Department: Register of Deeds

  The Register of Deeds Office is established in the State of Wisconsin with its duties prescribed by State Statutes, predominately Chapter 59.43. It is the Register of Deeds mission to carry out the Statutes as described.

The office is the custodian of Real Estate Recordings, Vital Records, Military Discharges and Uniform Commercial Code filings for Forest County. The Real Estate Records maintained in the office form the foundation of the County’s Land Information Systems. 

Wisconsin Register of Deeds Association: https://www.wrdaonline.org/video 

Please note: The Register of Deeds office cannot draft documents and cannot provide legal advice of any kind.

eRecording increases the timely recording of documents (recorded, indexed and searchable within minutes of being received), provides the ability to track rejections in an efficient manner and there's no more waiting for checks for recording fees to clear the bank.

If you are interested in eRecording in Forest County, contact one of our eRecording vendors today to get started:

  Genealogists are able to perform searches between the hours of operation. We ask that you contact the office if you plan on visiting to confirm that we are at full staff to keep the office open for the 12-1 lunch hour.  

Genealogy Links: https://sites.rootsweb.com/~witaylor/links.html

Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/ 

Local History Obituary Index: https://www.crandonareahistory.org/local-history-obituary-index/  

There are currently two options available to access records on-line: Tapestry EON and Laredo.

Tapestry EON is available to the public for remotely searching the official public record. The cost of a search is $8.75 per search.  The cost of each printed copy is $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page per document. The website can be found here: https://tapestry.fidlar.com/Tapestry2/

Laredo is an Internet based access program designed for more frequent users such as title companies and other real estate related firms that operate in Wisconsin and need access daily to the land records in the Forest County Register of Deeds office.  This is obtained by entering into a written agreement with the Forest County Register of Deeds.  If interested, please contact the Forest County Register of Deeds at (715) 478-3823 or email forestrd@co.forest.wi.us 

Grantor/Grantee Index: Forest County Search Index

(Handwritten Grantor/Grantee Book Index entry ended: Feb. 26, 1993)

Manual Tract Books Pre 2013: Forest County Search Index 

(Handwritten Tract Book Index entry ended: December 31, 2012)

Tract/Index Information

Handwritten Grantor/Grantee Book Index entry ended: Feb. 26, 1993 

Handwritten Tract Book Index entry ended: December 31, 2012 

Volume and Page numbering ended (on most docs): March 10, 2013

Data can be sporadic in computer system but goes backwards from current to: Doc. No: 134223, Vol: 158 Page 1. Partial data has been entered from 1935-1979 and we are currently working on data for Record books 1979-1987. Partial data is considered: doc type, date, grantor/grantee but again can be sporadic.

IMAGES SCANNED back to:               SEARCHABLE by: 

Deeds:                         Volume: 1 Vol: 1 Page: 1 or Doc No

Records:                      Doc No: 91033                   Vol: 96 Page 1 or Doc No

Miscellaneous:            Volume: 1                              Vol: M1 Page 1 or Doc No

Mineral Records:        Volume: 1                              Vol: MR1 Page 1 or Doc No

Corporation Records: Volume: 1                              Vol: CR1 Page 1 or Doc No

Certified Survey:         Volume: 1                              Vol: CS(space)1 Page 1 or Doc No 

(Except but not limited to: Mortgages, Chattel Mortgages, Financial Statements, Lis Pendens, Forest Crop Lands, Federal Tax Liens, Change of Names, Cemetery, Highway)

We always encourage you to verify the handwritten tract index against the computer system. 

The index/image is not construed to be true and complete; rather, it is a working index and is subject to error, omission and future modification.

  Property Fraud Alert is a notification service that alerts subscribers against the possibilities of fraudulent activity being committed against their property. Sign up  for free by calling the Property Fraud Alert hotline at 800-728-3858 or by clicking the link: www.propertyfraudalert.com 

Property Fraud Alert is a notification service that alerts subscribers against the possibilities of fraudulent activity being committed against their property. Sign up  for free by calling the Property Fraud Alert hotline at 800-728-3858 or by clicking the link: www.propertyfraudalert.com 

Electronic Real Estate Transfer Return can be found here: https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/RETr/Home.aspx 

Forest County GIS Map: https://forestcowi.wgxtreme.com/gis

Forest County Survey Data(Survey Maps, ROW Maps, Tie Sheets, etc.): https://forest.ncwrpc.info/

Statewide Private Forest Lands Open for Public Recreation (MFL Open/Closed): https://dnrmaps.wi.gov/opfl/

SCO Survey Control Finder: https://maps.sco.wisc.edu/surveycontrolfinder/#7/44.730/-90.143/NGS,county,USGS,CORS,PLSS/terrain

Statewide Parcel Map Initiative: https://www.sco.wisc.edu/parcels/data/

DNR Well Construction Information: https://dnr.wi.gov/WellConstructionSearch/#!/PublicSearch/Index

Copies of Documents | First Page $2.00 | Additional Pages $1.00 each page

Certified copy add $1.00 per document

Standard Real Estate Recording Fee | $30.00 per document

Subdivision/Condominium Plat Fee | $50.00

DOT Plat Fee | $25.00

Downloadable FREE forms can be found here: https://www.wrdaonline.org/forms

(Quit Claim Deed, Warranty Deed, Termination of Decedent’s Interest, Transfer on Death to Beneficiary, Registration of Firm/Farm Name and Instructions, Non-Metallic Mining, Statement of Mineral Claim, Transfer by Affidavit, etc.)

Birth Certificate, Death Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Domestic Partnership Certificate, Termination of Domestic Partnership Certificate

Note: Divorce Certificates are available from January 1, 2016 forward

The fee for a copy of a Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce, Domestic Partnership or Termination of Domestic Partnership Certificate is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy of the same record.

Check or money order must accompany a completed and signed request form, acceptable identification, any additional proof or authorization required and a self-addressed, stamped, envelope.

Application forms are available here: https://www.wrdaonline.org/vitalrecords

***Disclaimer***

  Our office keeps and protects real estate records. We can answer basic questions about our process, but we cannot tell you which forms to use, fill them out for you, or prepare legal documents.

  Our office does not provide services for real estate or title searches, or for interpreting documents. We can provide copies of recorded documents and help you with access to our records.

  Even if a form looks simple the information you provide may have legal meaning. What is correct can depend on your situation. Deciding how to complete a document may be considered legal advice, and we are not allowed to give legal advice.

If you need help beyond what our office provides, please contact an attorney, a title company, or another qualified professional for assistance with real estate documents.