Kewaunee County Court Records
How To Find Court Records in Kewaunee County in 2026
Members of the public seeking court records in Kewaunee County may access publicly available case information through several official channels, including the Clerk of Court's office, courthouse public terminals, and statewide judicial search tools. KewauneeRecords.us provides access to publicly available information that may relate to court records and related case data maintained by government agencies. The information available through such resources may include, depending on case type and applicable access rules:
- Criminal case filings and dispositions
- Civil complaints, judgments, and orders
- Family court matters, including divorce and custody proceedings
- Probate filings and estate records
- Traffic citations and municipal court dispositions
- Small claims filings and judgments
Court records in Kewaunee County may be searched through five primary methods:
1. Clerk of Court or Court Records Office The Kewaunee County Clerk of Circuit Court maintains the official record for all circuit court cases. Members of the public may submit in-person requests during regular business hours. Providing the full name of a party, a case number, or an approximate filing date assists staff in locating records efficiently. Certain records may be restricted from public inspection under applicable law.
2. Courthouse Public Access Terminals Public access computer terminals are available at the Kewaunee County Courthouse. These terminals allow members of the public to search case index information without charge during courthouse hours.
3. Online Court Search The Wisconsin Court System's Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) portal provides free online access to circuit court case records statewide, including cases filed in Kewaunee County. Users may search by party name, case number, or attorney.
4. State-Level Judicial Search Tools The Wisconsin Court System maintains statewide judicial search tools covering the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, and all circuit courts. These tools are accessible through the official Wisconsin courts 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 Circuit Court. Requests should identify the case by party name or case number and include the requester's contact information. Fees for copies apply.
Kewaunee County Clerk of Circuit Court
613 Dodge Street
Kewaunee, WI 54216
Phone: (920) 388-7149
Official Kewaunee County Website
Are Court Records Public In Kewaunee County
Court records in Kewaunee County are subject to public access under Wisconsin's open records law. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35, members of the public have the right to inspect and copy records maintained by government entities, including court records, subject to specific statutory exceptions. The Wisconsin Court System affirms that "the public has a right to access court records," consistent with the principle that open courts support public confidence in the justice system.
Records that are at present open to public inspection include:
- Case docket entries and index information
- Party names and attorney information
- Hearing dates, continuances, and scheduling orders
- Filed complaints, petitions, and answers
- Court orders and final judgments
- Sentencing entries and probation terms
- Civil judgments and small claims decisions
Records that may be confidential, sealed, redacted, or restricted include:
- Juvenile court records, which are protected under Wis. Stat. § 938.396
- Adoption records and related proceedings
- Certain mental health commitment records
- Sealed filings ordered by the court
- Protected personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and dates of birth in certain filings
- Expunged records where a court has ordered expungement under applicable law
A distinction exists between courthouse inspection and online access. While docket information is broadly available through the WCCA online portal, full document images are not available for all case types through the online system. Physical case files containing complete pleadings and exhibits may require an in-person visit to the Clerk of Court's office.
What Are Court Records in Kewaunee County?
Court records are the official documents, filings, and entries created and maintained by a court in connection with a legal proceeding. In practical terms, a court record encompasses everything filed with or generated by the court from the initiation of a case through its final disposition and any subsequent appeal.
A distinction exists between a docket entry and a full case file. A docket entry is a chronological index notation recording an event in a case, such as the filing of a motion or the scheduling of a hearing. A full case file contains the actual documents associated with those entries, including pleadings, exhibits, orders, and transcripts.
Civil court records document disputes between private parties or between a party and a government entity, covering matters such as contract claims, personal injury actions, and property disputes. Criminal court records document proceedings initiated by the state against an individual charged with a violation of criminal law, from initial appearance through sentencing or acquittal.
Filed pleadings are the formal documents submitted by parties to initiate or respond to litigation. Final judgments are the court's conclusive rulings resolving the matter. Public filings are accessible to members of the public under applicable law, while sealed or restricted filings are withheld from public inspection by court order or statute.
Trial court records are maintained by the Clerk of Circuit Court at the county level. Appellate records for cases appealed from Kewaunee County circuit court are maintained by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals and, where applicable, the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The Wisconsin Court System's statewide case search tools provide access to records across all court levels.
Court records are created when a party files an initial document, such as a complaint or petition, with the clerk's office. The clerk assigns a case number, opens a file, and records each subsequent filing and court event as a docket entry. Records are updated continuously as the case progresses through hearings, motions, and rulings until final disposition.
What's Included in a Kewaunee County Court Record?
A court record in Kewaunee County may include 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 their attorneys
- Case type and status: Classification of the proceeding and its current procedural posture
- Docket entries: Chronological log of all filings and court events
- Hearing information: Scheduled and completed hearing dates, continuances, and minute entries
- Filed documents: Motions, complaints, petitions, answers, 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 terms of any sentence or settlement
- Administrative and financial data: Filing fees, assessed costs, fines, restitution amounts, and bond information where publicly shown
The following categories of information are commonly excluded or restricted from public access within a court record:
- Sealed filings and documents subject to protective orders
- Expunged matters where the court has ordered the record closed
- Juvenile case files protected under state statute
- Adoption records and related confidential proceedings
- Protected personal data such as Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and minor children's identifying information
- Certain exhibits, particularly those containing sensitive personal or medical information
Types of Courts in Kewaunee County
Kewaunee County is served by the Wisconsin unified court system, which operates under a structure established by the Wisconsin Constitution and state statutes. The courts currently serving Kewaunee County include:
Kewaunee County Circuit Court The Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction for Kewaunee County. It hears all felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, civil matters, family law proceedings, juvenile matters, probate and estate cases, small claims actions, and traffic cases. The Clerk of Circuit Court maintains the official record for all circuit court proceedings. Kewaunee County is part of Wisconsin's 7th Judicial Administrative District.
Wisconsin Court of Appeals Appeals from Kewaunee County Circuit Court are heard by the Wisconsin Court of Appeals, District III, which covers northeastern Wisconsin. The Court of Appeals reviews circuit court decisions for legal error and maintains its own case records.
Wisconsin Supreme Court The Wisconsin Supreme Court exercises discretionary appellate jurisdiction over cases from the Court of Appeals and has supervisory authority over all Wisconsin courts.
Municipal Courts Individual municipalities within Kewaunee County may operate municipal courts with jurisdiction over local ordinance violations. Municipal court records are maintained by the respective municipal clerk or court.
Federal Court Federal matters involving Kewaunee County residents are heard in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin. Federal case records are accessible through the Wisconsin Eastern District Court on PACER, the federal judiciary's electronic public access system.
What Types of Cases Do Kewaunee County Courts Hear
The Kewaunee County Circuit Court, as a court of general jurisdiction, hears the following case types:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, and ordinance violations prosecuted by the state
- Civil: Contract disputes, personal injury claims, property matters, and other civil actions
- Family: Divorce, legal separation, paternity, child custody, child support, and domestic abuse proceedings
- Probate: Estate administration, guardianship, and mental health commitments
- Juvenile: Delinquency, child in need of protection or services (CHIPS), and termination of parental rights
- Traffic: Moving violations, OWI offenses, and related matters
- Small Claims: Civil money disputes up to the statutory limit
- Landlord-Tenant: Eviction actions and related civil matters
Kewaunee County Circuit Court
613 Dodge Street
Kewaunee, WI 54216
Phone: (920) 388-7149
Official Kewaunee County Website
How to Search Kewaunee County Court Records for Free?
Several methods for searching Kewaunee County court records are available at no cost to members of the public.
Free access methods include:
- In-person inspection at the Clerk of Court's office: Members of the public may inspect court records during regular business hours without charge. No fee is assessed for viewing records on-site.
- Courthouse public access terminals: Computer terminals located at the Kewaunee County Courthouse provide free access to the WCCA case index during courthouse hours.
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) online portal: The Wisconsin circuit court case search tool is available at no cost and provides access to case index information for all Wisconsin circuit courts, including Kewaunee County.
Services that require payment include:
| Service | Typical Cost |
|---|---|
| Paper copies of court documents | $1.25 per page (standard fee) |
| Certified copies of court records | $5.00 per document plus copy fees |
| Electronic copies (where available) | Varies by request |
| Research by clerk staff | May be assessed for extensive requests |
Fee authority is established under Wis. Stat. § 814.61, which governs clerk of court fees in civil proceedings. Members of the public seeking copies should confirm current fee schedules directly with the Clerk of Circuit Court, as fees are subject to legislative adjustment. Court fees and fines may also be paid through the Wisconsin circuit court online payment system.
How Long Does Kewaunee County Keep Court Records?
Court record retention in Kewaunee County is governed by schedules established by the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Wisconsin Public Records Board. Retention periods vary by case type and record category.
Under the Wisconsin court records retention schedule, the following general periods apply:
- Felony criminal case files: Retained permanently or for extended periods, given the severity of the offense and potential for post-conviction proceedings
- Misdemeanor and civil case files: Retained for periods ranging from several years to permanently, depending on case type and outcome
- Probate records: Retained permanently in many instances, as they establish legal title to property and family relationships
- Traffic and forfeiture records: Subject to shorter retention periods, with many retained for a minimum of several years following case closure
- Docket books and minute records: Retained permanently as the official chronological record of court proceedings
- Judgment records: Retained permanently, as judgments may be enforced or referenced indefinitely
Paper case files may be destroyed following imaging, microfilming, or transfer to archival storage, provided the record has been preserved in an accessible format. Older records may exist in paper files, microfilm, county archives, or the Wisconsin Historical Society's judicial archives.
A distinction exists among destruction, archival retention, sealing, redaction, and expungement. Destruction means the physical record no longer exists. Archival retention means the record is preserved but may be held off-site. Sealing means the record exists but is withheld from public access by court order. Redaction means specific information has been removed from an otherwise accessible document. Expungement under Wisconsin law means the record of a conviction is removed from public view following a court order, though the underlying record may be retained for limited purposes.
How To Find a Court Docket in Kewaunee County
A court docket is the official chronological index of all filings, hearings, and events in a specific case. It differs from a full case file in that it records what occurred and when, rather than containing the actual documents filed. A docket entry might note that a motion was filed on a particular date, while the full case file would contain the motion itself.
Dockets for Kewaunee County circuit court cases are accessible through the following methods:
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) Online Portal The Wisconsin circuit court case search system provides online access to docket information for circuit court cases statewide. To locate a docket:
- Navigate to the WCCA case search portal
- Enter the party's name, case number, or attorney name in the appropriate search fields
- Select "Kewaunee" as the county if searching by name
- Review the case list returned and select the relevant case
- The case detail screen displays docket entries, hearing dates, and case status information
Courthouse Public Terminals Public access terminals at the Kewaunee County Courthouse provide the same WCCA docket information available online, accessible during courthouse business hours.
Clerk of Court In-Person Request Members of the public may request docket information directly from the Clerk of Circuit Court. Staff can provide a printed docket sheet for a specific case, which may be subject to standard copy fees.
A court docket at present contains hearing dates and times, continuances, motion filings, minute entries from hearings, status updates, and notations of orders entered. A docket does not include full document images, sealed entries, confidential attachments, or exhibits unless those items are separately accessible under applicable public-access rules. Hearing calendars and daily court schedules may be available separately through the clerk's office. Circuit court forms related to case filings are available through the Wisconsin circuit court forms portal, which provides standardized forms for use in circuit court proceedings statewide.