Wisconsin Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

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See Also Researching in Vital Records - Vital records, as their name suggests, are connected with central life events: birth, marriage, and death. Maintained by civil authorities, they are prime sources of genealogical information; but, unfortunately, official vital records are available only for relatively recent periods. These records, despite their recent creation in the United States, are critically important in genealogical research, often supplying details on family members well back into the nineteenth century.......

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.

Search Wisconsin Historical Records - Databases include Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Voter Lists & Census Records; Immigration & Emigration Records; Obituary Records; Military Records; Family Tree Records; Pictures; Stories, Memories & Histories; Directories & Member Lists and much more....

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.

These databases below are online at Ancestry.com

  • 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.

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.

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

 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 Certificates: Birth records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Vital Records does have a limited number of birth records prior to 1914. The birth records dated prior to 1914 were filed with Arkansas Vital Records after 1914. They have original copies of Little Rock and Fort Smith births dating from 1881.
    • Cost: The cost of a birth record is $12.00 for the first copy and $10.00 for each additional copy ordered of the same record at the same time. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $12.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $12.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Death Certificates: Death records maintained by Arkansas Vital Records start with February 1, 1914 through the present. Arkansas Vital Records does have a limited number of deaths occurring prior to 1914 for Little Rock and Fort Smith dating from 1881. The Arkansas History Commission has a death index of deaths occurring in Arkansas from 1914 through 1949. This is only an alphabetical listing of deaths occurring in Arkansas. The History Commission does not have copies of the death records.
    • Cost: The cost of a certified death certificate is $10.00 for the first copy and $8.00 for each additional copy issued at the same time for the same certificate. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1917. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any marriage records prior to 1917.
    Divorce records maintained in Arkansas Vital Records begin with January 1923. Arkansas Vital Records does not have any divorce records prior to 1923. Records of marriage & divorce proceedings are available from the Arkansas County clerk of Probate Court that granted the decree.You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates or Divorce Certificates .
    • Cost: Arkansas Vital Records maintains a file of marriage and divorce coupons. These coupons are acceptable with organizations that require a certified record. The cost of a marriage or divorce coupon is $10.00 for each copy. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $10.00 for a searching fee. The customer may request a refund of any amount paid over the required $10.00 search fee.
  • Order In Person: The certificates may be ordered by coming into this office. If you want the copy the same day, our hours for same day service are 8:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M. Monday – Friday. The office is located at 4815 West Markham St Little Rock, AR 72205.
  • Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address: Vital Records, PO Box 8184, Little Rock AR 72203-8184. Please include return address on envelope and application form. Processing Time takes 4-6 weeks when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you Order Online.
  • Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically Online to obtain a certified copy of a birth, marriage, death or divorce record with a credit or debit card and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering from VitalChek Express Certificate Service.
  • Birth, Marriage & Death - Vital records (births, deaths, marriages, and divorces) mark the milestones of our lives and are the foundation of family history research. Vital records, usually kept by a civic authority, can give you a more complete picture of your ancestor, help you distinguish between two people with the same name, and help you find links to a new generation.

Links For Birth Records

Links For Marriage Records

Links For Death Records

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