Birth certificates contain information about a person's birth, including the date of birth, place of birth, sometimes the names of the mother and father, and even the physician who attended the birth. Birth certificates issued by state and local governments will often include the place of residence, and the mother's maiden name.
Birth certificates can be used to establish a person's date and place of birth. Most birth certificates provide the mother's maiden name. Birth certificates are often required to obtain other documents, licenses or to prove eligibility.
This webpage gives you access to all of the online databases containing Wisconsin birth records, Wisconsin birth ceritificates, Wisconsin birth notices, Wisconsin birth indexes, and other related Wisconsin genealogy records.
Birth records have long been used to help with genealogy research. They are considered to be "primary source" records, because the information is recorded by an eye witness, at the time the birth takes place. The Internet has allowed people to store birth records into various online archives. This has brought access to online birth records much more easier for genealogy researchers.
Newspapers frequently publish notices of births, and in addition to birth certificates, are a popular source of research by genealogists. Newspapers typically do not announce the names of the newborn, but list the sex of the child, the names of the parents, the place and date of birth.
On this page you will find the most comprehensive databases containing birth records of Wisconsin. We also suggest searching for "Wisconsin birth records" using Google.com, which will yield all such databases.
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How to Obtain Wisconsin Birth Certificates
In 1852, Wisconsin directed the counties to record births, a mandate generally ignored. In 1878 a similar law received more attention and adherence. However, it was 1907 before the State Bureau of Vital Statistics was established.
For birth, marriage, and death records from earliest to present, write:
Wisconsin State Department of Health, Vital Records Services
State Office has scattered records earlier than 1857. Records before October 1, 1907, are very incomplete. Cost for copy is $12.00. Additional copies of the same record ordered at the same time are $3.00 each.
Personal check or money order should be made payable to State of Wisconsin Vital Records. A stamped, self-addressed business size (#10) envelope should be included with the request. To verify current fees, the telephone number is (608) 266-1371. This will be a recorded message. Information on how to obtain certified copies is also available via the internet at 
For prior records, write to the clerk of the county in question.