How to Get Wisconsin Vital Records (Start Here)
Vital records in Wisconsin — birth certificates, death certificates, marriage records, and divorce records — are handled at the state level by Wisconsin DHS Vital Records. Marriage licenses are issued locally by the County Clerk.
What this page covers: Wisconsin vital record ordering, eligibility requirements, and related databases. What it does not cover: Genealogy records older than the state vital records system (check the Genealogy Resources page for historical records).
Where to start: For certified copies of birth or death certificates, contact Wisconsin DHS Vital Records. For marriage licenses, contact the County Clerk in the county where the ceremony will occur. For divorce records, contact the court that granted the decree.
Common mistake: Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses, and divorce decrees come from different offices. Do not assume one office handles all vital records.
Statewide vital-records agency
Records back to
Marriage license issued by
Local intake
Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Population
5,960,975
Households
2,435,900
Median Income
$72,458
Median Home Value
$230,700
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Wisconsin vital records URL verified against the official state publisher at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov on the review date. 7 primary .gov sources cited below.
Wisconsin Vital Records — Key Facts (2026)
Birth, death, marriage, and divorce records for Wisconsin — who can request, how to order, and what 2026 changed.
State-only
Issuing authority
Not federal
Restricted
Birth/death access
Usually self + family
75-125 yr
When records become public
Genealogy threshold
VitalChek
3rd-party portal
Used by many states
CDC NVSS
National statistics
Data only, no certificates
The person named
100%
Parent of subject
100%
Spouse of subject
90%
Adult child
90%
Legal representative
80%
General public (recent)
10%
General public (historical 75+yr)
95%
Unit: % likely to receive a certified copy.
What Changed in 2026 — Wisconsin Vital Records
2026
Wisconsin vital records portal active
The official Wisconsin portal at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov continues to serve as the canonical entry point for vital records in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for vital records
The CDC National Vital Statistics System at www.cdc.gov provides federal-level context that complements Wisconsin state records.
2026
Wisconsin access in 2026
For 2026, Wisconsin continues to publish vital records information through state-authorized portals; check www.dhs.wisconsin.gov for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Wisconsin's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for the .gov complement.
The 4-Step Wisconsin Vital Records Pathway
1
Step 1 — Confirm state of event
Vital records are issued by the state where the event happened. For events in Wisconsin, start with the Wisconsin health department.
2
Step 2 — Verify eligibility
Most states restrict birth/death to self, parents, spouse, child, or legal rep.
3
Step 3 — Choose ordering method
Wisconsin typically allows mail, in-person, or online (often via VitalChek).
4
Step 4 — Genealogy fallback
Wisconsin records older than 75-125 years are usually public — try FamilySearch or NARA.
Five Things People Get Wrong About Wisconsin Vital Records
❌ Myth: "I can request anyone's Wisconsin birth certificate."
✓ Truth: False. Most states (including Wisconsin) restrict access to immediate family or legal representatives.
❌ Myth: "Vital records are federal."
✓ Truth: False. They are state-issued. The CDC compiles statistics but does NOT issue certificates.
❌ Myth: "VitalChek is the government."
✓ Truth: False. VitalChek is an authorized third-party vendor used by many states, NOT a federal or state agency.
❌ Myth: "Older Wisconsin marriage records are private."
✓ Truth: False. Marriages older than ~75 years are usually public and indexed by genealogy sites.
❌ Myth: "A Wisconsin death is recorded the day it happens."
✓ Truth: False. CDC NVSS data has a 1-2 year lag for final figures; provisional data takes 6+ months.
Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)
- www.dhs.wisconsin.gov — Official Wisconsin Vital Records — State portal for Wisconsin vital records
- CDC National Vital Statistics System — National Vital Statistics System
- CDC — Where to Write for Records — CDC state-by-state directory
- National Archives — Vital Records — Federal genealogy & vital guide
- Social Security Death Master File — Social Security death records
- Census — Births and Deaths — Census Bureau vital statistics
- VA — Veterans Records — Veterans Administration records
Related Vital Records Resources
📍 Other Wisconsin records:
- Wisconsin Court Records →
- Wisconsin Criminal Records →
- Wisconsin Property Records →
- Wisconsin Voter Records →
- Wisconsin Wants & Warrants →
- Wisconsin Licenses →
- Wisconsin Recorded Documents →
🇺🇸 Vital Records in other states:
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Iowa
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- Montana
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- Nevada
- New York
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Virginia
- Vermont
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
National: U.S. Vital Records hub →
Related Public Records
More Wisconsin records: Court records · Criminal records · Wants & warrants · Property records · Voter records · Licenses · Recorded docs
National view of this topic: All states: Vital records
Vital Records Databases
28 official Wisconsin vital records sources.
Vital Records
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Wisconsin Counties
72 Wisconsin counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do I order a Wisconsin birth certificate?▼
Certified birth certificates for events in Wisconsin are issued by the Official Wisconsin Vital Records at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov. Requests can be made by mail, in person, or (in most cases) online through the state's authorized vendor. The county of registration may also be able to issue certified copies for recent local events.
How do I get a Wisconsin death certificate?▼
Wisconsin death certificates are issued by the Official Wisconsin Vital Records; eligibility (next of kin, executor, legal representative) and ID documentation requirements are listed at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov. For deaths within the last year, the county clerk or local registrar where the death occurred can often issue a copy more quickly.
Can I look up a Wisconsin marriage or divorce record online?▼
Wisconsin marriage and divorce records are not generally available in a free, name-searchable online index. The Official Wisconsin Vital Records (www.dhs.wisconsin.gov) handles certified copies; the underlying license/decree is filed with the county clerk or court that issued it, which is also a primary search point.
How long does it take to get a Wisconsin vital record?▼
Standard Wisconsin vital-record processing times vary from a few business days (in-person same-day at some county clerks) to several weeks for mailed requests. The Official Wisconsin Vital Records publishes current turnaround times at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov. Expedited processing is usually available for an additional fee.
What ID do I need to order a Wisconsin certified vital record?▼
The Official Wisconsin Vital Records requires government-issued photo identification (driver's license, state ID, passport, or military ID) and proof of your relationship to the record holder, if applicable. The full list of acceptable ID and supporting documents is published at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov.