Grant County Public Records /Grant County Court Records

Grant County Court Records

What Is Grant County Court Records

Court records in Grant County, Wisconsin, are the official documentary materials generated, received, or maintained by the judicial branch in connection with legal proceedings. These records constitute the formal written history of a case from initiation through final disposition and any subsequent post-judgment activity.

Court records encompass a broad range of document types, including:

Case files — the complete collection of documents filed in a specific matter
Dockets — chronological indexes of all filings and proceedings in a case
Pleadings — complaints, answers, counterclaims, and other initiating documents
Motions and supporting briefs — written requests submitted to the court for rulings
Orders and judgments — official decisions issued by the presiding judge
Transcripts — verbatim written records of oral proceedings
Exhibits — physical or documentary evidence admitted during hearings or trials
Sentencing records — documents reflecting the penalties imposed in criminal matters
Warrants and summonses — process documents directing appearance or action

Court records are distinct from other categories of public records maintained at the county level. Property records, for example, are held by the Grant County Register of Deeds, while vital records such as birth and death certificates are maintained by the Register of Deeds and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Court records are exclusively the product of judicial proceedings.

In Grant County, court records are maintained across several judicial bodies, including the Grant County Circuit Court (which operates two branches), the Grant County Municipal Court, and, for appellate matters, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and the Wisconsin Supreme Court. These courts handle civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, and small claims matters. Under Wisconsin Statutes § 59.20, the clerk of circuit court is designated as the official custodian of all circuit court records within the county.

Are Court Records Public In Grant County

Court records in Grant County are presumptively open to the public under Wisconsin law. The Wisconsin Open Records Law, Wis. Stat. § 19.31–19.39, establishes a strong public policy favoring access to government records, including judicial records. The law declares that providing the public with the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government is an essential function of a representative government.

The following categories of court records are generally available for public inspection:

Most civil case files, including pleadings, motions, and judgments
Criminal case files following the filing of formal charges
Docket sheets and case indexes
Final orders and judgments in all case types
Hearing and trial schedules
Probate inventories and orders
Small claims filings and dispositions

Members of the public should note that Wisconsin's circuit courts are state courts, not federal courts. Federal court records for cases arising in Wisconsin are maintained by the U.S. District Courts and are accessible through the federal PACER system, which operates independently of the state court system. The Wisconsin Court System administers access to state-level records under the authority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and its administrative rules.

Certain records are exempt from public disclosure under state law, including juvenile court records, certain mental health commitment records, records sealed by court order, and victim identifying information in sensitive cases. These exemptions are narrowly construed in accordance with the presumption of openness established by § 19.35 of the Wisconsin Statutes.

How To Find Court Records in Grant County in 2026

Members of the public seeking court records in Grant County may access them through several official channels. The primary methods currently available are as follows:

In-Person Inspection at the Clerk of Circuit Court Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the Grant County Courthouse during regular business hours. Staff at the clerk's office can assist in locating case files by party name, case number, or filing date. Copies may be requested for a per-page fee established by state statute.

Online Search via the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access Portal The Wisconsin Court System maintains a statewide electronic case management system. Members of the public may use the case search portal to search circuit court records by name, case number, or citation number without charge.

Written or Electronic Records Requests Requests for certified copies or records not available online may be submitted in writing to the Clerk of Circuit Court. The Grant County – Wisconsin official website provides information on submitting open records requests.

Steps for In-Person Access:

Visit the Grant County Courthouse Clerk of Circuit Court office during public counter hours (Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
Provide the full name of a party, case number, or approximate filing date
Review the case file at the public access terminal or request staff assistance
Request paper copies if needed; fees apply per page as set by county schedule

How To Look Up Court Records in Grant County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Grant County court records, depending on the court level and case type.

Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) The primary portal for Grant County circuit court records is the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access system. Members of the public may search civil, criminal, family, probate, small claims, and traffic cases filed in Grant County Circuit Court. The portal includes case summaries, party information, charge details, and disposition data. Access is available through the Wisconsin Court System case search.

Search steps:

Navigate to the WCCA portal
Select "Circuit Court" as the court type
Enter the party's last name, first name, or case number
Select "Grant" from the county dropdown menu
Review the list of matching cases and select the relevant matter
View available case details, docket entries, and document summaries

Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals For appellate-level records, members of the public may use the WSCCA case search to access records from the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, including opinions, orders, and briefs.

Wisconsin Law Library Court Records Directory The Wisconsin Court Records resource maintained by the Wisconsin State Law Library provides a comprehensive directory of circuit court dockets, recent opinions, and guidance on locating records across all Wisconsin counties, including Grant County.

How To Search Grant County Court Records for Free?

State law currently guarantees the right of any person to inspect public records without charge. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1), any requester has the right to inspect any record that is not specifically exempted from disclosure, and no fee may be charged for mere inspection of records. Fees may be assessed only for the actual cost of reproduction when copies are requested.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) — Free online search of Grant County circuit court case summaries, docket entries, and party information via the Wisconsin Court System
WSCCA Portal — Free access to Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals records through the WSCCA case search
In-person inspection — Members of the public may inspect physical case files at the Clerk of Circuit Court office at no charge
Wisconsin Law Library — Free research guidance and links to court records through the Wisconsin Court Records directory

Fees are assessed for certified copies, paper reproductions, and certain electronic document downloads, as authorized by the clerk's fee schedule.

What's Included in a Grant County Court Record?

The contents of a court record vary by case type, but Grant County court records generally include the following components:

Civil Case Records:

Complaint and summons
Defendant's answer and any counterclaims
Motions, responses, and supporting memoranda
Discovery-related filings (where entered into the record)
Court orders and rulings
Final judgment and any post-judgment motions

Criminal Case Records:

Criminal complaint and information or indictment
Arrest warrant and bail/bond documents
Plea documents and plea agreements
Pre-sentence investigation reports (subject to access restrictions)
Sentencing orders and conditions of supervision
Probation or parole-related orders

Family Court Records:

Petition for divorce, legal separation, or paternity
Financial disclosure statements
Custody and placement orders
Child support orders and modifications
Final judgment of divorce or paternity

Probate Records:

Petition for administration of estate
Inventory of assets
Claims against the estate
Orders of distribution
Final decree closing the estate

Small Claims and Traffic Records:

Complaint or citation
Judgment or default judgment
Payment records and satisfaction of judgment

How Long Does Grant County Keep Court Records?

Grant County Circuit Court retains records in accordance with the retention schedules established by the Wisconsin Public Records Board and the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Retention periods vary by case type and document category.

Current general retention periods include:

Felony criminal cases — Permanent retention for judgment and sentencing records; case files retained for a minimum of 75 years
Misdemeanor criminal cases — Retained for a minimum of 20 years following case closure
Civil cases — General civil case files retained for a minimum of 10 years after final disposition
Family court cases (divorce, custody) — Retained permanently or for a minimum of 75 years due to ongoing enforceability of orders
Probate records — Retained permanently
Small claims — Retained for a minimum of 10 years
Traffic cases — Retained for a minimum of 5 to 7 years depending on offense severity

These schedules are established pursuant to authority granted under Wisconsin administrative rules and the directives of the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Wisconsin Public Records Board oversees compliance with retention mandates across all government entities in the state.

Types of Courts In Grant County

Grant County is served by a structured hierarchy of courts operating under the authority of the Wisconsin Court System. The judicial hierarchy proceeds from municipal courts at the local level through the circuit court, then to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, and finally to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Grant County Circuit Court (Branch 1 and Branch 2) The Grant County Circuit Court is the court of general jurisdiction for the county and handles the full range of civil, criminal, family, probate, juvenile, and traffic matters. The court currently operates two branches.

Grant County Clerk of Circuit Court
130 W. Maple Street, Lancaster, WI 53813
(608) 723-2675
Grant County – Wisconsin

Public counter hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Grant County Municipal Court Municipal courts in Wisconsin have limited jurisdiction over municipal ordinance violations. Individual municipalities within Grant County, such as the City of Platteville, may operate their own municipal courts.

City of Platteville Municipal Court
75 N. Bonson Street, Platteville, WI 53818
(608) 348-9741

Wisconsin Court of Appeals (District IV) The Court of Appeals reviews decisions of circuit courts in Grant County. District IV covers southwestern Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Court of Appeals – District IV
110 E. Main Street, Suite 215, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-9250
Wisconsin Court System

Wisconsin Supreme Court The Wisconsin Supreme Court is the court of last resort for all matters arising in Grant County and throughout the state.

Wisconsin Supreme Court
110 E. Main Street, Madison, WI 53703
(608) 266-1880
Wisconsin Court System

What Types of Cases Do Grant County Courts Hear?

Each court within Grant County's judicial structure handles a defined category of matters.

Grant County Circuit Court hears the following:

Felony and misdemeanor criminal cases
Civil disputes involving monetary claims of any amount
Family law matters including divorce, legal separation, paternity, and child custody
Juvenile delinquency and child in need of protection or services (CHIPS) cases
Probate and estate administration
Mental health commitment proceedings
Small claims cases (claims up to $10,000)
Traffic and ordinance violations referred from municipal courts

Grant County Municipal Court hears:

Municipal ordinance violations
Local traffic citations
Forfeiture actions for code violations

Wisconsin Court of Appeals (District IV) hears:

Appeals from Grant County Circuit Court decisions in civil and criminal matters
Interlocutory appeals where permitted by rule

Wisconsin Supreme Court hears:

Discretionary review of Court of Appeals decisions
Cases involving significant questions of law or constitutional issues
Original actions in limited circumstances

How To Find a Court Docket In Grant County

A court docket is the official chronological record of all filings, hearings, and proceedings in a specific case. Members of the public may locate Grant County court dockets through the following methods.

Online via WCCA: The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal provides docket information for most Grant County circuit court cases. Users may search by party name or case number through the Wisconsin Court System case search. Docket entries are available for cases filed from approximately 1994 to the present, as noted in the Wisconsin Court Records directory maintained by the Wisconsin State Law Library.

In-Person at the Clerk's Office: Members of the public may request docket sheets directly from the Grant County Clerk of Circuit Court. Staff can print or provide access to the docket for any case on file.

Steps to search a docket online:

Access the WCCA portal through the Wisconsin Court System website
Enter the party name or case number in the search fields
Select "Grant" as the county
Open the case summary to view the full docket of filings and proceedings
Select individual docket entries to view available document details

For appellate dockets, members of the public may use the WSCCA case search to locate docket information for matters before the Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals.

Which Courts in Grant County Are Not Courts of Record?

A court of record is a court whose proceedings are officially documented and preserved, whose acts and judicial proceedings are enrolled in permanent records, and which has the authority to fine or imprison for contempt. Courts not of record, by contrast, do not maintain a verbatim transcript of proceedings as a matter of course and have more limited jurisdiction and authority.

In Wisconsin, municipal courts are generally considered courts not of record. Under Wis. Stat. § 755.01, municipal courts are established by municipalities to adjudicate violations of local ordinances and are not courts of record in the same manner as circuit courts. Proceedings in municipal court are not transcribed verbatim, and appeals from municipal court are heard de novo (as new trials) in the circuit court, meaning the circuit court does not review a transcript but instead conducts a fresh hearing.

In Grant County, any municipal court operating within a municipality — such as the City of Platteville Municipal Court — falls within this category. The Grant County Circuit Court, by contrast, is a court of record under Wisconsin law, and all proceedings before it are subject to official transcription and permanent retention.