Certified Copies in Wisconsin: Where and What It Costs
Certified copies
Ordering Certified Copies in Wisconsin
Where to order a certified vital record or corporate record issued in Wisconsin, what it costs, what the office requires, and what happens to it afterwards.
- Birth certificate
- $20.00, additional copies $3.00 on the same order
- Death certificate
- $20.00, additional $3.00
- Marriage
- $20.00, additional $3.00
- Divorce
- $20.00, additional $3.00
Vital records
Issued by: Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office
Post to: WI Vital Records Office, P.O. Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309
Verify current fees: (608) 266-1373
| Record | Certified copy |
|---|---|
| Birth | $20.00, additional copies $3.00 on the same order |
| Death | $20.00, additional $3.00 |
| Marriage | $20.00, additional $3.00 |
| Divorce | $20.00, additional $3.00 |
What Wisconsin requires
- Wisconsin restricts certified copies to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record.
- Registration was not required until October 1907, so earlier records are patchy.
Corporate records
A certificate of good standing and certified copies of formation documents for a Wisconsin entity come from Wisconsin Secretary of State, normally online and often the same day.
- Order from the state where the entity was formed, not where it trades.
- A certificate of good standing is a statement of current status. A certified copy of the articles is a different product; if a foreign authority asks for the formation documents, you need the latter.
- Ask for a certified or exemplified copy. A plain download from the state website carries no seal and cannot be authenticated.
What happens next
Once you hold the certified copy, authentication in Wisconsin goes through Wisconsin Secretary of State, at $10.00 per document standard, $35.00 per document expedited.
Questions people actually ask
Where do I order a Wisconsin birth certificate?
From Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office. Post to WI Vital Records Office, P.O. Box 309, Madison, WI 53701-0309. A certified copy is $20.00, additional copies $3.00 on the same order.
Does the Wisconsin Secretary of State issue birth certificates?
No. Vital records come from the health department; the Secretary of State handles corporate records and, in most states, the apostille. They are separate offices with separate fees.
What will Wisconsin reject?
Wisconsin restricts certified copies to people with a direct and tangible interest in the record.
Can I have it apostilled straight away?
Yes, and that is the right order. Order the certified copy first, then send it for authentication. Do not sign, stamp or laminate it in between, and do not open a sealed envelope.
This guide is published by a private document processing service. It is not legal advice and we are not a government agency. Requirements change without notice, so confirm anything critical with the mission before you post documents.
