Wisconsin Background Check Resources
Background checks are governed by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Most state laws concerning public records and background checks are very liberal and straightforward. In the State of Wisconsin, public records are readily available to anyone wishing to obtain them through appropriate official state agency channels. Background checks are instrumental in the parties' ability to enter into various legally binding contracts, and as such, are always a good idea. Background checks generally require a written permission prior to performing the inquiry. Occasionally, it is possible to obtain such reports without permission, but the results may lack in-depth details.
If the background check adversely affects the consumer, the party accessing public records must provide a copy of the report and a summary of the consumer's rights under FCRA, and allow the consumer reasonable time to contest the report. Due to the increasing threat of identity theft, some states (i. e. California) may now require the employer to provide a copy of the background check report to the consumer regardless of its content.
Call the telephone numbers listed below (or visit the listed websites) to learn how to access the specific background check information you're seeking. Public information may be accessible online or by phone, mail or in person.
It's always best to call before sending written inquiries in order to obtain exact addressing/ordering information.
WISCONSIN STATE INFORMATION HOT LINE:
(608) 266-2211
WISCONSIN STATE WEB SITE:
www.wisconsin.gov
Governor's Office
Attorney General's Office
Legislative Records
State Archives
Criminal Records
Department of Justice
Crime Information Bureau
Record Check Unit
PO Box 2688
Madison WI 53701-2688
(608) 266-5764
(fax number not provided)
www.doj.state.wi.us
Driving Records
Division of Motor Vehicles
Records and Licensing
Section
PO Box 7995
Madison WI 53707
(608) 266-2353
(608) 267-3636 (fax)
www.dot.wisconsin.gov
Vehicle Ownership Information
Department of Transportation
Vehicle Records Section
PO Box 7911
Madison WI 53707-7911
(608) 266-3666
(608) 267-6966 (fax)
www.dot.wisconsin.gov
Vital Statistics
(birth, death, divorce, marriage)
The Center of Health Statistics
Vital Records
PO Box 309
Madison WI 53701
(608) 266-1373
(608) 255-2035 (fax)
www.dhfs.wisconsin.gov/vitalrecords
Business/Corporate Records
Department of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate and Consumer Services
PO Box 7846
Madison WI 53707
(608) 261-7577
(608) 267-6813 (fax)
http://www.wdfi.org
Corporations, Limiteds
Workers Compensation Information
Department of Workforce Development
Workers Compensation Division
PO Box 7901
Madison WI 53707
(608) 266-3280
(608) 260-2503 (fax)
http://www.dwd.state.wi.us/wc/
UCCs and Tax Liens
CCS/UCC
PO Box 7847
Madison WI 53707
(608) 261-9548
(608) 264-7965 (fax)
www.wdfi.org/
It's always best to call before sending written inquiries in order to obtain exact addressing/ordering information.
Note: Government agencies are continually updating and expanding online access to their records; consequently, this page is continually updated and expanded. Check back for the latest information!
City-County Cross Index
Wisconsin Land Records (Pre-1908)
Adams County
P.O. Box 219
Friendship, WI 53934-0219
(608) 339-4208
Ashland County
Courthouse, Room 206
Ashland, WI 54806
(715) 682-7016
Barron County
330 E. LaSalle Ave.
Barron, WI 54812
(715) 537-6265
Bayfield County
P.O. Box 813
Washburn, WI 54891-0813
(715) 373-6108
Brown County
P.O. Box 23600
Green Bay, WI 54305-3600
(940) 448-4161
Buffalo County
P.O. Box 28
Alma, WI 54610-0028
(608) 685-6212
Burnett County
7410 County Rd. K, Box 103
Siren, WI 54872
(715) 349-2147
Calumet County
206 Court St.
Chilton, WI 53014
(920) 849-1414
Chippewa County
711 N. Bridge
Chippewa Falls, WI 54729
(715) 726-7758
Clark County
P.O. Box 384
Neillsville, WI 54456
(715) 743-5181
Columbia County
P.O. Box 133
Portage, WI 53901
(608) 742-9642
Crawford County
220 N. Beaumont Rd.
Prairie du Chin, WI 53821
(608) 326-0211
Dane County
P.O. Box 1438
Madison, WI 53701-1438
(608) 266-4311
Dodge County
127 E. Oak St.
Juneau, WI 53039-1391
(920) 386-3820
Door County
P.O. Box 670
Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235-0670
(920) 746-2205
Douglas County
1313 Belknap St.
Superior, WI 54880
(715) 395-1240
Dunn County
800 Wilson Ave.
Menomonie, WI 54751
(715) 232-2611
Eau Claire County
P.O. Box 718
Eau Claire, WI 54702-0718
(715) 839-4816
Florence County
P.O. Box 410
Florence, WI 54121-0410
(715) 528-3205
Fond du Lac County
P.O. Box 509
Fond du Lac, WI 54936-0509
(920) 929-3040
Forest County
200 E. Madison
Crandon, WI 54520
(715) 478-3323
Grant County
130 W. Maple St., Box 391
Lancaster, WI 53813
(608) 723-2752
Green County
County Courthouse
1016 16th Ave.
Monroe, WI 53566
(608) 328-9433
Green Lake County
P.O. Box 3188
Green Lake, WI 54941
(920) 294-4142
Iowa County Courthouse
222 N. Iowa St.
Dodgeville, WI 53533
(608) 935-0395
Iron County
300 Taconite St.
Hurley, WI 54534
(715) 561-4084
Jackson County
307 Main St.
Black River Falls, WI 54615
(715) 284-0208
Jefferson County
P.O. Box 356
Jefferson, WI 53549
(920) 674-7150
Juneau County
P.O. Box 100
Mauston, WI 53948
(608) 847-9356
Kenosha County
1010 56th St.
Kenosha, WI 53140
(262) 653-2664
Kewaunee County
613 Dodge St.
Kewaunee, WI 54216
(920) 388-7144
La Crosse County
400 N. 4th St., Room 106
La Crosse, WI 54601
(608) 785-9590
Lafayette County
P.O. Box 40
Darlington, WI 53530
(608) 776-4832
Langlade County
800 Clermont St.
Antigo, WI 54409-1985
(715) 627-6215
Lincoln County
1110 E. Main St.
Merrill, WI 54452
(715) 536-0319
Manitowoc County
P.O. Box 421
Manitowoc, WI 54221-0421
(920) 683-4030
Marathon County
500 Forest St.
Wausau, WI 54403-5568
(715) 261-1300
Marinette County
1926 Hall Ave.
Marinette, WI 54143-1717
(715) 732-7450
Marquette County
P.O. Box 236
Montello, WI 53949
(608) 297-9136
Menominee County
P.O. Box 279
Keshena, WI 54135
(715) 799-3313
Milwaukee County
901 N. 9th St., Room 103
Milwaukee, WI 53233
(414) 278-4120
Monroe County
P.O. Box 195
Sparta, WI 54656-0195
(608) 269-8745
Oconto County
301 Washington St., Courthouse
Oconto, WI 54153
(920) 834-6855
Oneida County
P.O. Box 400
Rhinelander, WI 54501-0400
(715) 369-6120
Outagamie County
410 S. Walnut St.
Appleton, WI 54911
(920) 832-5130
Ozaukee County
P.O. Box 994
Port Washington, WI 53074-0994
(262) 284-8409
Pepin County
P.O. Box 39
Durand, WI 54736
(715) 672-8861
Pierce County
P.O. Box 267
Ellsworth, WI 54011
(715) 273-3531
Polk County
100 Polk County Plaza, Suite 160
Balsam Lake, WI 54810
(715) 485-9299
Portage County
1516 Church St.
Stevens Point, WI 54481
(715) 346-1364
Price County
County Courthouse
126 Church St., Rm. 108
Phillips, WI 54555
(715) 339-2353
Racine County
730 Wisconisin Ave.
Racine, WI 53403-0337
(414) 636-3333
Richland County
P.O. Box 337
Richland Center, WI 53581
(608) 647-3956
Rock County
51 S. Main St.
Janesville, WI 53545
(608) 743-2200
Rusk County
311 Miner Ave.
Ladysmith, WI 54848
(715) 532-2108
Saint Croix County
1101 Carmichael
Hudson, WI 54011
(715) 386-4631
Sauk County
505 Broadway
Baraboo, WI 53913
(608) 355-3287
Sawyer County
P.O. Box 686
Hayward, WI 54843-0686
(715) 634-4887
Shawano County
311 N. Main St., Room 107
Shawano, WI 54166
(715) 526-9347
Sheboygan County
508 New York Ave.
Sheboygan, WI 53081-4126
(920) 459-3068
Taylor County
P.O. Box 403
Medford, WI 54451-0403
(715) 748-1425
Trempealeau County
P.O. Box 67
Whitehall, WI 54773-0067
(715) 538-2311
Vernon County
P.O. Box 46
Viroqua, WI 54665-0046
(608) 637-5340
Vilas County
330 Count St.
Eagle River, WI 54521-0369
(715) 479-3633
Walworth County
P.O. Box 995
Elkhorn, WI 53121-0995
(262) 741-7012
Washburn County
P.O. Box 607
Shell Lake, WI 54871
(715) 468-4677
Washington County
P.O. Box 1986
West Bend, WI 53095-7986
(262) 335-4341
Waukesha County
1320 Pewaukee Rd.
Waukesha, WI 53188
(262) 548-7484
Waupaca County
P.O. Box 307
Waupaca, WI 54981
(715) 258-6460
Waushara County
P.O. Box 339
Wautoma, WI 54982
(920) 787-0441
Winnebago County
P.O. Box 2808
Oshkosh, WI 54903
(920) 236-4848
Wood County
P.O. Box 8095
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54495-8095
(715) 421-8490