Wisconsin Court Case Search: Find Your Lawsuit in Minutes
Wisconsin offers free online tools to search for court cases through the WCCA portal. If you've been sued for a debt, you have only 20 days to respond with a written Answer or risk losing by default and facing wage garnishment.
Answer Your LawsuitYou have the right to see court records in Wisconsin. The state makes it easy to check your case online.
Wisconsin’s judicial system provides a free online portal for finding court cases. You can search from home without visiting the courthouse.
Found Your Wisconsin Lawsuit? Respond Before Your 20-Day Deadline
You have only 20 days to file your Answer or the debt collector wins automatically. Don't risk wage garnishment and liens on your property.
Respond to Lawsuit NowIf you’ve been sued for a debt, tracking your case is crucial. Collectors often fail to properly serve defendants with case documents. Finding your case online helps you review progress and stay informed.
Searching for your case isn’t always straightforward. We’ll show you exactly what you need to know about Wisconsin court case searches.
Wisconsin’s Civil Court Structure
Understanding the court structure helps you find your case faster. Wisconsin has three levels of courts handling civil cases:
- Supreme Court
- Court of Appeals
- Circuit Court
The Supreme Court is Wisconsin’s highest judicial level. The court hears civil cases appealed from the Court of Appeals.
The Court of Appeals handles cases appealed from Circuit Courts. When someone disagrees with a case outcome, they can appeal to the next level.
Circuit Courts have jurisdiction over regular civil cases with no monetary limit. They also handle small claims cases involving $10,000 or less. Circuit courts divide into branches with at least one in every county.
Debt collection cases always begin at the Circuit Court level. Your lawsuit will start here unless it gets appealed.
Find Your Wisconsin Court Records Online
Wisconsin offers excellent tools for court case searches. You’ll primarily use these two resources:
- Wisconsin Circuit Court Access (WCCA)
- Wisconsin Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Access
Court clerks serve as custodians of court records. Many clerks maintain both paper and electronic records.
The WCCA provides access to most Circuit Court public records. Some records remain confidential and unavailable through WCCA. These include adoptions, juvenile cases, child protection, and guardianship matters.
How to Search for Your Debt Lawsuit
If you’re being sued for a debt, use the WCCA tool. You’ll need some or all of this information:
- Your full name
- Your birth date
- Business name (if applicable)
- County
- Case number
The tool is simple to navigate. You can usually find your case by entering just your name. The search displays all cases matching your criteria.
When you face a debt lawsuit, our partner Solo can help you respond quickly and properly.
WCCA Case Summaries Provide Helpful Information
The WCCA portal displays notes entered by court clerks. These comments aren’t official transcripts or detailed document descriptions.
You cannot view actual filed documents through the WCCA website. However, courthouses permit you to view scanned or electronic documents in person.
The WCCA displays case information for as long as the Clerk of Court retains the file. Different case types have different retention periods:
- Civil and misdemeanor cases: 20 years
- Felony cases: 50 years
- Class A felony cases: 75 years
Dismissed cases and small claims dropped without judgment remain on WCCA for two years.
Check Your Court Case Status at the Courthouse
You can obtain court records by visiting the courthouse where your case was filed. Most Wisconsin courthouses have public access terminals in court clerks’ offices.
Court clerks can assist you if you have trouble searching. Printing copies of court documents may incur a fee.
Use a Wisconsin court directory to find your courthouse address and phone number. Call ahead to confirm office hours and any requirements.
How Court Case Numbers Work in Wisconsin
Every court case receives a unique case number. Case numbers help clerks track and locate case data quickly.
Debt collection cases are classified as civil or small claims cases. Civil cases use the case type code CV. Small claims cases carry the code SC.
Wisconsin assigns case numbers using this format: filing year, case type, chronological number. For example, 2022CV000100 is the 100th civil case filed in 2022.
You can look up case numbers through the WCCA portal. Search by party name, attorney number, or business name if you don’t know the case number.
Respond to Your Debt Lawsuit Properly
You must respond to a debt lawsuit with a written Answer. Wisconsin gives you 20 days to respond before you lose by default.
Default judgments allow debt collectors to garnish your wages. They can also place liens on your property.
Our partner Solo helps you respond to debt lawsuits in minutes. You answer simple questions and receive a professional Answer document.
An attorney reviews your document before filing. The service ensures your response meets all legal requirements.
Why Your Response Matters
Responding to the lawsuit protects your rights. Your Answer can challenge the debt collector’s claims.
You might dispute the debt amount or question whether the collector has legal standing. Many debt collectors lack proper documentation to prove their case.
Your Answer forces the collector to prove every claim. Without proof, the court may dismiss the case entirely.
Take Action on Your Wisconsin Debt Lawsuit
Finding your court case is just the first step. You must respond within 20 days to protect yourself.
Search for your case using the WCCA portal today. Check the filing date to calculate your response deadline.
Don’t wait until the last minute to prepare your Answer. Gather all documents related to the debt now.
Acting quickly gives you the best chance of a favorable outcome. Many defendants successfully dismiss or settle debt cases when they respond properly.