Responsibilities of County Register

• To provide the official county repository for:
  • Real estate records (deeds, land contracts, mortgages, etc.)
  • Vital records (birth, death, marriage and military discharges)
  • UCC Real estate filings
• To implement statutory changes, system modernization, program and procedure evaluation and staff development to assure a high level of timely service for our citizen-customers.
• To provide safe archival storage and convenient access to these public records.

Calumet county's Register of Deeds office maintains a tremendous amount of important historical documents pertaining to the county. Documents maintained in the office and accessible to the general public are listed below:

• Property Ownership
• Deeds
• Mortgages
• Plat Maps
• Certified Survey Maps
• Birth Records, dating back to late 1850's
• Death Records, dating back late 1850's
• Marriage Records, dating back late 1850's
• Federal Tax Liens

Importance and Nature of Register of Deeds

Ownership of rights in and claims on property constitute one of the chief forms of wealth in American society. Accurate descriptions of property help society avoid wasteful battles over boundaries and rights. Records of the existence and exact nature of those rights are keys to orderly economic activity relating to that property. The Register of Deeds is able to tell who, what, and when about property. This function is extremely important.

Local government property tax base is defined from records of the ROD. The business community and consumers are served through Uniform Commercial Code filings. Business loans are made simpler, more secure, less expensive, and more widely available to the mutual benefit of those involved in the use of credit involving personal property, crops, and/or fixtures.

The responsibilities of the office are set forth in the Wisconsin Statutes. The Register of Deeds serves a statewide purpose, although elected at the county level.

The general nature of the office of the Register of Deeds is described as ministerial. The ROD has no discretion about whether or not to perform tasks required by the Wisconsin Statutes. Nevertheless, an opinion of the Wisconsin Attorney General qualifies this general position somewhat.

The Attorney General says that the ROD must read the law and judge whether the law requires the ROD to perform a duty. In other words, the ROD must not assume that every document presented at the office must be recorded or filed. Judgments have to be made. Even more specifically, the statutes require that the ROD judge whether plat documents meet the statutory criteria to be recorded.

In summary, the Register of Deeds must, from time to time, exercise judgment and decide whether statutory conditions are met before accepting a document. A good rule to follow is to consult the corporation counsel or district attorney when the proper action is unclear.

 Fees

RecordingandFilingFees

Fees are governed by Wisconsin Statutes and are uniform throughout the State.

Recorded Documents  (Recorded documents will be returned to sender or designee.)

• Deeds, Mortgages, Land Contracts, Satisfactions, Lispendens, UCC Real Estate filing and Miscellaneous Documents:
  • Entitled to be recorded in the Register of Deeds Office
  • Cost: $30.00 per document
  • Only one mortgage can be Partial Released, Assigned or Satisfied with a single instrument
• Probate Transferring Joint Property through Register of Deeds Office
  • Termination of Joint Tenancy
  • Cost: $30.00
• Copies of Documents:
  • Copies of recorded documents are $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 each additional page.
    
  • Plus $1.00 to certify a copy. 
  • Fees must be received, before copies are sent out.

Plats

Recorded plats are not returned to sender.

• Subdivisions: $50.00
• Cemetery Plats: $50.00
• Condominium Plats: $50.00
• Transportation Project Plats:  $25.00
  

 RealEstateTransferFees

1. A transfer form and fee or exemption number is required for all conveyances EXCEPT when exemptions 1, 2r, 4 and 11 apply.
2. Form is to be completed in detail.
3. Current rate of fee is $3.00 per $1000 of value rounded off to the next higher hundred. See form for exceptions.
4. Valuation must be shown when documents are exempt except if exempt under 77.25(3) and (11)
5. Transfer forms need to be filed electronically and a rececipt brought in with the deed.
6. Transfers involving rental property must be accompanied by a stipulation, waiver, or Certificate of Compliance Form.
7. Parcel identifier number must be on the form

VitalRecordsFeeSchedule

Certified Birth Certification                                $20.00
Uncertified Birth Certification                            $20.00
Certified Marriage Certification                         $20.00
Uncertified Marriage Certification                     $20.00
Certified Death Certification                              $20.00
Uncertified Death Certification                          $20.00 Certified Domestic Partnership                        $20.00 Certified Domestic Partnership Termination $20.00

• If you are requesting Vital Records through the mail, please include completed application, a copy of your drivers license and a self addressed stamped envelope.  We accept check or cash.

 Is your document ready to record?

·         Only original documents or certified copies may be recorded.

·         Pages must be white, standard weight, and either letter or legal sized.   No hinged pages.  Ink must be black.

·         The document must be legible and reproducible.

·         There must be a blank 3" by 3" space in upper right hand corner for the register's recording stamp.

·         The return address must be located either directly under the recording area or on the left within the top 3" of the page.

·         All pages must have a minimum 1/2" margin across the top.  The first page must have minimum 1/4" margins on sides and bottom.

·         Signatures are notarized.  Notary commission date stated.

·         The proper fee must accompany the document.

·         The name of the document drafter must be present.

·         Deeds, land contracts and judgments require the Wisconsin Real Estate Transfer Form.

·         We will review your documents for these items but the ultimate responsibility for a complete and correct document is yours.  Ask for assistance if you need it.

 Genealogy Records

• Birth Records, dating back to late 1850's
• Death Records, dating back to late 1850's
• Marriage Records, dating back to late 1850's

1. Hours for researching are 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. 
2. Two to three people are allowed in the research area at one time. This number will be determined by staff based on work surface availability.
3. Register of Deeds staff has first priority use of all indexes and records to conduct their daily business.
4. You assume all responsibility for conforming to the laws of library and literary property rights which may be involved in your use of the vital record.
5. The use of certain records and indexes is restricted by Wisconsin Statute. This office reserves the right to restrict access to records which are not arranged or being arranged, records which are confidential or contain confidential information. 

1. Present satisfactory proof of identity.
2. Read these rules and sign the agreement to abide by them.
3. The following are not allowed in the records area:

4.       Pens

5.       Markers

6.       Private copy machines

7.       Cameras or Cell Phones

8.       Children under twelve

1. No Smoking, Eating, or Drinking
2. Only pencils may be used
3. Handle all books with care and respect

12.   Return all books to their proper space.

13.   Do not place books on top of each other.

14.   Do not write in books.

1. Only one verbal warning will be given. Continued violators will be asked to leave the office.

1. The Vital Statistics Law in Wisconsin went into effect June 1, 1907 and the records before that time are incomplete:  we cannot make corrections to very old records. If you require copies of any records, please consult with the office staff and they will make the copies for you at the following cost:

          Uncertified copies for geneology purposes only:

                  2.       Birth ---------------------------------------- $20.00

3.       Marriage and Death ------------------ $20.00

4.       Additional copies of each record - $3.00

1. Office staff can assist you in finding the proper records, however, they are not at your disposal for checking records for you.