RETENTION OF WISCONSIN COURT RECORDS ON THE INTERNET

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The Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) website provides access to certain public court records of the Wisconsin Circuit Courts on the internet.  I am frequently asked the question about how long records of a case will remain on line. 

How long are cases kept on WCCA?
Generally, case information is displayed on WCCA for the minimum retention period for the case type as set by Supreme Court Rule - Chapter 72. However, beginning at the end of the first quarter of 2018, there is a shorter display period for criminal cases where all charges are dismissed or the person charged was acquitted, for injunction petitions that are denied or dismissed, and for small claims cases that are dismissed.
Additionally, cases remain displayed so long as there are active warrants, active appeals, or money still owed on the cases. Contact the clerk of circuit court’s office in the county where the case was filed for complete case information for those cases that no longer display on WCCA. Case types that are confidential do not appear on this list.

Cases remain displayed as follows:

Civil cases (CV) not small claims
20 years, with the following exception:

• Injunctions under Chapter 813, Wis. Stats., for domestic abuse, child abuse, individual at risk, and harassment that are denied or dismissed, are displayed for 2 years.

Commitment of an inmate cases (CI)
75 years
Complex forfeiture cases (CX)
20 years
Criminal traffic cases (CT)
20 years, with the following exception:

• Criminal traffic cases with a disposition of acquittal or a disposition of dismissed, including dismissals resulting from deferred agreements, are displayed for 2 years.

Docketed judgments
20 years
Family cases (FA)
30 years, with the following exception:

• Dismissed divorce and annulment/legal separation cases are retained for 5 years.

Felony class A cases (CF)
75 years, with the following exception:

• Felony cases with a disposition of acquittal or a disposition of dismissed, including dismissals resulting from deferred agreements, are displayed for 2 years.

Felony class B - I cases (CF)
50 years, with the following exception:

• Felony cases with a disposition of acquittal or a disposition of dismissed, including dismissals resulting from deferred agreements, are displayed for 2 years.

Foreign judgment cases (FJ)
20 years
Forfeiture (non-traffic ordinance violation) cases (FO)
5 years, with the following exception:

• Forfeiture cases with a disposition of acquittal or a disposition of dismissed, including dismissals resulting from deferred agreements, are displayed for 2 years.

Incarcerated person cases (IP)
5 years
John Doe cases
75 years (JD, with class code 34001) for proceedings under §968.26, Wis. Stats.
Misdemeanor cases (CM)
20 years, with the following exception:

• Misdemeanor cases with a disposition of acquittal or a disposition of dismissed, including dismissals resulting from deferred agreements, are displayed for 2 years.

Paternity post judgment actions (PA)
30 years
Probate and informal probate cases (PR and IN)
75 years
Proceedings commenced under §968.02(3)
75 years (JD, with class code 34003)
Small Claims Cases (SC)
20 years, with the following exceptions:

• Dismissed small claims cases filed prior to 7/1/2006 are removed 1 year after the final order.
• Dismissed small claims cases filed 7/1/2006 or later are removed 2 years after the final order.
• Small claims cases that are dismissed with no money judgment are displayed for 2 years.

Tax warrants (TW)
20 years, with the following exceptions:

• Filed before 7/31/1981 - 10 years.
• Filed from 7/31/1981 - 4/30/2004 – Permanent retention.
• Filed after 4/30/2004: 20 years, but can be renewed for an additional 20 years.

Traffic forfeiture cases (TR)
5 years, with the following exception:

• Traffic cases with a disposition of acquittal or a disposition of dismissed, including dismissals resulting from deferred agreements, are displayed for 2 years.

Transcript of judgment cases (TJ)
20 years
Tribal court order cases (TC)
20 years
Unemployment compensation cases (UC)
20 years
Workers compensation cases (WC)
20 years
Will filed cases (WL)
100 years