Marinette County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Marinette County?

Public records in Marinette County are defined under Wisconsin's open records law as any record created or maintained by a government authority in the course of conducting public business. Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.32, a "record" includes any material on which written, drawn, printed, spoken, visual, or electromagnetic information is recorded or preserved, regardless of physical form or characteristics. Members of the public may access a broad range of documents held by county departments, courts, and state agencies operating within Marinette County.

The following categories of records are currently available through various Marinette County offices:

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Marinette County Circuit Court and may be searched through the Wisconsin Court System case search portal
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are maintained by the Marinette County Register of Deeds
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are held by the Marinette County Clerk's Office and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Business records — Licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are maintained by the County Clerk and relevant municipal offices
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are administered by the Marinette County Treasurer and Assessor
Voting and election records — Maintained by the Marinette County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas — County board and committee records are available through the County Clerk's Office and published on the official Marinette County government website
Budget and financial documents — Maintained by the County Administrator's Office
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are held by the Marinette County Sheriff's Office; traffic-related records may also be obtained through the Wisconsin State Patrol open records process
Land use and zoning records — Maintained by the Marinette County Planning and Zoning Department

Is Marinette County an Open Records County?

Marinette County fully complies with Wisconsin's statewide open records framework, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government documents. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.31, the legislature declares that "all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them." This policy applies to all county departments, elected offices, and agencies operating within Marinette County.

Key provisions of the law include:

Government authorities must respond to records requests promptly and without delay
Denial of access must be accompanied by a written explanation citing the specific legal basis for withholding
The burden of proof rests with the government authority to justify any denial of access
Requestors who are improperly denied access may seek relief through the circuit court

Marinette County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law; rather, all departments operate in accordance with the Wisconsin Public Records Law as codified in Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39. Agencies handling administrative hearings and appeals, such as those subject to DOA open records requests, follow parallel state-level procedures.

How to Find Public Records in Marinette County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Marinette County records through several channels, depending on the record type and the custodial office. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office — Determine which county department or agency maintains the record being sought. Court records are held by the Circuit Court; property and vital records by the Register of Deeds or County Clerk; law enforcement records by the Sheriff's Office.
Submit a written request — Although oral requests are permitted under state law, submitting a written request creates a clear record of the transaction. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by email, or through any online portal maintained by the relevant office.
Include sufficient identifying information — Provide the name of the record, approximate date range, case number (if applicable), and any other details that will assist staff in locating the document.
Visit in person during public counter hours — Members of the public may inspect records in person at the relevant office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., unless otherwise posted.
Search online — Civil and criminal court case information is searchable at no cost through the Wisconsin Court System case search portal. Property records and meeting minutes may also be accessible through the county's official web portal.
Await a timely response — Under current law, the custodial authority must respond as soon as practicable and without delay. If a request requires additional time due to volume or complexity, the office must notify the requestor.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Marinette County?

Standard fees apply to the reproduction of public records in Marinette County, consistent with the fee schedule authorized under Wisconsin law. Current fees are as follows:

Paper copies — $0.25 per page for standard black-and-white photocopies is a commonly applied rate across county offices, though individual departments may set their own schedules
Certified copies — Vital records such as birth and death certificates carry a statutory fee; the Wisconsin Department of Health Services currently sets the fee for certified vital records copies at $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy of the same record ordered at the same time
Electronic records — Fees for electronic copies may reflect the actual cost of reproduction, including staff time for locating, retrieving, and transmitting records
Research fees — Where a request requires substantial staff time, the custodial office may charge for actual, necessary, and direct costs of locating the record

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order payable to the relevant county department. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3), fees may not exceed the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction and transcription. Fee waivers are not expressly mandated by state statute but may be granted at the discretion of the custodial authority, particularly for indigent requestors or matters of significant public interest.

Does Marinette County Have Free Public Records?

Members of the public are entitled under Wisconsin law to inspect public records at no charge. The right to inspect — as distinct from the right to receive copies — does not carry a fee obligation. The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection — Any member of the public may inspect records at the custodial office during regular business hours without paying a fee
Wisconsin Court System online search — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case information for Marinette County Circuit Court is searchable at no cost through the Wisconsin court case search system
County website — Meeting minutes, agendas, budget documents, and other administrative records are published on the Marinette County government website at no charge
Property and tax records — Basic property assessment and tax information is accessible through the county's online property search tools without a fee
Child protective services records — Individuals seeking records related to child protective services matters may submit requests through the Wisconsin MCPS open records process administered by the Department of Children and Families

Who Can Request Public Records in Marinette County?

Any person may request public records in Marinette County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Wisconsin's open records law does not restrict access based on the identity or location of the requestor. Specifically:

Residency is not required — Non-residents of Marinette County and non-residents of Wisconsin retain full rights to request public records
Identification is generally not required — Custodial offices may not, as a general rule, require a requestor to identify themselves or provide a reason for the request as a condition of access
Purpose need not be stated — Under current law, requestors are not obligated to explain why they seek a particular record
Corporations, organizations, and legal entities may submit records requests in the same manner as individuals
Restrictions apply to certain record types — Access to juvenile records, sealed court files, and certain law enforcement investigative records may be limited to parties with a demonstrated legal interest, such as the subject of the record or their authorized representative
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records about themselves, such as criminal history or vital records, may be required to provide identification to verify identity before certain restricted records are released

What Records Are Confidential in Marinette County?

Not all government records in Marinette County are subject to public disclosure. Wisconsin law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from mandatory release. The following records are currently withheld from public access, in whole or in part:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the general public
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juveniles in delinquency or child welfare proceedings are confidential under Wisconsin law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — Records compiled as part of an active law enforcement investigation may be withheld where disclosure would compromise the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted prior to release
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 circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services agencies are confidential; requests are processed through the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families MCPS records process
Personnel records — Employee records are exempt from disclosure except for certain information such as name, title, and compensation
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Submitted to government agencies under a claim of confidentiality
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — Withheld to protect public safety

Pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.36, specific statutory exemptions govern the withholding of records in the above categories. Wisconsin courts apply a balancing test when the applicability of an exemption is disputed, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the harm that disclosure may cause.

Marinette County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Marinette County Register of Deeds serves as the principal custodian of property records, vital records, and related documents. The County Clerk's Office maintains election records, board minutes, and business filings. Both offices are located at the Marinette County Courthouse complex.

Marinette County Register of Deeds 1926 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143 (715) 732-7550 Marinette County Register of Deeds Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Marinette County Clerk's Office 1926 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143 (715) 732-7410 Marinette County Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Marinette County Sheriff's Office 2161 University Drive, Marinette, WI 54143 (715) 732-7600 Marinette County Sheriff's Office Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Marinette County Circuit Court 1926 Hall Avenue, Marinette, WI 54143 (715) 732-7450 Marinette County Circuit Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.