For ordering Certified Copies of Vital Records by mail, please see below.
STATEWIDE CERTIFICATE ISSUANCE
Any County Register of Deeds office in the State of Wisconsin can issue Certificates for ALL counties, no matter where the event occurred, ONLY IF the event occurred within the following timeframe:
- Birth Certificates – from October 1, 1907 – Present
- Marriage Certificates – from October 1, 1907 - Present
- Death Certificates – from September 1, 2013 – Present (Prior to September 1, 2013, you will need to contact the County Register of Deeds office where the death occurred)
- Divorce Certificates – from January 1, 2016 – Present (Prior to January 1, 2016, contact the Clerk of Courts at 608-743-2200)
English Appliciations Aplicaciones en Espanol
Step By Step Mailing Instructions Instrucciones Paso a Paso de Como Mandar su Aplicación por Correo
Birth Certificate Application Aplicación Para el Acta de Nacimiento
Death Certificate Application Aplicación Para el Acta de Defunción
Marriage Certificate Application Aplicación Para el Acta de Matrimonio
Divorce Certificate Application Aplicación Para el Acta de Divorcio
**FOR DIVORCES AFTER 01/01/2016 ONLY** **PARA DIVORCIOS DESPUÉS DEL 01/01/2016 SOLAMENTE**
Fees
- First Copy - $20.00
- Each Additional Copy - $3.00
Payment Methods by Mail
- Certified bank or cashier's check made payable to: "Register of Deeds"
- Money order made payable to: "Register of Deeds"
- ONLY Rock County residents may send a personal check payable to the "Register of Deeds"
Identification Requirements
- ONE of the following:
- State-issued driver's license or ID card
- U.S. government-issued photo ID
- U.S. or foreign passport
- Tribal or military ID card
- OR TWO of the following:
- Bank/earnings statement
- Current, dated, signed lease
- Health insurance card
- Utility bill or traffic ticket
- Vehicle registration/title
Be sure to include the following:
- One of the payment forms listed above.
- Completed & Signed Application
- Copy of Acceptable Identification
Mail to:
Register of Deeds
51 S Main Street
Janesville, WI 53545
** Our office is currently open for genealogy by appointment only. **
Historical documents maintained in the office and accessible to the general public are listed below. Note: Only records from Rock County are available in our office.
| Birth Records |
Earliest Available 1860s |
| Marriage Records |
Earliest Available 1839 |
| Death Records |
Earliest Available 1873 |
| Deeds |
Earliest Available 1839 |
| Mortgages |
Earliest Available 1839 |
| Surveys |
Earliest Available 1839 |
| Religious Societies |
Earliest Available 1854 |
Vital Records prior to 1907 are incomplete as it was not a law that Vital Records be recorded until after 1907.
Public access to death records for the last 50 years, cause of death is not viewable by the public unless they have a direct and tangible interest.
Certain records/date ranges are confidential and will not be viewed, shown or discussed with the public. Non-confidential recent electronic records are only available if purchased. Genealogist copy requests may not be available the same day.
Genealogists must abide by the following rules. A complete list will be provided upon entry to the research area.
Users that violate the rules may be asked to leave the office.
- Register the following information before entering the vital records area: Name, address, telephone number and general identification of records being searched.
- Present satisfactory proof of identity to the register.
- Read the rules and sign an agreement to abide by them.
- The following are not allowed:
No food or beverages
No children under 12
No private copy machines, cameras or cell phones
Briefcases, bags, purses, are not allowed. (lockers are available)
- Only pencils may be used. No pens are allowed.
- Observe specific office rules for handling of books and materials
- Up to four persons are allowed in the research area at one time. You may be asked to leave the area if you have been searching for more than two hours to allow others the opportunity to search.
- If you would like to purchase copies of records for genealogy, please complete an application for an uncertified copy.
Office hours are 8:00 am to 4:30 pm weekdays. Appointments are required. Staff assistance is available from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm.
Additional Resources
Rock County Genealogical Society www.rcgswi.org
Rock County Historical Society https://rchs.us/
How can I obtain a copy of my birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership or divorce certificate?
You can come in to the counter during normal business hours, place an order through one of our third-party ordering links or mail in your request using our printable applications. Click here for more information.
How much does it cost to obtain a certificate and what do I need to bring with me?
Certified and uncertified copies are $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy per record. There are additional fees when ordering online. You will need to bring a valid state issued ID or TWO alternative options. We will not accept social security cards. Click here for more information.
Where can I obtain obtain my birth and marriage certificates if they did not occur in Rock County?
If the event occurred in Wisconsin, you can obtain your birth and marriage certificates at ANY Register of Deeds office in Wisconsin. Click here for more information. If the event occurred in another state, you will need to contact that state of occurrence to obtain your record.
Can I obtain my divorce decree at the Register of Deeds office?
We have divorce certificates from January 1, 2016 to present. Click here for more information. Divorce decrees along with any divorce record prior to 2016, must be obtained from the Clerk of Courts.
Why is my new last name not on my marriage certificate?
Your new last name will never appear on your marriage certificate. The "current last name" listed on the record refers to the name that you had at the time of applying for the license. You will use this document to change your name with social security, Department of Motor Vehicles and other institutions, but it will never appear on the record itself.
