by It is quite tricky to find birth records if you are not familiar with everything that goes into finding them. This guide is aimed at giving you tips on how to find birth records in Wisconsin.
Wisconsin is a state found in the upper Midwest part of the United States. The state of Wisconsin instructed counties to start the registration of births in 1852.
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Birth Records in Wisconsin
The directive to start birth registration in 1852 in Wisconsin was hugely ignored by the counties and another law was introduced in 1878 which received more positive results. Statewide registration of birth in the state started in 1907.
There are no births that were registered in Wisconsin before 1852. You can try looking up from the following databases, with indexes and images for birth records between 1853 and 1907:
Wisconsin Births (1820 – 1907)
Wisconsin Births and Christenings Index (1826 – 1908)
With a Wisconsin birth record an individual can prove that they were born in Wisconsin. They can prove their identity, Wisconsin citizenship and age. With it a Wisconsin citizen can:
- Apply for a passport, social security card, and driver’s license
- Enroll in school or military
- Request government benefits
Certified copies of Wisconsin birth records are printed on security paper which also has a raised seal. They also have the State Registrar’s signature. Uncertified copies have the same information but printed on ordinary plain paper with a stamp confirming that it is regarded as legal and acceptable for identification purposes.
Types of Birth Certificates Offered in Wisconsin
Wisconsin offers both the short form and long form birth certificates. The most prevalent of these is the short form birth certificates. Short form birth certificates are recognized for a number of legal purposes as well as for identification. Details found in a short form certificate are:
- Child’s name
- Sex
- Birthdate
- Place of birth
- Parents’ names
- Parents’ ages
- Parents’ birthplaces
All the details in a short form birth certificate are also found on long form certificates with additional information like:
- Birth facility
- Mother’s residence
- Time of birth
- Birth weight
- Crown-heel length
Birth records Restrictions in Wisconsin
Birth records in Wisconsin are regarded as public records except for some personal information which can only be made available to authorized individuals. This can be the person named on the document or their close relatives who can provide enough prove that they are related to the record owner. Other individuals who are eligible to certified copies of birth records in Wisconsin are:
- Parents or legal guardians of the individual named on the birth records
- Spouses of the individual named on the birth records
- Grandparents of the individual named on the records
- Adult children and grandchildren of the individual named on the record
- A legal representative of the individual named on the birth record
- Any individual who has been given an order from a competent court of law to access a birth record
Ways to Obtain Birth Records in Wisconsin
Applicants who are looking to obtain certified copies of birth records in the state of Wisconsin need to provide acceptable identification. Failure to do so will result in applications returning unattended. Original documents are needed when applying in person and expired documents are not welcomed. Applicants can provide any of the following:
- A state-issued driver’s license or ID card
- A United States government-issued photo ID
- The United States or foreign passport
- A Tribal or Military ID card
If the above documents are not available, two of the following can do too:
- Bank or earning statement
- Current, dated, signed lease
- Health insurance card
- Utility bill or traffic ticket
- Vehicle registration or title
The Wisconsin Vital Records Office, which is a division of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, is the one that manages birth records in Wisconsin from 1907 to the present. The Wisconsin county Register of Deeds, the Milwaukee Health Department and the West Allis City Health Office also have statewide birth records on offer.
Wisconsin Birth Records Online
Since birth records have restrictions, they are not accessible to the public online. However, there is an online index of Births Recorded in Wisconsin Prior to October 1907 made available by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The state of Wisconsin has partnered with an independent company to allow individuals who are eligible for certified copies of birth records to obtain them online by providing necessary identification documentation at a particular charge.
Birth records that are old falls under the genealogical category in Wisconsin making them public records. Third party sites are a great place to start when looking up public records. They are not geographically and technologically limited. Searches need that you have the full name and current location of the person you want to look up.
Third party websites however, may have data that varies from that of government sources as they are not government sponsored sites.
Wisconsin Birth Records in Person
The Vital Records Office operates from 8:00 am to 4:15 pm on weekdays. Applicants must provide legal identification and proper payment for records. In person applications can be made by visiting the Wisconsin Vital Records Office at:
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
1 West Wilson Street, Room 160
Madison, WI 53703
Wisconsin Birth Records by Mail
Applicants must first complete the Birth Certificate Application Form when ordering birth records in Wisconsin. This must be then mailed with the necessary fees and proper legal identification documents to:
Wisconsin Vital Records Office
P.O. Box 309
Madison, WI 53701
These ways on how to find birth records in Wisconsin are ideal for searches on old records and recent records. Try them and locate any birth record in the state.
