Don't see your question listed?
Contact the Clerk of Courts at the location above or the Dane County Legal
Resource Center at 266-6316.
What
are the hours of the Clerk of Courts?
7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Closed all County holidays. Customers should arrive in
time to complete all business by 4:30. Branch offices are also closed 12-1 p.m.
daily.
Where
is the Courthouse?
The Courthouse is located at 215 S Hamilton St and is between the streets of
Wilson and Doty running parallel. There is one entrance on Hamilton Street, a
one-way street connecting Wilson and Doty streets.
Where
do I park when I come to the Courthouse?
Parking can be a problem in the downtown area. There are several public parking
ramps close to the downtown area. There is usually little or no street parking
available during the work day, but there are handicapped-accessible parking
spots or areas to drop people off on Doty Street (around the corner from the
main entrance).
What happens when I arrive at the Courthouse?
You will be required to go through Weapons Screening when you arrive at the
Courthouse. You will have to pass
through a metal detector and all items will be sent through an X-Ray machine. The whole process is very similar to
the security screening at an airport so please plan accordingly. Allow extra time to get through
Security prior to your hearing.
Why
won't any court staff help me fill out a form, tell me how to proceed in my
case, etc?
Court staff cannot give legal advice. According to Supreme Court Rule 70.41,
services such as legal research or assistance filling out a form can be
considered legal advice. The worst case scenario places court staff in violation
of unauthorized practice of law, an offense punishable by as much as $500 or a
year in jail (according to WI Statute ยง 757.30(1) or both.
How
do I get a court interpreter?
A court interpreter will be provided for hearings UPON REQUEST. You must make the request, in
writing, with the office of the court official assigned to your case. You may also make the request at the
Clerk of Courts office, located on the first floor of the Courthouse.
How
do I get a copy of public records of court cases or files?
Contact the Record Center in the Clerk of Courts office for copies of cases and
files. A brief description of cases and index of records is contained in the WI
Circuit Court Access database at this website: http://wcca.wicourts.gov/index.xsl.
Where
do I report for jury duty?
Room L1000 in the Courthouse. See the Juror Information page for
more juror information.
How
do I search Dane County Court Cases?
http://wcca.wicourts.gov/index.xsl
Is
the Courthouse accessible to people in wheelchairs or with other physical
challenges?
Yes. The entrance has a ramp. There is a drop-off space for the wheelchair ramp
on Doty Street.
If
I violated a city ordinance in a city in Dane County, will the case be in
Circuit Court?
If the ticket was issued by a jurisdiction that has a Municipal Court, you will
probably need to appear there to answer an ordinance violation. The City of
Madison has a Municipal Court located in the City County Building Room 203 on
the Second Floor. Contact the Clerk of Courts if you are unsure which
jurisdiction or Court you need to visit.
What
are the local court rules for Dane County?
Local court rules are policies and procedures for court actions tried in Dane
County. You need to be familiar with the local court rules if you are involved
in court actions, even if you are not an attorney. You can view the Dane County Circuit
Court Rules.
What
if I can't afford to pay the filing fee for a court action?
You may petition the court to have filing and service fees waived. You should
use the Petition for Waiver of Filing and Service
fees form.
What
if I can't afford an attorney?
There are several alternatives and programs that may be able to assist you.
Visit the Court System's Self-Help Center
legal assistance page for
lists of resources and programs that offer no or low-cost legal aid and
information that can help you determine if you can afford a lawyer. You may also
choose to represent yourself.
Am
I supposed to behave a certain way while in Court?
Here are some general tips:
-
Be on time! The court has a very busy schedule. If you are late, your case might
be postponed to another date or dismissed entirely.
-
Dress professionally, as you would for an important event. This means that your
clothing should be neat and clean, and that you are well groomed.
-
Do not bring your children into court.
-
Do not chew gum.
-
Turn off electronic devices, including cell phones and pagers.
-
Be respectful to everyone in court. This includes the judge or court
commissioner, court staff, the other party involved in your case, witnesses,
court bailiff, and any other people in the area.
-
Address the judge as 'Your Honor'.
-
Do not use profanity, argue, or verbally react to answers given in court by the
judge or commissioner, opposing party, or attorney. You will have your turn to
speak.
I
can't make my court date. How do I reschedule a court date?
It might not be possible to reschedule, but you can try calling. The number of the assigned judge
hearing your case should be located on the notice of hearing. For Dane County
Circuit Court, call 266-4311. Requests to
adjourn small claims court hearings must be received, in writing,
and a copy of the request MUST be provided to the other parties in the case.
How
do I complain about an attorney?
The Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) investigates grievances about attorney
misconduct. OLR provides instructions on how to file a grievance, outlines the
grievance process, and explains under what circumstances you may learn whether
other grievances have been filed or whether the attorney has been previously
disciplined. Information about the OLR is on their website.
Where
can I complain about a Court Commissioner?
Read Supreme Court Rule (SCR) 75.06. Contact information for the chief judge may
be found in the Circuit Court Administrative Districts directory. The Wisconsin
Judicial Commission provides an online complaint form.
Where
can I complain about a judge?
The Wisconsin Judicial Commission investigates allegations of judicial
misconduct. They provide an online complaint form.
Are
there court forms specific to Dane County?
There are several court forms that are designed for use in Dane County only.
Locate a court form here on our Court Forms page.
How
do I get a lawyer?
There are several ways for you to locate an attorney to assist you. One way is
to call the WI State Bar Lawyer Referral and Information Service at (608)
257-4666. You could also search lawyer directories or the yellow pages. For more
information, visit this topic on the Wisconsin State Law Library's Legal Topics
page.
How
do I access legal information?
Online, a substantial amount of Wisconsin legal information can be found by
accessing the Wisconsin State Law Library's website and
searching its contents. Not all legal information is available on the Internet,
nor is it all available for free. You may also visit the Dane County Legal
Resource Center or WI State Law Library during normal business hours. Another
option is emailing your question todclrc.ref@wicourts.gov or
calling (608) 266-6316 for more information and assistance.