Fond du Lac County
Fond du Lac County was founded in 1836 and named after the French phrase "Fond du Lac," meaning "foot of the lake.†The county spans 720 square miles of land area in east-central Wisconsin and is home to 104,027 residents. The City of Fond du Lac serves as its county seat and largest city.
The court system consists of the Circuit Court and Municipal Courts. Circuit Court judges in the county have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. They preside over family law matters, civil equity cases, felony cases, probate issues, and juvenile cases. The Fond du Lac Circuit Court has a small claims division that handles all illegal eviction cases, arbitrations, forfeitures, replevins, and other monetary disputes involving up to $10,000. All jury trials are held in the county's Circuit Court. On the other hand, the Lakeside Municipal Court, located in the Village of North Fond du Lac, deals with city ordinance violations. It also adjudicates traffic infractions and non-jury trials for first-offense drunk driving.
Public court records in Fond du Lac County are recorded during legal proceedings in the Circuit or Municipal Court. Per Wisconsin Open Records Law, Fond du Lac County court records are public documents that ensure transparency and accountability in the county's judiciary. These records, maintained by Clerk of Courts, contain case summaries, case filings, judgments, and motions. The following are common records for the public court in Fond du Lac County:
- Family law records
- Criminal court records
- Civil records
- Land records
- Probate records
While most records are available to the public, specific documents, such as expunged records, juvenile records, and adoption files, remain restricted to protect privacy. Interested persons can request public court records via phone or locally at:
Fond du Lac County Clerk of the Circuit Court
160 South Macy Street, 2nd Floor
Fond du Lac, WI 54935
Phone: (920) 929-3038
Alternatively, interested parties can access Fond du Lac County public court records online through the Wisconsin Court Case Search. This portal allows users to search by case name or number. While online access is free, obtaining certified copies or physical documents from the clerk's office may come at a fee.
