Vernon County Public Records
How to Find Public Records in Vernon County in 2026
Members of the public seeking government documents may access publicly available information through VernonRecords.us, which aggregates data related to public records maintained by county and state agencies. Vernon County, Wisconsin maintains a broad range of official documents that are accessible to the public through multiple channels, subject to applicable state law. The records available through official sources may include, but are not limited to:
- Court records (civil, criminal, family, and probate)
- Property deeds, mortgages, and land contracts
- Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce)
- Tax and parcel assessment records
- Law enforcement incident reports and arrest logs
- Business licenses and permits
- County board meeting minutes and agendas
- Zoning and land use documents
Records may be searched through official court resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools maintained by county and state agencies.
Online Access: The Wisconsin Court System provides a statewide circuit court case search portal through which members of the public may search civil, criminal, family, and probate cases filed in Vernon County Circuit Court. The Vernon County Register of Deeds maintains real estate and land records including deeds, mortgages, and liens. Property tax and parcel data are accessible through the Vernon County tax and parcel search tool. No registration is required to use these public portals.
In-Person Requests: Members of the public may visit the relevant county office during regular business hours. The Vernon County Courthouse is located at 400 Courthouse Square, Viroqua, WI 54665. Requestors should identify the specific record type sought and the approximate date range to facilitate retrieval.
Written/Mail Requests: Written requests must include the requestor's name, contact information, a description of the records sought, and the preferred format for delivery. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35, custodians are required to respond to written requests as soon as practicable and without delay.
Phone/Email:
- Vernon County Clerk: (608) 637-5380
- Vernon County Sheriff's Office Records: (608) 637-3101
- Vernon County Register of Deeds: (608) 637-5370
Members of the public may submit law enforcement record requests using the official record request form available on the Sheriff's Office website.
What Are Public Records in Vernon County?
Public records in Vernon County are defined under Wisconsin's open records law as any material on which written, drawn, printed, spoken, visual, or electromagnetic information is recorded or preserved, regardless of physical form or characteristics, that has been created or is being kept by a government authority. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.32, a "record" includes any document, paper, letter, map, book, tape, photograph, film, or other documentary material.
The following record types are maintained by Vernon County offices:
| Record Type | Maintaining Office |
|---|---|
| Civil, criminal, probate, family court records | Vernon County Circuit Court / Clerk of Courts |
| Property deeds, mortgages, liens | Register of Deeds |
| Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) | Register of Deeds / State Vital Records |
| Tax and parcel assessment records | County Treasurer / Assessor |
| Law enforcement records | Sheriff's Office |
| Business licenses and permits | County Clerk |
| Meeting minutes and agendas | County Clerk |
| Zoning and land use records | Planning and Zoning Department |
The Vernon County Clerk of Courts serves as the administrative link between the judiciary, county boards, and the public, maintaining all court filings and case documents for the circuit court.
Is Vernon County an Open Records County?
Vernon County fully complies with Wisconsin's statewide open records law, which mandates public access to government records held by all state and local authorities. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.31, the Wisconsin Legislature has declared that "the public is entitled to the greatest possible information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those officers and employees who represent them." This declaration establishes a strong presumption in favor of disclosure for all records maintained by county offices.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice, which oversees open records compliance statewide, has stated: "The legal custodian shall permit inspection of any record that is not specifically exempted from disclosure by state or federal law." This standard applies to all departments within Vernon County government, including the Sheriff's Office, Register of Deeds, Clerk of Courts, and County Clerk.
Vernon County does not maintain a separate county-level open records ordinance that supersedes state law. All public records requests are processed in accordance with the Wisconsin Public Records Law, codified at Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39. The county's compliance with Wisconsin's sunshine laws ensures that meeting minutes, financial documents, and administrative records remain accessible to the public upon request.
How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Vernon County?
The fee structure for public records in Vernon County is governed by state statute and varies by record type and the office maintaining the record. Under Wisconsin law, fees charged for public records must be limited to the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction and transcription.
Standard Fee Schedule:
| Fee Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Photocopies (black and white, letter/legal size) | $0.25 per page (standard) |
| Certified copies of court records | Varies by document type |
| Certified copies of vital records (birth, death, marriage) | $20.00 per copy (state fee) |
| Electronic record copies | Actual cost of reproduction |
| Search fees | Not permitted unless authorized by specific statute |
- Inspection of records is available at no charge at the relevant county office.
- Fees for certified copies of real estate documents are set by the Register of Deeds and reflect actual reproduction costs.
- The Vernon County Sheriff's Office may charge fees for incident reports and other law enforcement records consistent with state guidelines.
- Accepted payment methods at county offices include cash, check, and money order; individual offices may also accept credit or debit cards.
- Fee waivers are not broadly mandated under Wisconsin law, though individual custodians retain discretion to reduce or waive fees in appropriate circumstances.
Does Vernon County Have Free Public Records?
Free inspection of public records is available at Vernon County government offices during regular business hours. Wisconsin law requires that custodians permit inspection of non-exempt records without charge; fees apply only when copies or certified documents are requested.
The following resources provide free access to Vernon County public records:
- The Wisconsin circuit court case search portal allows free online searching of court case information statewide, including Vernon County Circuit Court cases.
- The Vernon County Treasurer's Office provides free access to property tax and parcel data through its online search tool.
- The Vernon County Register of Deeds permits in-person inspection of real estate records at no cost.
- The Vernon County Clerk of Courts office provides public access terminals at the courthouse for in-person review of court records.
Members of the public should note that free inspection differs from free copies. Viewing a record in person at a county office carries no fee, while obtaining a printed or certified copy is subject to the applicable fee schedule.
Who Can Request Public Records in Vernon County?
Any person may request public records in Vernon County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Wisconsin's open records law does not restrict access based on the requestor's identity or the reason for the request. Members of the public, businesses, researchers, journalists, and non-residents all hold equal standing to submit records requests under state law.
Specific provisions regarding requestor eligibility include:
- Residency: Requestors are not required to be Wisconsin residents or Vernon County residents.
- Identification: Custodians may not require requestors to identify themselves as a condition of access to public records, except where a specific statute authorizes such a requirement.
- Purpose: Requestors are not required to state the purpose of their request for most record types.
- 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: Some records, such as juvenile court records, adoption records, and sealed court files, are restricted by statute regardless of the requestor's identity.
Non-residents retain the same rights as residents under Wisconsin's open records framework. Certain sensitive record categories, including records protected under federal privacy law, may require the requestor to demonstrate a qualifying interest or provide written authorization.
What Records Are Confidential in Vernon County?
Not all government records in Vernon County are subject to public disclosure. Wisconsin law identifies specific categories of records that are exempt from the general presumption of openness. The following records are currently withheld from public access under applicable state and federal law:
- Sealed court records: Records sealed by judicial order are not accessible to the public.
- Juvenile records: Records pertaining to juveniles in delinquency or child welfare proceedings are confidential under Wis. Stat. § 938.396.
- Ongoing criminal investigation records: Records compiled as part of an active law enforcement investigation 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 disclosed records.
- Medical and health records: Records protected under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) are not subject to public disclosure.
- Adoption records: Adoption files are sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances.
- Child welfare and protective services records: Records maintained by child protective services are confidential.
- Personnel records: Employee personnel files are exempt from disclosure, with limited exceptions for records related to official misconduct.
- Trade secrets and proprietary business information: Commercially sensitive information submitted to the county in a regulatory context may be withheld.
- Security plans and critical infrastructure details: Records that could compromise public safety or security infrastructure are exempt.
Wisconsin's open records exemptions are codified throughout Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39 and in numerous subject-specific statutes. When a custodian withholds a record, the custodian must provide a written explanation citing the specific legal basis for the denial. Wisconsin law applies a balancing test in cases where the public interest in disclosure may outweigh the interest in confidentiality, as affirmed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court in multiple decisions interpreting the open records framework.
Vernon County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours
Vernon County Register of Deeds
400 Courthouse Square, Room 110
Viroqua, WI 54665
(608) 637-5370
Vernon County Register of Deeds
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Closed on state and federal holidays.
Vernon County Clerk of Courts
400 Courthouse Square
Viroqua, WI 54665
(608) 637-5340
Vernon County Circuit Court and Clerk of Courts
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Vernon County Sheriff's Office – Records Division
1320 Bad Axe Court
Viroqua, WI 54665
(608) 637-3101
Vernon County Sheriff's Office Record Requests
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Vernon County Treasurer's Office
400 Courthouse Square
Viroqua, WI 54665
(608) 637-5375
Vernon County Tax and Parcel Search
Office Hours:
Monday – Friday: 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
As the Wisconsin Court System notes, "Clerks of court provide an administrative link between the judiciary, the county boards and the public," making the Clerk of Courts office a primary point of contact for members of the public seeking court-related documents in Vernon County.