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How to Find Public Records in Pierce County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents in Pierce County, Wisconsin may access a range of publicly available information through PierceRecords.org, which aggregates data drawn from official government sources. Pierce County maintains records across multiple departments, and the availability of specific documents depends on the record type, the custodial office, and applicable state law. Records that may be accessible include court filings, property documents, vital records, tax assessments, business licenses, and meeting minutes, among others.
Records in Pierce County may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools.
Online Access:
- The Wisconsin Court System case search provides public access to circuit court, Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court case records statewide, including Pierce County Circuit Court filings
- The Pierce County Register of Deeds maintains property records searchable through the county's official web portal
- Vital records indexes may be accessed through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services online resources
- No registration is required to search court records through the Wisconsin court portal
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the Pierce County Clerk's Office or the Register of Deeds to inspect records during regular business hours. Requestors should identify the record type, approximate date range, and names of parties involved. Staff will assist in locating responsive documents.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests should include the requestor's name, a description of the records sought, and a preferred method of delivery. Under Wisconsin Stat. § 19.35, custodians are required to respond to written requests as soon as practicable and without delay.
Phone/Email:
- Pierce County Clerk: (715) 273-6741
- Pierce County Register of Deeds: (715) 273-6743
- Email contact information is available through the Pierce County official website
What Are Public Records in Pierce County?
Public records in Pierce County are defined under Wisconsin's open records law as any material on which written, drawn, printed, spoken, visual, or electromagnetic information is recorded or preserved, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that has been created or is being kept by a government authority. Under Wisconsin Stat. § 19.32, the term "record" encompasses a broad range of government-held documents.
The following record types are maintained by Pierce County departments:
- Court records (civil, criminal, probate, family): Maintained by the Pierce County Clerk of Courts; searchable through the Wisconsin circuit court access portal
- Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, assessments): Maintained by the Pierce County Register of Deeds
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce): Maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services; certified copies issued through the Register of Deeds or the State Vital Records Office
- Business records (licenses, permits, fictitious names): Maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions and local municipal offices
- Tax records (property tax, assessment records): Maintained by the Pierce County Treasurer and Assessor
- Voting and election records: Maintained by the Pierce County Clerk
- Meeting minutes and agendas: Maintained by the Pierce County Clerk and individual boards
- Budget and financial documents: Available through the Pierce County Administrator's Office
- Law enforcement records (arrest logs, incident reports where permitted): Maintained by the Pierce County Sheriff's Office
- Land use and zoning records: Maintained by the Pierce County Planning and Zoning Department
The Pierce County Legal Resources page maintained by the Wisconsin State Law Library provides a consolidated directory of county agencies and their contact information.
Is Pierce County an Open Records County?
Pierce County operates in full compliance with Wisconsin's open records law, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government records. Under Wisconsin Stat. § 19.31, the legislature declares that "the public is entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them."
The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which oversees open records compliance statewide, states: "The open records law applies to all state and local governmental bodies, including counties, cities, villages, towns, school districts, and other governmental entities." This standard applies uniformly to Pierce County and all of its departments and offices.
County custodians are required to provide access to records unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Denials must be made in writing and must cite the specific legal authority for withholding the record. The Wisconsin Attorney General's office publishes guidance on open records compliance that Pierce County agencies follow as a matter of standard practice.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Pierce County?
The current fee structure for public records in Pierce County is governed by state law and individual office schedules. Members of the public may inspect records at no charge; fees apply when copies are requested.
| Fee Type | Standard Amount |
|---|---|
| Paper copies (black and white) | $0.25 per page (standard rate) |
| Certification of records | Varies by office; typically $5.00–$10.00 per document |
| Electronic copies | May be provided at no charge or at actual cost of reproduction |
| Search fees | Permitted only when retrieval requires substantial time |
Wisconsin law permits custodians to charge fees that do not exceed the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction. Fees for locating a record may be charged only when the location involves substantial time. The Pierce County Clerk of Courts and Register of Deeds each maintain their own fee schedules, which are available upon request at the respective offices.
Accepted payment methods at Pierce County offices include cash, check, and money order. Credit card acceptance varies by department.
Fee waivers are not mandated by state statute for most requestors, though individual offices retain discretion to reduce or waive fees in appropriate circumstances.
Does Pierce County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available in Pierce County, as Wisconsin law requires custodians to permit in-person inspection of records at no charge. The distinction between free inspection and free copies is significant: members of the public may review documents on-site without cost, but obtaining physical or electronic copies may involve the fees described above.
The following resources provide free access to Pierce County records:
- The Wisconsin Court System case search provides free online access to court case information, including case numbers, party names, filing dates, and case status for Pierce County Circuit Court proceedings
- The Pierce County Clerk's Office permits free in-person inspection of public records during regular business hours
- The Pierce County Register of Deeds allows free in-person review of recorded land documents
- The Wisconsin State Law Library's Pierce County legal resources directory provides free access to agency contact information and legal reference materials
Who Can Request Public Records in Pierce County?
Any person may request public records in Pierce County, Wisconsin. State law does not restrict access to residents of the county or state, and requestors are not required to provide identification or state a reason for their request as a condition of access to most records.
Specific eligibility considerations include:
- Residency: Not required; non-residents have the same access rights as Wisconsin residents
- Identification: Not required for most records; may be required for records involving personal information or restricted access categories
- Purpose: Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for general public records
- Age: No minimum age is established by statute for public records requests
- Non-residents: Entitled to the same access as residents under Wisconsin's open records law
Certain record categories carry additional requirements. Requests for records containing personal identifying information, sealed court files, or records subject to statutory restrictions may require the requestor to demonstrate a qualifying interest or legal entitlement. Individuals requesting their own records from law enforcement or court files may be subject to identity verification procedures.
What Records Are Confidential in Pierce County?
Not all government records in Pierce County are subject to public disclosure. Wisconsin law establishes a range of exemptions that permit or require custodians to withhold certain categories of information. The following records are exempt from public access under applicable state and federal law:
- Sealed court records: Orders sealing case files remove them from public access
- Juvenile records: Records involving minors in delinquency or child welfare proceedings are confidential
- Ongoing criminal investigation records: Records compiled as part of an active law enforcement investigation may be withheld
- Personal identifying information: Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are protected
- Medical and health records: Protected under both state law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
- Adoption records: Sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal procedures
- Child welfare and protective services records: Confidential under Wisconsin child welfare statutes
- Personnel records: Employee records are subject to limited disclosure with specific exceptions for disciplinary actions
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Exempt when disclosure would harm competitive interests
- Security plans and infrastructure details: Withheld when disclosure would endanger public safety
Wisconsin Stat. § 19.36 enumerates specific categories of records exempt from the open records law, and custodians are required to apply a balancing test when the exemption is not absolute—weighing the public interest in disclosure against the harm that disclosure may cause.
Pierce County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Pierce County Register of Deeds
414 W. Main Street, Room 1
Ellsworth, WI 54011
(715) 273-6743
Pierce County Register of Deeds
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays
Pierce County Clerk's Office
414 W. Main Street
Ellsworth, WI 54011
(715) 273-6741
Pierce County Clerk
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Pierce County Clerk of Courts
414 W. Main Street
Ellsworth, WI 54011
(715) 273-6741 Ext. 6405
Pierce County Clerk of Courts
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Pierce County Sheriff's Office
714 W. Main Street
Ellsworth, WI 54011
(715) 273-3531
Pierce County Sheriff's Office
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Records requests may also be submitted in writing by mail to the address above
As noted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice: "Each authority that maintains a record has a duty to respond to a request for that record." Members of the public with questions about which office maintains a specific record type may contact the Pierce County Clerk's Office for referral to the appropriate custodian.