Kenosha County
Kenosha County was established in 1850 as part of the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area. It is located in southeastern Wisconsin on the Lake Michigan shoreline. Spanning about 271.8 square miles, the county is home to approximately 168,693 residents. Kenosha, the largest city in the county, serves as the county seat.
Kenosha County's court system comprises the Circuit Courts with jurisdiction over most civil and criminal matters and Municipal Courts, which handle local ordinance violations, traffic offenses, and minor criminal cases. The Circuit Courts typically oversee all criminal cases, including felonies, family law matters such as divorce and child custody, property disputes, civil cases exceeding $10,000, most juvenile cases, and civil equity cases. Probate matters, including wills, estates, guardianships, and all jury trials, are also handled within the Circuit Court. Kenosha County Municipal Courts, including those in Somers, Paddock Lake, and Pleasant Prairie, manage less severe legal issues such as misdemeanors, traffic violations, municipal code infractions, non-jury trials for first-offense drunk driving, and juvenile cases involving truancy, drug offenses, and curfew violations.
Court records are legal documents that contain information on case parties' details, decrees, charges, judgment, and minutes of entry of proceedings in Kenosha County. They are generated from court hearings and trials of civil and criminal cases within the county and maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court. They include:
- Civil Records
- Criminal Records
- Probate Records
- Traffic Records
- Family Records
Certain records, such as those involving juvenile cases, adoptions, and mental health matters, are confidential and not accessible to the public. Public court records can be accessed through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal under the Wisconsin Open Records Law. Requesters can also search Kentucky's CourtNet 2.0 to access Kenosha County court records. In addition, individuals interested in obtaining physical copies of non-exempt court records can contact the Clerk's Office at:
912 56th Street
Kenosha, WI 53140
Phone: (262) 653-2664
