How to Search Dane County Marriage and Divorce Records
The first step is matching the record to the office. The County Clerk issues marriage licenses and handles the application. The Clerk of Circuit Court holds divorce case files and judgments. The Register of Deeds keeps vital-record certificates for events recorded in Dane County, and the Wisconsin State Vital Records Office keeps statewide copies. A marriage license is not the same as a marriage certificate, and a divorce judgment is not the same as a divorce certificate.
For a divorce case index, search Wisconsin Circuit Court Access by party name. For the actual judgment, ask the Record Center. For a certified certificate to use as legal proof, go to the Register of Deeds. Each office is covered below, with fees, forms, and steps.
The reason the work is split is simple. A marriage license is a permit to marry, and the County Clerk issues it before the wedding. A marriage certificate is the recorded proof that the marriage happened, and the Register of Deeds keeps it after the ceremony. A divorce case is litigation, so it lives with the court, while the divorce certificate is the recorded vital record. Asking the wrong office for the wrong document is the most common reason a request stalls in Dane County.
Who Issues Dane County Marriage Licenses
The Dane County County Clerk issues marriage licenses, not the Clerk of Circuit Court. All applications are processed virtually by Zoom and by appointment only. Each applicant joins the video appointment, and the two may join from separate locations if needed. Wisconsin lets applicants apply in any county and hold the ceremony in any Wisconsin county within 60 days. Couples who both live outside Wisconsin may also apply in any county.
Appointments open 45 days out on the scheduler, and you should not schedule more than 60 days before the wedding. The ceremony date, location, and officiant must be arranged before applying.
The marriage license appointment scheduler sets up the virtual appointment. Document uploads happen inside that scheduling workflow.
Dane County Marriage License Requirements
The County Clerk asks for a set of documents at the appointment. A government photo ID and Social Security number are needed, though the SSN card itself is not. Applicants must prove a current physical address and know their city, village, or town and county. A certified birth record is required, and a hospital birth certificate or a photocopy is not accepted. The form-field inventory below lists what to gather.
| Requirement | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photo ID | Yes | Government-issued photo identification. |
| Social Security number | If available | Card not needed; marked "none" if no SSN. |
| Proof of address | Yes | License, lease, utility bill, or bank statement. |
| Certified birth record | Yes | Electronic scan of a certified record is fine; photocopy is not. |
| Parent names | Yes | Includes mother's full maiden name. |
| Prior marriage proof | If applicable | Divorce judgment, annulment, or death certificate; a CCAP printout is not accepted. |
A few extra rules apply to specific situations. Parent names are required, including the mother's full maiden name, so it helps to confirm spelling ahead of time. An applicant aged 16 or 17 needs consent signed by both parents or guardians before the County Clerk. If a prior marriage ended, proof such as a Judgment of Divorce, a legal annulment, or a death certificate is required, and a case access printout will not do.
Note: A divorced person may not remarry until six months after the divorce judgment, regardless of state.
How to Apply for a Dane County Marriage License
The process is fully virtual, so a little planning ahead keeps the appointment smooth. Gather scanned documents before you book, and confirm the ceremony details first.
- Arrange the ceremony date, location, and officiant before applying.
- Gather scans or photos of the required documents.
- Schedule the virtual appointment through the County Clerk scheduler.
- Join the Zoom appointment; separate locations are allowed.
- Provide the ceremony county and city, and the officiant's name and contact.
- Pay the license fee, plus the waiver fee if it applies.
- Follow the Clerk's instructions for license delivery and use.
If an applicant does not speak English, a third-party interpreter must take part, and a couple cannot translate for each other. Spanish appointments are available.
Marriage License Fees and Timing
The County Clerk lists a set fee paid by card at the time of application. A waiting period applies, and a waiver fee can shorten it. The fee schedule below covers the common charges.
| Item | Amount / Rule |
|---|---|
| License fee | $120, paid by credit or debit card, nonrefundable |
| Waiting period | 3 days; license issued on the 4th day, valid 60 days |
| Waiting-period waiver | $25 additional; allows use on the application date |
| Late application | Less than 4 days before the ceremony is charged the waiver fee |
Plan the timing with care, because a holiday closure can affect the three-day waiting period. Check the office calendar before booking a date close to the wedding. The license is valid for 60 days from issue, and the ceremony can take place in any Wisconsin county within that window, so there is room to plan around travel or a venue date.
Dane County Divorce Records
Divorce cases are family actions filed in the Dane County Circuit Court. To find a divorce case, search Wisconsin Circuit Court Access by party name and select Dane County. WCCA shows the case summary, the parties, and the docket, but not every document. To get the actual divorce judgment or case documents, request them from the Record Center in Room 1002 by email, fax, mail, or in person.
Certified copies of a divorce judgment cost $5 per document, plus page copy fees where they apply. Family cases can hold confidential child, financial, protected, or sealed information, so some parts of a file may be redacted. A CCAP printout is not accepted as legal proof of a divorce when applying for a new marriage license.
A divorce file can hold more than the final judgment. It may include the petition, the financial disclosure statement, custody and placement orders, child support orders, and any later motions to change those terms. When you request records, name the exact document you need, such as the Findings of Fact and Judgment of Divorce, rather than asking for the whole file. That keeps copy fees down and helps staff pull the right pages, especially on older cases that may sit in remote storage.
How to File for Divorce in Dane County
Dane County provides family forms and a local guide to help people through a divorce or legal separation. Mandatory statewide forms control the required documents, while the local guide explains the Dane County process.
The family forms page includes the Dane County divorce and legal separation guide. The basic steps are below.
- Review the Dane County family forms and Wisconsin mandatory forms.
- File the summons, petition, and required financial disclosure with the Clerk of Circuit Court.
- Pay the filing fee or request a fee waiver if eligible.
- Serve the other party unless filing jointly.
- Attend required hearings and any parenting steps if children are involved.
- Get a certified copy of the judgment from the Record Center if needed.
Vital-Record Certificates
A certificate is the document most people need for legal proof of a marriage or divorce. The Dane County Register of Deeds keeps vital-record certificates for births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that occurred in Dane County. The Wisconsin State Vital Records Office keeps statewide copies. A certificate differs from the court file: the court holds the case, while the Register of Deeds holds the recorded certificate.
The Register of Deeds vital records page explains what is available and how to request it.
The Register of Deeds vital records page covers marriage, divorce, birth, and death certificates. Use it when you need a certified certificate rather than a court case document.
One rule trips up many people who are remarrying. A certified divorce record, not a printout from the case access site, proves a prior marriage ended. The County Clerk accepts the Findings of Fact and Judgment of Divorce, a legal annulment, or a divorce or death certificate, but it does not accept a CCAP printout. If your divorce was in Dane County, the Record Center can supply the certified judgment, and the Register of Deeds can supply the divorce certificate for an event recorded here.