Records of divorce in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, are available through several channels. ManitowocCourt.us allows you to quickly find publicly available information about divorce records. Additionally, the complete court materials are stored by the Clerk of Circuit Court office of the county, and divorce certificates can be ordered through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. An online state court system portal is also available for searching specific cases. Below is a detailed guide on searching, obtaining copies, and the cost of services.
Manitowoc Divorce Records Search
In Wisconsin, divorce cases are handled by the county court — Circuit Court. In Manitowoc County, the Clerk of Circuit Court is responsible for maintaining all court materials, including divorce cases. The record collection includes:
- Divorce decrees / judgments
- Marital settlement agreements
- Child custody and support orders
- Motions, responses, and other procedural documents
Separate from court materials, there are divorce certificates maintained by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office. A certificate confirms the fact of divorce but does not contain details of the agreement or court decision.
Manitowoc County Clerk of Circuit Court
Online case search is available through the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (CCAP) system — it displays basic data: case number, party names, dates, and type of proceedings. The full text of documents is usually not available through CCAP; to obtain copies, you need to contact the court office directly.
Where Divorce Records Are Filed in Manitowoc
When a couple files for divorce in Manitowoc County, the case is registered in the county's Circuit Court. This court is the court of first instance for all civil and family cases in Wisconsin. The county has its own Family Court, which provides instructions and forms for self-filing for divorce or legal separation.
After the court decision is made, the original remains in the case file of the Clerk of Circuit Court. To obtain copies from the court case, you need to fill out the Open Records Request form and pay the appropriate fee. The general court information page provides additional instructions on the procedure.
Which office to choose depends on the purpose of the request:
| What is needed | Where to contact |
|---|---|
| Full court decision, property agreement, custody orders | Manitowoc County Clerk of Circuit Court |
| Divorce certificate (confirmation of fact) | Wisconsin Vital Records Office (DHS) |
| Basic case information online | CCAP — Wisconsin Court System |
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
The Vital Records Office issues divorce certificates for divorces that occurred in the state starting from October 1907. These certificates are not the same as a court decision: they contain the names of the parties, the date, and the county where the divorce was granted, but without the terms of the agreement.
Divorce Record Search Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times in Manitowoc
| Service | Fee | Typical Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Regular copy of a document from the court case (Clerk of Circuit Court) | $1.25 per page | Depends on the volume of the request; usually a few business days |
| Certified copy of a document from the court case | $5.00 for certification + cost of copies | A few business days |
| Divorce certificate (Vital Records Office, state) | $20.00 | Up to 2–3 weeks by mail |
| Record search in Vital Records (if the exact date is unknown) | $20.00 per each five-year search period | Up to 4 weeks |
| Expedited processing (Vital Records, state) | Additional $10.00 to the base fee | Approximately 2–4 business days after receiving the request |