Reviewed and updated October 9, 2026 by the SearchSystems.net editorial team. Every office link was opened and checked against the office's own site between September 23, 2026 and October 2, 2026.
Lafayette County, Wisconsin, has about 17,000 residents (2024 Census Bureau estimate). Its court cases are filed in the Lafayette County Circuit Court, and the file of each case, kept by the Clerk of Circuit Court, is the public record of it. This guide says which court hears what, where to look a case up and who keeps the files.
This guide covers the courts, the records page, criminal cases, kinds of files, cities and common questions.
Related guides: Lafayette County public records, Lafayette County arrest records, Lafayette County warrants, Lafayette County inmate search, Lafayette County criminal records, Wisconsin arrest records and Wisconsin inmate search.
The Courts That Hear Cases from Lafayette County
In Lafayette County, the Lafayette County Circuit Court hears every civil, criminal, family, probate and juvenile case.
A city with a municipal court of its own tries the tickets written under its ordinances.
Divorces go to the Circuit Court, and the file stays with the Clerk of Circuit Court.
The Clerk of Circuit Court keeps the files, and a copy of anything in a file comes from that office, under the court's own rules rather than the Wisconsin Public Records Law.
Looking Up a Case from Lafayette County
The court records page SearchSystems verified for the county is at lafayettecountywi.org/coc (page title: Clerk of Courts | Lafayette County WI), a site that blocks automated checks (HTTP 403), so open it in a browser.
Statewide, Wisconsin Circuit Court Access is the free statewide case search of every circuit court.
The Wisconsin court page SearchSystems verified is at wicourts.gov/casesearch.htm.
What Reaches the Court from Lafayette County
The District Attorney decides which arrests in Lafayette County become cases in the Lafayette County Circuit Court.
The District Attorney's page SearchSystems verified is at lafayettecountywi.org/da (page title: District Attorney | Lafayette County WI), phone 608-776-4842, 626 Main Street Darlington, WI 53530, a site that blocks automated checks (HTTP 403), so open it in a browser.
The Kinds of Court Files
Criminal cases, divorces, traffic tickets and evictions all end up as files of these courts, and the file is what the public sees of each.
The other Lafayette County guides take the kinds of file one at a time: Lafayette County criminal records, Lafayette County divorce records, Lafayette County traffic tickets and Lafayette County DUI.
Cities in Lafayette County
Wherever in the county a case arises, it is filed in the Lafayette County Circuit Court; tickets under a city's own ordinances go to its municipal court where it has one.
The cities and towns in the county are Darlington, Shullsburg, Belmont, Benton, Blanchardville, Argyle, South Wayne and Gratiot.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up a court case in Lafayette County?
Through Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, the free statewide case search of every circuit court.
Which court hears felonies in Lafayette County?
The Lafayette County Circuit Court, which hears every civil, criminal, family, probate and juvenile case.
Who keeps the court records in Lafayette County?
The Clerk of Circuit Court. Copies come from that office under the court's own rules.
Is there a statewide court case search in Wisconsin?
Yes: Wisconsin Circuit Court Access, the free statewide case search of every circuit court.
Is this the official Lafayette County website?
No. SearchSystems.net is an independent public records guide, online since 1997. It links to the official county, court and state offices described above and does not hold records, charge for them or take requests.