There are several methods for retrieving copies of recorded documents. For the fastest
service, use the online services. You can order the documents from your home or office. If
you wish to have the copies certified, you can still use an online service, but you will
have to use OPC and it will cost an additional $1 per document.
If your document was recorded in 1993 or later and you know the party names, you can get
the copy online through TAPESTRY.
You must also have Adobe Acrobat on your computer and a major credit card. The cost is $3.99
for the search. (If you get no search results then you are not charged.) Then you can look
at the document details to make sure you have the right document. It is an additional 50
cents to view and print each page. Therefore, a 6-page mortgage will cost $7. Take care to
stay in the program until you have made copies of all the desired pages of documents in your
search results list so as to avoid the cost of another search. If your copies must be
CERTIFIED, use the OPC method below.
You can use our "OPC"
page and a major credit card to order older (pre-1994) real estate document copies online. You
must know the volume and page or document number and the approximate year it was recorded.
(Call Real Estate Indexing between 2-4 PM at 608-266-4144 for this information if needed.) The
cost is $2 for the first page and $1 for each additional page per document plus OPC charges a
service fee of about $3.00. Regular service takes about 1 week. Expedited service is available
for an additional fee.
You can come into our office and request a copy. You must know the party names, the legal
description or the address of the property, and the approximate year the document was
recorded. The cost is $2 for the first page and $1 for each page thereafter. Therefore,
a 6-page mortgage will cost $7 plus you will have to pay for parking. The Monona Terrace
parking ramp is just across the street from the City-County Building and costs $3. You must
pay for the document with cash - no personal checks are accepted.
If you know the document number, volume and page, year the document was recorded, and number
of pages so that you can calculate the fee, you can send a request by mail along with a
stamped, self-addressed envelope. Your money order for the correct amount (to "Register of
Deeds") must accompany the request. Allow about 2 weeks for the copies to be sent to you.