Winnebago County
Winnebago County was established in 1848 by European American settlers. The County's name comes from the Winnebago people residing in the area. It comes from an Algonquian word to mean ‘people welling by fetid waters.' Winnebago County has a population of 170,718, covering an area of 434.7 square miles. The main economic activities in the County are motor vehicle manufacturing, company management, and eateries.
Winnebago County is under the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II. Winnebago County Circuit Court is also one of 72 circuit courts in the state. The 4th District Circuit Court and a Municipal Court serve residents. There is one County Circuit Court and four Municipal Courts. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin also has jurisdiction in Winnebago. Appeals from the Eastern District would be redirected to the United States Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit. The district court presides over the criminal and criminal cases, while the misdemeanor courts handle traffic infractions, family law, or small claims cases.
Court records are documents that are generated during case proceedings. These are decrees, pleas, opening statements, dockets, court orders, witness testimonies, evidence, and judgments. Court records are open to public viewing in Wisconsin with the provision that they are not restricted or deemed confidential. For example, juvenile cases, domestic relations, and mental health cases are not accessible to many interested parties. Court records in Winnebago County are stored by the Clerk of the courts. Requesters can obtain these records by making queries in person or via a written request with the names of the plaintiff or defendant.
The Clerk of the courts provides access to the following types of cases
- Criminal Cases
- Civil Cases
- Probate Cases
- Traffic Cases
- Small Claims Cases
It is also possible to request online copies of court records in Winnebago County using the Clerk of the Courts site. Parties are issued a one-time fee of $20. The requesters can opt in as eFiling participants after creating an account.
