The Vital Records Section of the Register of Deeds Office maintains copies of all birth,
death, and marriage records for events that occur in Dane County. To obtain certified
copies of any of these records, you will need to fill out an application form and pay a fee.
Information about certified and uncertified copies is listed below.
Certified copies (legal copies) are printed on security paper and have raised seals in the
bottom corners. You can apply for certified copies of your record and that of your spouse,
child, grandchild, parent, brother or sister, or your client. You may be required to
provide documentation proving your relationship to the person on the record. Application
methods, fees, and turnaround times are listed further down the page.
An uncertified copy of a record is not a legal copy, rather, a photocopy that is designed to be
used for informational purposes only. Anyone can obtain an uncertified copy of a vital record,
provided the record is unprotected. Application methods, fees, and turnaround times are the
same as for certified copies (see below).
You may apply for copies in person, through the mail, or online. There are different fees
charged, application requirements, and turnaround times depending on how you apply:
In Person
(building address and hours are to the top left)
|
$20
Additional Copies: $3 |
Cash, money order, cashier’s check, business check, or debit card ($2.50 fee) at the counter |
Completed application (below) and current photo ID with correct address
(additional acceptable forms of ID)
and proper form of payment
|
Turnaround: Approximately 15 minutes from the time we receive your completed application at the counter
Please note: We stop issuing certified copies at 4:15 PM.
|
Through the Mail
(mailing address is listed to the top left)
|
$20
Additional Copies: $3 |
Money order, cashier’s check, or business check through the mail |
Completed application (below) and proper form of payment |
| Turnaround: Mailed via First Class Mail within 2-3 days of receipt |
Online (Expedited Service) |
$45
Additional Copies: $3 |
Credit card or debit card only |
Completed online application, faxed authorization form (obtained during application process) with signature and copy of photo ID, and valid form of payment |
Turnaround: Mailed via First Class Mail the same day if received by 2:00 p.m. CST
(UPS Next Day Air Service can be purchased for an additional $17.50 per order)
|
If the event occurred in Wisconsin, you may contact
Wisconsin State Vital Records.
For events that occurred outside of Wisconsin, you can lookup contact information for the State
Vital Records Office you are interested in through the National Center for Health Statistics
website at www.cdc.gov/nchs/howto/w2w/w2welcom.htm