You can Request Birth, Death, Marriage Certificates and Real Estate Information On-line from Dane County Website

July 25, 2002
Sharyn Wisniewski (608) 267-8823
County Executive

Reminder: Opt Out Provision for Property Owner Names on Real Estate Records is Available Need a copy of a Dane County birth, death or marriage record? Searching your family history and want to contact a local genealogist to do some searching in the county’s older vital records for you? The Dane County’s website has a wealth of information that may speed your search. Just visit the Dane County Register of Deeds webpage that is part of the County Website at www.co.dane.wi.us. Select “Departments” and “Register of Deeds.” “Given that people are so busy today, we have set up a way to make it easier for them to access those government records they request most frequently,” said Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. “These records usually have to do with themselves, their family and their property.” Register of Deeds Jane Licht says, “We’ve gotten very positive responses to being able to request this information over the internet. It serves customers 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” If you need a copy of your birth, death or marriage record, you may get a copy of the application form, fill it out and mail it in with a money order. Or, if you are in a hurry and live further away, you may choose the “expedited service.” You can fax in your request along with your credit card number. If you place your order by 2 p.m. on a work day, the certified birth, death or marriage record will be prepared and dropped in the mail the same day. “Expedited service costs more money but customers who really need it are very glad it is available,” said Licht. If you wish to contact a local genealogist to do some searching in the county’s older vital records for you, several are listed on the website. Office hours and the schedule of fees for recording and filing documents or obtaining copies are also listed. Reminder: Opt out provision on Access Dane website available. The Dane County website also has links to AccessDane and the City of Madison Assessor’s Office for specific land parcel information. The Dane County Board of Supervisors earlier this year changed the information policy for AccessDane, the county’s geographic and land information database. As of July 15, property owner names are now shown on the site, except for those individuals who have requested that their names be blocked. If a property owner does not want his or her name listed on the public website, the website has instructions on how to “opt out” of having the property owner’s name listed. Most of the information on the Register of Deed’s website has to do with Real Estate. There are pages on the Wisconsin Real Estate Transfer Return form, instruments of conveyance, and definitions of real estate terms. Links to various forms and suggestions on how to obtain copies of recorded documents are also provided. If the “Frequently Asked Questions” and the rest of the website do not answer your questions, email Jane Licht at licht@co.dane.wi.us. # # #