Court records of Winnebago County, Wisconsin, are available through several channels. WinnebagoCourt.us allows you to search for public information about court cases in the county. Additionally, records can be found through the official online tools of the state court system, the Winnebago County Clerk of Courts office, and public terminals installed directly in the courthouse.
Winnebago Court System & Jurisdictions
Wisconsin uses a unified circuit court system, and it is the Winnebago County Circuit Court that handles the vast majority of cases at the local level. There are no separate "District Court" or "Magistrate Court" here — one circuit court covers everything.
Types of cases handled here:
- Criminal cases — from felonies to misdemeanors.
- Civil lawsuits — disputes over contracts, damages, debt collection.
- Small Claims — civil disputes up to $10,000, simplified procedure.
- Family law — divorce, child custody, alimony, protective orders.
- Probate cases — estate management, guardian appointments, will approvals.
- Traffic / Forfeiture violations — speeding fines, traffic violations, municipal citations.
- Juvenile cases — offenses and child protection cases; access to these records is restricted.
Municipal courts in the cities of Oshkosh, Neenah, and Menasha separately handle minor city violations, but appeals from them go to the circuit court. Additional legal resources regarding the county are collected on the Winnebago County Legal Resources page of the Wisconsin State Law Library.
Winnebago Court Calendar & Upcoming Hearings
The schedule of hearings for today, tomorrow, or the current week is easiest to check through the CCAP (Consolidated Court Automation Programs) system. Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Open the case search on the Wisconsin Court System website.
- Select "Winnebago" from the list of counties.
- Enter the party's last name or case number.
- In the case card, find the section with scheduled hearing dates.
If you are looking for a court date for an inmate at the Winnebago County Jail, call the Clerk of Courts at 920-236-4854 or use CCAP. The Winnebago County Corrections page directly recommends this method.
Note: CCAP is updated throughout the business day, so changes made by a judge in the morning may appear in the system with a slight delay. For urgent clarifications, it is better to call the office directly.
How to Get a Copy of a Winnebago Court Document
The Clerk of Courts maintains all official documents filed with the court. You can obtain a copy in three ways.
Online
Some documents are available for viewing through CCAP — including court decisions and case movement records. The full text of documents in PDF format may not be available for all types of cases. You can download the file for free, but it is not a certified copy.
In Person
Visit the Clerk of Courts office:
Request a regular (uncertified) or certified copy. A certified copy has the court seal and clerk's signature — it is needed for submission to other institutions, immigration procedures, or legal actions.
By Mail
Send a written request to the address above. Include:
- The full name of the party in the case
- Case number (if known)
- Type of document needed
- Whether a certified copy is needed
- Return address and payment
Juvenile, sealed, or confidential records are usually not available without a court order.
Winnebago Court Records Fees & Payment
The fee amounts are set by Wisconsin statutes (specifically, Wis. Stat. § 814.61). Below are the typical rates applied by the Clerk of Courts:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Regular document copy (per page) | $1.25 |
| Document certification | $5.00 |
| Record search in archive (by name) | $5.00 |
| Copy on computer media (if available) | Depends on volume |
| Case viewing through CCAP online | Free |
Payment is accepted in person at the office — cash, check, or credit/debit card. For mail requests, money orders or checks made payable to "Winnebago County Clerk of Courts" are usually accepted.
For a state-level criminal history check, contact the Wisconsin Department of Justice — this service has a separate fee schedule and does not go through the local office. It is advisable to verify current fee amounts directly with the Clerk of Courts, as legislative changes may affect the rates.