Marriage records in Marathon County, Wisconsin, are available through several channels. MarathonCourt.us allows you to quickly find public information about marriage records in the county. Additionally, the County Clerk's office issues licenses and keeps the original documents. You can visit in person, send a request by mail, or use the Wisconsin Vital Records portal to order certified copies online.
Marathon Marriage Records Search
In Wisconsin, the County Clerk is responsible for issuing marriage licenses and registering marriage certificates. In Marathon County, this function is performed by the Marathon County Clerk. The collection includes marriage licenses returned after the ceremony, as well as historical records dating back to the county's founding. The clerk registers each document after the officiant returns the signed license within the legally defined period.
If you need a record older than 1907, contact the office directly—some early documents are only available in paper form. Records after October 1907 are also available through the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, Vital Records Office.
Certified Marriage Record Copies and Fees in Marathon
The fees are set according to Wisconsin Statutes § 69.22. Below is the current fee schedule for obtaining copies of marriage records:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Certified copy | $20.00 |
| Additional copy (in the same order) | $3.00 |
| Search fee, if no copy is needed | $10.00 |
The processing time for requests depends on the method of submission. In-person requests are usually processed the same day. Mail requests take 2–4 weeks. Orders through the state Vital Records portal may take 2–3 weeks, plus an additional fee for online order processing.
Order Marriage Certificates Online or In Person in Marathon
There are three main ways to obtain a copy of a marriage certificate.
Online
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services offers an online ordering system for vital records. Through this portal, you can order a certified copy of a marriage certificate for marriages registered after October 1907. You will need:
- Full names of both spouses
- Date of marriage (or approximate year)
- County where the license was issued
- Valid identification of the applicant
Online orders incur an additional processing fee charged by a third-party provider.
In Person
Visit the Marathon County Clerk's office at the address listed above. Bring photo identification. Payment is accepted in cash, check, or money order. A certified copy is usually issued within a few minutes if the record is in the electronic system.
By Mail
Send a written request to the address:
Include in your letter:
- A completed request form (available for download on the county website or a letter in free form specifying the names of the spouses, date of marriage, and purpose of the request)
- A copy of photo identification
- A check or money order for the appropriate amount, payable to Marathon County Clerk
- A self-addressed stamped envelope
Mail requests take two to four weeks to process. If the clerk does not find the record, your payment for the copy will be refunded, but the search fee is non-refundable. To check the status of your request, call (715) 261-1500.
According to the Wisconsin public records law, marriage records are generally open to the public, but certified copies for legal purposes are issued only to authorized individuals. Check with the clerk to see if you are eligible to receive a certified copy for your specific situation.