Dodge County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Dodge County?

Public records in Dodge County, Wisconsin, are defined under Wis. Stat. § 19.32 as any record created or maintained by a government authority in the course of conducting public business, regardless of the medium in which the record is stored. Members of the public may access a broad range of documents held by county offices, courts, and state agencies operating within Dodge County.

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

Court records — Civil, criminal, probate, and family court case files are maintained by the Dodge County Circuit Court and accessible through the Wisconsin Court System
Property records — Deeds, mortgages, liens, and property assessments are held by the Dodge County Register of Deeds
Vital records — Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued through the Dodge County Clerk and the Wisconsin Vital Records Office
Business records — Licenses, permits, and fictitious name registrations are maintained by the Dodge County Clerk and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Tax records — Property tax and assessment records are held by the Dodge County Treasurer and Assessor's offices
Voting and election records — Maintained by the Dodge County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas — County board and committee records are available through the Dodge County Clerk's office
Budget and financial documents — Maintained by the Dodge County Finance Department
Law enforcement records — Arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law, are available through the Dodge County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — Maintained by the Dodge County Planning and Development Department

Is Dodge County an Open Records County?

Dodge County fully complies with Wisconsin's open records law, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government records. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.31, the legislature declares that providing the public with the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government is an essential function of a representative government. This statute further states that all persons are entitled to the greatest possible information regarding government affairs and the official acts of public officers and employees.

Key provisions of Wisconsin's open records law currently in effect include:

Any requester may inspect or copy records held by a government authority without being required to state a reason for the request
Government authorities must respond to records requests promptly and without delay
Denial of a records request must be made in writing and must cite the specific legal basis for the denial
The law applies to all state and local government bodies, including Dodge County departments, boards, and commissions

Dodge County does not maintain a separate county-specific open records ordinance that supersedes state law; all county offices operate in compliance with the Wisconsin Public Records Law as codified in Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39.

How to Find Public Records in Dodge County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Dodge County public records through several channels, depending on the record type sought. The following steps outline the current process for submitting a records request:

Identify the custodial office — Determine which Dodge County department or agency maintains the record being sought. Court records are held by the Circuit Court; property and vital records are held by the Register of Deeds or County Clerk; law enforcement records are held by the Sheriff's Office.
Submit a written request — Although oral requests are permitted under state law, submitting a written request is recommended to create a clear record of the inquiry. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the appropriate office.
Use online search tools — Members of the public may conduct a Wisconsin court case search to locate circuit court records online at no charge. Standard circuit court forms for filing and records requests are available through the Wisconsin Court System website.
Visit the Dodge County Circuit Court — In-person inspection of court records is available at the courthouse during regular business hours. Information on judges and case records is available through the Dodge County Courts page.
Allow for response time — Under current law, the records custodian must respond as soon as practicable and without delay. Complex requests involving large volumes of records may require additional processing time.

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

Standard fees for public records in Dodge County are governed by Wisconsin law and the policies of each individual records custodian. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3), a requester may be charged for the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction and, in certain circumstances, for the cost of locating the record.

Current fees applicable to Dodge County public records include:

Paper copies — Fees are typically assessed per page; rates vary by office but commonly range from $0.10 to $0.25 per page for standard documents
Certified copies — Vital records such as birth and death certificates carry a statutory fee set by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services; the current fee for a certified copy of a vital record is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy ordered at the same time
Register of Deeds copies — Fees for recorded documents are set by state statute and are currently $2.00 per page
Electronic records — Where records are provided in electronic format, fees may reflect the actual cost of reproduction
Research fees — Some offices may assess a fee for staff time required to locate records when the search exceeds a reasonable threshold

Accepted payment methods vary by office and may include cash, check, money order, or credit card. Fee waivers are not broadly established under Wisconsin's open records law, though individual custodians retain discretion to reduce or waive fees in appropriate circumstances.

Does Dodge County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available to members of the public under Wisconsin law. Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(a) provides that any person has a right to inspect any record, and no fee may be charged for inspection alone. The following free resources are currently available:

In-person inspection — Members of the public may inspect records at the offices of the Dodge County Clerk, Register of Deeds, Circuit Court, and other county departments at no charge during regular business hours
Online court records — The Wisconsin Court System provides free online access to circuit court case information through its public case search portal
County website resources — Meeting minutes, agendas, budgets, and other public documents are posted on the Dodge County official website at no charge
Wisconsin Vital Records — General information about vital records and the process for obtaining them is available at no cost through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services vital records portal

Who Can Request Public Records in Dodge County?

Any person may request public records in Dodge County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Wisconsin's open records law does not restrict access based on the requester's identity or affiliation. Under current law, the following principles apply:

Residency — Requesters are not required to be Wisconsin residents or Dodge County residents to access public records
Identification — Requesters are generally not required to provide identification when submitting a records request, unless the record sought is restricted to specific individuals (such as certain vital records)
Purpose — Requesters are not required to state a reason for their request; however, providing context may assist the records custodian in locating the correct documents
Requesting your own records — Individuals seeking records about themselves may be entitled to access records that are otherwise restricted to third parties, such as certain law enforcement or personnel records
Restrictions for specific record types — Certified copies of vital records are subject to eligibility requirements under Wisconsin law; only individuals with a direct and tangible interest, such as the subject of the record or an immediate family member, may obtain certified copies

What Records Are Confidential in Dodge County?

Certain categories of records are exempt from public disclosure under Wisconsin law. The following records are currently withheld from general public access in Dodge County:

Sealed court records — Records sealed by court order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — Records pertaining to juveniles in delinquency or child welfare proceedings are confidential under Wisconsin statutes
Ongoing investigation records — Law enforcement records related to active investigations may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released records
Medical records — Protected under both Wisconsin law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — Adoption files are sealed and accessible only under specific statutory conditions
Child welfare and protective services records — Records maintained by child protective services are confidential
Personnel records — Employee records are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for certain public officials
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — Submitted to government agencies under a claim of confidentiality
Security plans and infrastructure details — Records that could compromise public safety or critical infrastructure

Under Wis. Stat. § 19.36, specific categories of records are designated as exempt from mandatory disclosure. Wisconsin courts apply a balancing test when evaluating whether a record should be withheld, weighing the public interest in disclosure against the harm that disclosure may cause.

Dodge County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Dodge County Register of Deeds serves as the primary custodian of property and land records in Dodge County. The Dodge County Clerk maintains vital records, election records, and county board documents. The Dodge County Circuit Court maintains all court case records.

Dodge County Register of Deeds 127 E. Oak St., Juneau, WI 53039 (920) 386-3570 Dodge County Register of Deeds Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Dodge County Clerk 127 E. Oak St., Juneau, WI 53039 (920) 386-3600 Dodge County Clerk Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Dodge County Circuit Court 210 W. Center St., Juneau, WI 53039 (920) 386-3570 Dodge County Circuit Court Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Dodge County Sheriff's Office 235 W. Center St., Juneau, WI 53039 (920) 386-3726 Dodge County Sheriff's Office

Wisconsin Vital Records Office 1 W. Wilson St., Madison, WI 53703 (608) 266-1373 Wisconsin Department of Health Services – Vital Records Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.