Taylor County Public Records

What Are Public Records in Taylor County?

Public records in Taylor County are defined under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, codified at Wis. Stat. § 19.31–19.39, as any document, paper, letter, record, map, electronic data, or other material created or maintained by a government authority in the course of conducting public business. Members of the public may inspect and obtain copies of these records subject to limited statutory exemptions.

Taylor County, located in north-central Wisconsin, maintains a broad range of public records across multiple offices. The following record types are currently available to the public:

Court records (civil, criminal, probate, and family law matters) — maintained by the Taylor County Clerk of Courts
Property records (deeds, mortgages, liens, and assessments) — maintained by the Taylor County Register of Deeds
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates) — maintained by the Taylor County Register of Deeds and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services
Business records (licenses, permits, and fictitious business names) — maintained by the Taylor County Clerk's Office
Tax records (property tax bills and assessment records) — maintained by the Taylor County Treasurer and the Taylor County Assessor
Voting and election records — maintained by the Taylor County Clerk
Meeting minutes and agendas (county board, committees, and commissions) — maintained by the Taylor County Clerk
Budget and financial documents — maintained by the Taylor County Finance Department
Law enforcement records (arrest logs and incident reports, where permitted by law) — maintained by the Taylor County Sheriff's Office
Land use and zoning records — maintained by the Taylor County Planning and Zoning Department

The Taylor County Clerk's Office serves as the central administrative repository for many of these records and coordinates public access requests across county departments.

Is Taylor County an Open Records County?

Taylor County fully complies with Wisconsin's open records framework, which establishes a strong presumption in favor of public access to government records. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35, any person has a right to inspect any record maintained by a government authority, and the burden of proof for withholding a record rests with the government, not the requester.

Key provisions of the Wisconsin Open Records Law applicable to Taylor County include:

Government authorities must respond to records requests as soon as practicable and without delay
Denial of a records request must be made in writing and must cite the specific legal authority for the denial
The law applies to all county offices, boards, commissions, and departments operating within Taylor County

Wisconsin's open records statutes are complemented by the state's Open Meetings Law under Wis. Stat. § 19.81–19.98, which requires that meetings of governmental bodies be open to the public and that advance notice be provided. Taylor County's compliance with both statutes reflects the state's commitment to government transparency. The county does not currently maintain a separate county-specific public records ordinance beyond what is required under state law; all requests are processed in accordance with the Wisconsin Open Records Law.

How to Find Public Records in Taylor County in 2026

Members of the public seeking records from Taylor County may use several methods to locate and obtain documents. The following steps outline the standard process:

Identify the custodial office. Determine which Taylor County department maintains the record being sought. Court records are held by the Clerk of Courts; property and vital records are held by the Register of Deeds; tax records are held by the Treasurer's Office.
Submit a written or verbal request. Under current law, requests may be made verbally or in writing. Written requests are recommended to create a clear record of the transaction. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, by telephone, or by email to the appropriate office.
Use online resources. The Taylor County official website provides access to department contact information, meeting minutes, agendas, and budget documents. Wisconsin circuit court records are searchable through the Wisconsin Court System's online portal.
Visit the office in person. Members of the public may inspect records during regular business hours at the relevant county office without charge.
Request copies. If copies are needed, fees apply as described in the section below. Requests for certified copies of vital records require completion of a specific application form and proof of eligibility.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Public Records in Taylor County?

Taylor County applies a standard fee schedule for public records copies consistent with the limits established under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(3), which authorizes government authorities to charge fees that do not exceed the actual, necessary, and direct cost of reproduction and transcription.

Current fees applicable to Taylor County public records include:

Standard paper copies: Fees are assessed per page and vary by office; most county offices charge between $0.10 and $0.25 per page for black-and-white copies
Certified copies of vital records: The Register of Deeds charges a statutory fee per certified copy of birth, death, or marriage records as set by Wisconsin law
Court record copies: The Clerk of Courts assesses fees per page in accordance with Wisconsin Supreme Court rules
Electronic records: Where records are provided in electronic format, fees reflect the actual cost of reproduction, which may be minimal or waived
Research and staff time: Fees for locating records may be assessed when retrieval requires substantial staff time, as permitted under current law

Accepted payment methods vary by office but generally include cash, check, and money order. Fee waivers may be available in limited circumstances, particularly for indigent requesters or when disclosure is determined to be in the public interest, at the discretion of the records custodian.

Does Taylor County Have Free Public Records?

Free inspection of public records is available at Taylor County government offices during regular business hours. Under the Wisconsin Open Records Law, no fee may be charged solely for the act of inspecting a record; fees apply only when copies are requested.

The following free public records resources are currently available:

In-person inspection at the Taylor County Clerk's Office, Register of Deeds, Treasurer's Office, and other county departments — no charge for viewing records on-site
Taylor County website — meeting minutes, agendas, budget documents, and other administrative records are posted at no cost on the Taylor County official website
Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA) — the Wisconsin Court System provides free online access to circuit court case information through its public portal
Wisconsin Department of Revenue — property assessment data and tax information for Taylor County parcels may be accessed through state databases at no charge

Who Can Request Public Records in Taylor County?

Any person may request public records from Taylor County, regardless of residency, citizenship, or stated purpose. Under Wis. Stat. § 19.35(1)(a), the right to inspect and copy records extends to "any person," and requesters are not required to be Wisconsin residents or to explain why they are seeking the records.

Specific eligibility considerations include:

Residency: Not required. Non-residents of Taylor County and Wisconsin have the same right of access as residents under current law.
Identification: Generally not required for most public records requests. However, requests for certified copies of vital records — such as birth or death certificates — require the requester to demonstrate a qualifying relationship to the subject of the record, as mandated by Wisconsin vital records statutes.
Purpose: Requesters are not required to state a reason for their request for most record types. Providing a purpose may, in some cases, assist the custodian in locating the correct records.
Requesting your own records: Individuals seeking records about themselves may have access to certain records that are otherwise restricted, such as sealed court records or personnel files, subject to applicable procedures.
Restrictions for specific record types: Juvenile records, adoption records, and certain law enforcement investigative records carry additional access restrictions regardless of the requester's identity.

What Records Are Confidential in Taylor County?

Certain categories of records maintained by Taylor County are exempt from public disclosure under Wisconsin law. The primary exemptions are codified at Wis. Stat. § 19.36, which identifies specific categories of records that government authorities are not required — and in some cases are prohibited — from disclosing.

Confidential and restricted record categories in Taylor County include:

Sealed court records — records sealed by judicial order are not available for public inspection
Juvenile records — records pertaining to juvenile court proceedings are confidential under Wisconsin law
Ongoing criminal investigation records — records compiled as part of an active law enforcement investigation may be withheld to protect the integrity of the investigation
Personal identifying information — Social Security numbers, financial account data, and similar identifiers are redacted from publicly released records
Medical and health records — protected under both Wisconsin law and the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
Adoption records — sealed by statute and accessible only under specific legal circumstances
Child welfare and protective services records — confidential under Wisconsin child welfare statutes
Personnel records — employee records are generally exempt, with limited exceptions for certain information about public officials
Trade secrets and proprietary business information — submitted to government agencies under a claim of confidentiality
Security plans and critical infrastructure details — withheld to protect public safety

When a records custodian withholds a record, Wisconsin law requires a written explanation citing the specific legal basis for the denial. A balancing test may apply in cases where the public interest in disclosure must be weighed against the harm that disclosure could cause.

Taylor County Recorder's Office: Contact Information and Hours

The Taylor County Register of Deeds serves as the official recorder for property records, vital records, and related documents. Members of the public may visit the office in person or contact the office by telephone or mail during regular business hours.

Taylor County Register of Deeds 224 S. Second Street, Room 101, Medford, WI 54451 (715) 748-1435 Taylor County Register of Deeds

Public Counter Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (excluding state and federal holidays)

Taylor County Clerk's Office 224 S. Second Street, Medford, WI 54451 (715) 748-1460 Taylor County Clerk

Taylor County Clerk of Courts 224 S. Second Street, Medford, WI 54451 (715) 748-1425 Taylor County Clerk of Courts

Taylor County Sheriff's Office 224 S. Second Street, Medford, WI 54451 (715) 748-1400 Taylor County Sheriff's Office

Taylor County Treasurer's Office 224 S. Second Street, Medford, WI 54451 (715) 748-1428 Taylor County Treasurer