Wisconsin Death Records

Wisconsin death records typically provide information about individuals who have passed away in the state and are usually used for legal and administrative purposes. Although a few counties started keeping records of deaths in the 1850s, statewide registration of death records did not begin in the state until October 1907.

In recent times, Wisconsin has been recording an average of 58,428 deaths each year, while its mortality rate is 778.8 per 100,000 residents, which is a bit lower than the national average of 797.7 per 100,000 people. The leading causes of death in the state include heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries.

A death certificate is the major type of death record in Wisconsin. It is a legal document issued when a person dies, and it states details like the time of death, date of death, the cause of death, and the deceased person's personal information. A copy of a Wisconsin death certificate can either be certified or uncertified:

• Certified Copy of a Death Certificate - A certified copy of a Wisconsin death certificate is typically printed on a security paper with a raised seal and the signature of the local or state registrar. Only people with a direct and tangible interest may obtain it. A certified copy is generally used for legal purposes.
• Uncertified Copy of a Death Certificate: While this contains the same information as a certified copy of a Wisconsin death certificate, it is generally printed on plain paper and marked uncertified. This copy cannot be used for identity purposes.

Based on the content, a Wisconsin death certificate may be categorized either as a fact of death certificate or an extended fact of death certificate. A Fact of Death Certificate generally has demographic information and is mostly used for financial transactions. They do not contain the cause of death. On the other hand, an Extended Fact of Death Certificate contains information like the manner and cause of death, the location of the death, and the final burial place of a deceased person. This certificate is the type needed to file insurance benefit claims.

In Wisconsin, an original death certificate is completed by the funeral director with input from the deceased person's next of kin and medical professionals (physicians caring for the deceased individuals for the illness leading to their death). Per Section 69.18 of the Wisconsin Statutes, once notified about a death, the funeral director must send the certificate to a medical professional within 24 hours to complete the medical certification portion (cause of death).

Afterward, the medical professional mails the medical certification to the funeral director to file the original death certificate with the local registrar and, subsequently, the state's Vital Records Office. Eligible and interested persons may obtain certified copies of the death certificate from either the local registrar (local Vital Records Office) or the Wisconsin Vital Records Office.

How Do I Get a Certified Copy of a Death Certificate in Wisconsin?

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), through the Vital Records Office, issues certified copies of death certificates in the state. An eligible person may apply for a certified copy of a death certificate by mail with the following steps:

• Fill out the Wisconsin Death Certificate Application Form.

• Prepare a photocopy of proof of identification, which may be any of a state-issued driver's license or ID card, U.S. or foreign passport, U.S. government-issued photo ID, or a tribal or military ID card. Any two of the following also suffice as valid identification for this application:

  • Health insurance card
  • Vehicle title/registration
  • Bank/earning statement
  • Traffic ticket/Utility bill
  • Current, dated, signed lease
• Pay the certificate fee of $20 for the first certified copy and $3 for each additional copy of the same certificate in the same request. Make the money order or check payable through a United States financial institution to the State of Wisconsin Vital Records.
• Add a self-addressed, stamped, business-size envelope to the application package

• Submit the completed application form and all other required documents and payment to the State Vital Record Office at:

  Wisconsin Vital Records Office

  P.O. Box 309

  Madison, WI 53701

  Once the state's Vital Records Office receives a request for a certified copy of a death certificate, it takes about 10 working days to process and complete the application, after which the requested copy/copies is/are mailed to the applicant.

Are Wisconsin Death Records Public?

Certified copies of Wisconsin death records are accessible to individuals with direct and tangible interests. On the other hand, uncertified copies of death records are publicly available. However, such uncertified copies may not include extended facts of death unless 50 years have passed since the death event occurred. The only exception is if the requester has a direct and tangible interest in the death record.

Who Can Request an Original Death Certificate in Wisconsin?

Original death certificates in Wisconsin cannot be accessed or requested by the public because they are permanently kept by the local and state registrars. Eligible persons may only request copies of the original documents, either as certified or uncertified copies. Generally, any member of the public may request an uncertified copy of a death certificate, provided it does not include extended facts of death.

Per Section 69.20 of the Wisconsin Statutes, only the following individuals may request certified copies of a death certificate in the state:

• The decedent's parent, child, sibling, or grandparent.
• The decedent's spouse or domestic partner.
• A representative of the deceased person or any other representative authorized by an immediate member of the decedent's family.
• Legal guardian of the deceased person.
• Any individual who can demonstrate a direct and tangible interest and prove that the information in the death certificate is necessary for the determination or protection of a property or personal right.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Death Certificate in Wisconsin?

If an original death certificate is already filed with the Wisconsin Vital Records Office, it typically takes the office about 10 business days to process a request for a certified copy of the certificate. Afterward, it is made available to the requester, usually by mail. Copies requested from the local registrar's office may arrive earlier. However, if there is a need to confirm or establish the cause and manner of death (for an unusual or suspicious death), an autopsy will be performed. This generally causes a delay in getting a certified copy of the death certificate.

While the cause of death is apparent at the time of autopsy in some cases, in other cases, additional tests and investigations are required to determine the cause and manner of death. Medical examiners cannot complete a death certificate without a complete autopsy report. One of the most common reasons for the delay in completing the report is toxicology analysis, which sometimes takes between 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the complexity of the case. This may lead to a delay in completing a final death certificate and consequently impacts how long it takes to be able to request a certified copy of the certificate.

Can I View Wisconsin Death Records online for free?

The Wisconsin Historical Society maintains the index of all pre-1907 death records, typically state-level death records between 1852 and September 30, 1907. Interested persons may purchase paper or digital copies of these records for $15 and have the records mailed or emailed to them within 2 weeks. Similarly, Ancestry.com has a collection of death records for persons who died between 1872 and 2004 in Wisconsin, while FamilySearch.org also has a free index of deaths from the state's Vital Records Office.

Some credible third-party sites like Wisconsinpublicrecords.us also keep databases of records of death events that have taken place in the state. However, anyone looking to access death records through these websites may have to pay a small fee. Alternatively, interested persons may find information about death events that occur in Wisconsin for free through certain substitute records. These records are particularly a great source for deaths that are not officially registered with the relevant authority, and they include obituaries, cemetery records, church records, and tax records. Others are probate records, newspapers, city directories, and census mortality schedules.

When Would You Require A Death Certificate in Wisconsin?

Besides serving as proof of a person's death, a certified copy of a Wisconsin death certificate can be used for various purposes, including the following:

• Filing life insurance claims.
• Transferring ownership of a decedent's real estate, vehicles, and other property.
• Notifying the Social Security Administration (SSA) about an individual's death.
• Claiming certain benefits like Medicaid benefits, pension benefits, veterans benefits, and other employer-related benefits.
• Final disposition of a deceased person.
• Closing a decedent's financial accounts, including savings accounts and stocks, and transferring the balances to an authorized person.
• Canceling a decent's subscription to utility services.
• Filing a decedent's final tax returns.

How Many Death Certificates Do I Need in Wisconsin?

Generally, it is recommended to have many copies of a death certificate rather than obtaining a few. In most cases, a person will need between 8 and 12 certified copies of a death certificate to sort out various things after the demise of a loved one. The best way to determine the actual number of copies needed is to know the size of the deceased person's estate and have an idea of the number of transactions or institutions requiring copies of the certificate.