Clark County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Clark County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Clark County, Wisconsin may access publicly available case information through several official channels. ClarkWIRecords.us provides a directory of resources related to court records and related public information for Clark County. Depending on the case type and its current status, records may include criminal case filings, civil judgments, family court orders, probate proceedings, traffic citations, and small claims dispositions. Access to specific documents may vary based on case type, filing date, and applicable confidentiality rules under Wisconsin law.
Court records in Clark County may be searched through the following methods:
1. Clerk of Court Office The Clark County Clerk of Courts maintains the official record of all proceedings before the Clark County Circuit Court. Members of the public may visit the office in person to request case files, docket entries, and filed documents. Staff can assist with locating records by case number, party name, or filing date.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Clark County Courthouse for in-person case searches. These terminals provide access to the statewide Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) system at no charge during regular courthouse hours.
3. Online Court Search The Wisconsin Court System case search portal allows members of the public to search circuit court records statewide, including Clark County, by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal provides docket-level information and is available at no cost.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Wisconsin Court System maintains appellate and Supreme Court records in addition to circuit court data. Opinions, orders, and appellate case information are accessible through the statewide judicial website.
5. Written or Mail Requests Members of the public who are unable to appear in person may submit written requests to the Clerk of Courts office. Requests should include the case number or party name, the type of record sought, and a return address. Fees for copies apply and are established under Wisconsin court fee schedules.
Are Court Records Public In Clark County
Court records in Clark County are public records under current Wisconsin law. Wisconsin Statute § 19.35 establishes the right of any person to inspect public records maintained by government entities, including court records. The Clark County Circuit Court operates under this framework, making the following categories of information available to the public:
- Case docket entries and hearing schedules
- Party names (plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents)
- Filing dates and case type designations
- Court orders, judgments, and final dispositions
- Motions, complaints, and other filed pleadings not subject to sealing
Certain records are confidential, sealed, or restricted under Wisconsin law and court rules. These include:
- Juvenile court records, which are protected under Wisconsin Statute § 938.396
- Adoption records and related proceedings
- Mental health commitment records in certain circumstances
- Records sealed by court order
- Expunged criminal records
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While docket-level information is available through the statewide case search portal, full document images are not always accessible online. Physical case files containing complete pleadings and exhibits are available for inspection at the Clerk of Courts office during regular business hours.
What Are Court Records in Clark County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In Clark County, the Clerk of Courts is the custodian of all records generated by the Clark County Circuit Court, which is the trial court of general jurisdiction for the county.
The distinction between record types is significant for access purposes:
- Docket entries are the chronological log of events in a case, including filings, hearings, and orders. They serve as the index to the full case file.
- Full case files contain the actual documents filed by parties and the court, including pleadings, motions, exhibits, and orders.
- Civil court records document disputes between private parties, including contract claims, property matters, and family law proceedings.
- Criminal court records document the prosecution of offenses, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentencing.
- Filed pleadings are the initial and responsive documents submitted by parties. Final judgments are the court's conclusive rulings resolving the case.
- Public filings are accessible to any member of the public. Sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public inspection by court order or statute.
- Trial court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the county level. Appellate records are maintained by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and the Wisconsin Supreme Court through the Wisconsin Court System.
Court records are created at the moment of filing and are updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, motions, and rulings, through final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
What's Included in a Clark County Court Record?
A Clark County court record may contain the following information, depending on case type and applicable public-access rules:
- Case identification: case number, court name, division, and filing date
- Party information: names of plaintiffs, defendants, petitioners, respondents, and attorneys of record
- Case classification: case type (civil, criminal, family, probate, traffic, small claims) and current status
- Docket entries: a chronological log of all filings, hearings, continuances, and court actions
- Hearing information: scheduled and past hearing dates, courtroom assignments, and continuance records
- Filed documents: complaints, petitions, answers, motions, briefs, notices, stipulations, and similar pleadings
- Court orders and judgments: temporary orders, final judgments, decrees, sentencing entries, custody rulings, probate orders, and appellate decisions
- Outcome information: dismissals, verdicts, pleas, convictions, acquittals, and case dispositions
- Financial and administrative data: filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
The following categories are commonly excluded or restricted from public access:
- Sealed filings and documents subject to protective orders
- Expunged criminal records
- Juvenile case files
- Adoption records
- Protected personal data including Social Security numbers and financial identifiers
- Certain exhibits containing sensitive personal information
Types of Courts in Clark County
Clark County is served by the Clark County Circuit Court, which is the trial court of general jurisdiction under the Wisconsin unified court system. The Clark County Circuit Court is part of the 6th Judicial District and currently has two circuit court judges. According to the Wisconsin Court System's listing of circuit court judges, Clark County is presided over by Hon. William Bratcher and Hon. Lyndsey Brunette.
The Clerk of Courts maintains the official record for all circuit court proceedings. Municipal courts, where established by individual municipalities within Clark County, handle local ordinance violations and certain traffic matters at the local level. Records from municipal courts are maintained separately by the respective municipal clerk.
What Types of Cases Do Clark County Courts Hear
The Clark County Circuit Court is a court of general jurisdiction and hears the following categories of cases:
- Criminal: felony and misdemeanor prosecutions
- Civil: contract disputes, personal injury, property matters, and other civil claims
- Family: divorce, legal separation, paternity, child custody, and support proceedings
- Probate: estate administration, guardianship, and conservatorship matters
- Juvenile: delinquency, child in need of protection or services (CHIPS), and related proceedings
- Traffic: state traffic violations and related matters
- Small claims: civil disputes involving limited monetary amounts
- Landlord-tenant: eviction and related housing matters
The circuit court exercises both limited and general jurisdiction depending on the matter. Small claims proceedings involve a jurisdictional monetary cap established under Wisconsin law. Appeals from the Clark County Circuit Court are heard by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and, in certain circumstances, the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Clark County Clerk of Courts
517 Court Street, Room 303
Neillsville, WI 54456
Phone: (715) 743-2208
Clerk of Courts | Clark County WI
How to Search Clark County Court Records for Free?
Members of the public may inspect court records at no charge through in-person review at the Clerk of Courts office and through free online tools. The following methods are available at no cost:
- In-person inspection: Any member of the public may inspect case files at the Clerk of Courts office during regular business hours without charge.
- Online case search: The Wisconsin Court System case search portal provides free access to docket-level information for circuit court cases statewide, including Clark County.
- Courthouse public terminals: Public access terminals at the Clark County Courthouse provide free access to the WCCA system during courthouse hours.
The following services involve fees:
| Service | Approximate Cost |
|---|---|
| Paper copies of court documents | $1.25 per page (standard) |
| Certified copies of court records | $5.00 per document plus copy fees |
| Electronic copies (where available) | Varies by request |
| Research by clerk staff | May apply for extensive requests |
Fee schedules for Wisconsin circuit courts are established under Wisconsin Statute § 814.61, which governs clerk of court fees in civil actions. Members of the public seeking copies should confirm current fees directly with the Clerk of Courts office, as fee schedules are subject to legislative revision.
How Long Does Clark County Keep Court Records?
Retention periods for Clark County court records are governed by the Wisconsin Public Records Board's retention schedules and applicable judicial records management rules. Retention varies by case type and record category:
- Criminal felony records: retained permanently in most circumstances
- Criminal misdemeanor records: retained for extended periods, with some categories subject to destruction after a defined number of years following case closure
- Civil case files: retention periods vary based on the nature of the claim and the amount in controversy
- Probate records: wills and estate records are retained permanently in many jurisdictions
- Family court records: orders affecting custody and support are retained for extended periods
- Traffic and forfeiture records: subject to shorter retention schedules
- Docket books and minute records: retained permanently as the official record of court proceedings
Paper case files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the record has been preserved in an approved format. Destruction of a physical file does not constitute expungement or sealing; the record remains accessible in its preserved form. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, or county and state archives, and retrieval of such records may require additional processing time.
Expungement, where granted under Wisconsin law, results in the sealing of a record from public access and is distinct from routine destruction under a retention schedule. Sealed records are withheld from public inspection but are not necessarily destroyed.
How To Find a Court Docket in Clark County
A court docket is the official chronological log of all actions taken in a case, distinct from the full case file. The docket records each filing, hearing, order, and status change from the date of filing through final disposition. It functions as the index to the complete case record and does not itself contain the text of filed documents.
Members of the public may locate a Clark County court docket through the following methods:
- Wisconsin Court System case search: The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal provides docket-level information for Clark County circuit court cases. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal displays docket entries, hearing dates, case status, and party information.
- Clerk of Courts office: Staff at the Clark County Clerk of Courts can retrieve docket information for any case upon request. In-person requests may be made during regular business hours.
- Courthouse public terminals: Public terminals at the courthouse provide direct access to the WCCA system for docket searches.
To locate a docket using the online portal, a member of the public should navigate to the case search tool, select the circuit court search option, enter the county as Clark, and input either the party's name or the case number. The system returns a list of matching cases with docket entries displayed in chronological order.
A court docket at present contains hearing dates and continuances, motion filings and responses, minute entries from court proceedings, status updates, and references to orders and judgments. A docket does not include the full text of filed documents, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits that are restricted from public access. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be available separately through the Clerk of Courts office or posted at the courthouse.
As noted by the Clark County Clerk of Courts, the office's goal is to "provide prompt and efficient service to the public and all" parties appearing before the circuit court, consistent with the court's obligation to maintain an accurate and accessible record of all proceedings.