How to Look Up Eviction Records in Wisconsin 2026
Court portal, certified copy fees, and expungement laws for Wisconsin
Where to Search Wisconsin Eviction Records
In Wisconsin, an eviction case lives in the county Circuit Court (Small Claims) where the rental property sits, and it is unusually easy to reach. Unlike states that force you to visit a courthouse county by county, Wisconsin publishes case data through a single statewide online system, Wisconsin CCAP (the Consolidated Court Automation Programs case-search site). One search there pulls eviction filings from any of the state's 72 counties, so a tenant, landlord, or screening company rarely needs to set foot in a clerk's office to confirm whether a record exists.
The convenience cuts both ways. Because the record is public the moment a landlord files, an eviction action shows up online before a judge has decided anything. Wisconsin also offers no statutory right to expunge or seal an eviction record, so what gets posted tends to stay visible. That makes it essential to read each result carefully rather than treat the mere existence of a case as proof of wrongdoing.
How to look up a Wisconsin eviction record
Start with Wisconsin CCAP, the state's free, statewide case-search site run by the court system. Search by the tenant's name (or the case number, if you have it) and, because CCAP covers all 72 counties at once, you do not have to know which county heard the case. Eviction matters appear under the Circuit Court (Small Claims) docket, typically classified as a small claims action for return of the premises.
For an official record you can rely on in another proceeding, request a certified copy from the clerk of circuit court in the county of filing; Wisconsin certified copies run $1.25 per page. The online CCAP entry is enough for everyday screening and verification, while the certified paper copy is what you would attach to a court filing or formal dispute.
How to read what a result actually shows
The single most important habit is distinguishing a filing from a judgment. An eviction filing is not a finding that the tenant did anything wrong, it only means a landlord opened a case. Look at the disposition line in the CCAP record: a case may have been dismissed, settled, decided for the tenant, or still be pending, and each of those tells a very different story than a judgment of eviction entered against the renter.
Check the dates, the parties, and whether a money judgment was attached. In Circuit Court (Small Claims), a landlord can seek both possession and unpaid rent, so a record may carry a separate monetary judgment even when possession was resolved. Read the full docket rather than reacting to the case caption alone.
Expungement and sealing: the Wisconsin reality
Wisconsin gives tenants no statutory right to expunge or seal an eviction record. There is no automatic sealing window and no dedicated eviction-expungement statute, so a filing that appears on Wisconsin CCAP generally remains publicly searchable. This is a sharp contrast with states that wipe dismissed or older cases from public view.
For landlords, that permanence raises a screening duty rather than a green light. The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) governs tenant-screening reports, requiring accuracy and adverse-action notices, and stale or misread records are a common source of disputes. Do not deny an applicant based on a bare filing, a dismissed case, or a record a court has restricted from public view. Verify the disposition against the live CCAP entry before acting.
The tenant's side: limiting the damage
Because Wisconsin has no eviction-expungement law, a tenant's best leverage is at the case itself, not afterward. If the action is dismissed or decided in your favor, that outcome will show on the CCAP disposition line, and you can point screeners to it. Keep your own copies of any dismissal or stipulation so you can explain a record an applicant-screening report flags.
If a CCAP entry is inaccurate, wrong party, wrong disposition, a case that was resolved, raise it directly with the clerk of the Circuit Court that handled it, and dispute any tenant-screening report that repeats the error under your FCRA rights. A certified copy from the clerk, at $1.25 per page, is the cleanest proof of how a case actually ended.
Step-by-Step: How to Search Wisconsin Eviction Records
- Go to Wisconsin CCAP. Open https://wcca.wicourts.gov in your browser.
- Search by party name. Enter the prospective tenant's full legal name (last name, first name) as a defendant/respondent. Try name variations including maiden names.
- Filter by case type. Select eviction, forcible detainer, unlawful detainer, or summary possession as the case type depending on the court's terminology.
- Review the disposition. Identify whether the case resulted in a judgment for the landlord (eviction), dismissal (tenant won or case settled), or is still pending. A filing alone does not mean the tenant was evicted.
- Check the filing date. Consider how old the record is, most tenant-screening best practices recommend discounting records older than 5-7 years.
- Request certified copies if needed. For a certified copy of the court record, contact the Circuit Court (Small Claims) clerk's office directly. Fees are typically $1.25/page.
This page was prepared by the Eviction Risk Map research team using public information from the Wisconsin Circuit Court system and its statewide Wisconsin CCAP case-search service; Wisconsin provides no statutory eviction-record expungement right, so no sealing citation applies. Last reviewed June 2026. This is general information, not legal advice, consult a licensed Wisconsin attorney or the clerk of circuit court for guidance on a specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I look up an eviction record in Wisconsin?
Search Wisconsin CCAP, the state's free statewide court case-search site. Enter the tenant's name or case number; because CCAP covers all 72 counties, you do not need to know which one heard the case. Eviction matters appear under the Circuit Court (Small Claims) docket. For an official version, request a certified copy from the clerk of circuit court in the county of filing.
Are Wisconsin eviction records public?
Yes. Eviction cases are filed in the Circuit Court (Small Claims) and are public, with online access provided statewide through Wisconsin CCAP. A case becomes visible when the landlord files it, which is why you should always check the disposition, a filing is not the same as a judgment against the tenant.
Can a tenant expunge an eviction record in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin has no statutory right to expunge or seal an eviction record, so a case posted on CCAP generally stays publicly searchable. A tenant's strongest move is to win or resolve the case so the disposition reflects that, and to correct any inaccurate CCAP entry with the clerk of circuit court that handled it.
How much does a certified copy of a Wisconsin eviction record cost?
Certified copies from the clerk of circuit court run $1.25 per page in Wisconsin. The free Wisconsin CCAP entry is sufficient for everyday screening and verification, while a certified paper copy is what you would use for a court filing or a formal dispute over a screening report.
Related Wisconsin Landlord Guides
Court portal information sourced from the Wisconsin court administrative office official website. Expungement laws from published Wisconsin statutes (see citations above). Last updated August 28, 2026. For informational purposes only, not legal advice.