When making a request, be as specific as possible about the records sought. Pursuant to Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1)(h), a request is deemed sufficient if it reasonably describes the requested record or information.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Fond du Lac County?
Fond du Lac County assesses fees for public records in accordance with Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(3), which permits authorities to charge the "actual, necessary and direct cost" of reproduction and transcription of records.
Current standard fees for public records in Fond du Lac County include:
- Photocopies: $0.25 per page for standard black and white copies
- Color copies: $1.00 per page
- Large format documents (maps, plats): $2.00-$5.00 per page depending on size
- Electronic records: $0.10 per page for PDF conversion or actual cost of storage media
- Search and location fees: May be charged if the cost exceeds $50.00, at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee capable of performing the task
- Certified copies of vital records:
- Birth certificates: $20.00 for the first copy, $3.00 for additional copies
- Death certificates: $20.00 for the first copy, $3.00 for additional copies
- Marriage certificates: $20.00 for the first copy, $3.00 for additional copies
The county accepts payment by cash, check, money order, and credit card (in most departments). Some departments may require payment before releasing records.
Wisconsin law prohibits charging fees for the cost of reviewing records for possible redaction or other separation of information. Additionally, pursuant to § 19.35(3)(e), an authority may waive or reduce fees when doing so is in the public interest.
Requestors should note that specialized records may have different fee structures established by specific statutes. For example, court records have fees set by the Wisconsin Director of State Courts.
Does Fond du Lac County Have Free Public Records?
Fond du Lac County provides several avenues for accessing public records at no cost:
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In-person inspection of records is available free of charge during normal business hours, as guaranteed by Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1)(a). This statute states that "any requester has a right to inspect any record."
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The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) website offers free online access to court case information for Fond du Lac County Circuit Court and all Wisconsin circuit courts.
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The Fond du Lac County Board provides free access to meeting agendas, minutes, and resolutions through its website.
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The Fond du Lac County Land Information Office maintains a public GIS viewer with property information accessible at no cost.
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The Fond du Lac County Election Results are available for free on the County Clerk's website.
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Budget documents and financial reports can be viewed without charge on the Fond du Lac County Finance Department webpage.
For records not available online, members of the public may visit the appropriate county office during business hours to inspect records without charge. However, if copies are requested, standard reproduction fees will apply.
Who Can Request Public Records in Fond du Lac County?
Under Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1)(a), "any requester has a right to inspect any record." The term "requester" is defined in § 19.32(3) as "any person who requests inspection or copies of a record," except certain committed or incarcerated persons.
Key eligibility information for public records requestors in Fond du Lac County:
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Wisconsin residency is not required to request public records. Any person, regardless of citizenship or residency status, may submit a request.
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Requestors are not required to identify themselves when making a request, though providing contact information is necessary if copies are to be mailed or if clarification of the request is needed.
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Requestors do not need to state the purpose of their request or explain why they want access to a record. As stated in § 19.35(1)(i), "no request may be refused because the person making the request is unwilling to be identified or to state the purpose of the request."
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For certain records, such as vital records (birth, death, marriage certificates), requestors must meet relationship requirements established by Wisconsin Statute § 69.20. These records are only available to the person named in the record, immediate family members, or those with a direct and tangible interest.
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Law enforcement records may have additional restrictions based on whether an investigation is ongoing or if disclosure would compromise public safety.
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Requestors seeking their own records held by the county generally have broader access rights than those seeking records about other individuals.
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Professional requestors, such as journalists, researchers, and commercial entities, have the same rights of access as individual citizens.
What Records Are Confidential in Fond du Lac County?
While Wisconsin's Public Records Law presumes that government records are open to public inspection, Wisconsin Statute § 19.35(1)(a) recognizes that access may be denied "as otherwise provided by law." Fond du Lac County maintains several categories of confidential records that are exempt from disclosure:
- Juvenile court records - Protected under Wisconsin Statute § 938.396, which limits access to juvenile court records
- Child protective services records - Confidential under Wisconsin Statute § 48.981(7)
- Mental health commitment records - Protected by Wisconsin Statute § 51.30
- Medical and health information - Protected by both state law and federal HIPAA regulations
- Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers - Protected personal identifiers
- Personnel records - Subject to the balancing test, with certain information protected under Wisconsin Statute § 19.36(10)
- Ongoing law enforcement investigations - May be withheld if disclosure would compromise an investigation
- Computer programs and data - Protected under Wisconsin Statute § 19.36(4)
- Trade secrets and proprietary information - Protected under Wisconsin Statute § 19.36(5)
- Records related to competitive or bargaining matters - May be withheld under § 19.85(1)(e)
- Attorney-client privileged communications
- Records where federal law prohibits disclosure
- Sealed court records and expunged criminal records
Wisconsin law requires records custodians to apply the "balancing test" when determining whether to release records that are not explicitly exempt. This test weighs the public interest in disclosure against the public interest in nondisclosure. The Wisconsin Supreme Court has established that "the presumption favors disclosure" and that "exceptions should be recognized only where the public policy favoring secrecy outweighs the public policy favoring disclosure."
Fond du Lac County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Fond du Lac County Register of Deeds
160 S. Macy Street, Room 109
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
(920) 929-3018
Fond du Lac County Register of Deeds
Office Hours:
Monday through Friday: 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Closed on weekends and county-observed holidays
The Register of Deeds Office is responsible for recording, maintaining, and providing access to:
- Real estate documents (deeds, mortgages, satisfactions, liens)
- Vital records (birth, death, and marriage certificates)
- Military discharge papers
- Plats and certified survey maps
- Fictitious name registrations
For property records research, the office provides public access terminals during regular business hours. Many records are also available through the county's online land records system.
For vital records requests, the office processes applications in person, by mail, or online through the Wisconsin Vital Records Office. Proper identification is required for vital records requests, and certain relationship requirements apply.
The Register of Deeds staff is available to assist with records searches and to answer questions about the recording process. Researchers are encouraged to call ahead for complex research needs or to confirm availability of specific records.