Lisa BudishRegister of Deeds

Washington County Government Center
432 E Washington St, Room 2084
West Bend , WI 53095

(View Map)

Phone:262-335-4320Fax:262-335-4884Email: Washington Co ROD

Days Available:Monday-ThursdayHours Available:7:00am - 5:30pm(closed on Friday)

Holiday ScheduleRegister of Deeds

The Washington County Courthouse will be closed on the following days:

New Year’s Day, Thursday, January 1, 2026
Memorial Day, Monday, May 25, 2026
Fourth of July, Friday, July 3, 2026
Labor Day, Monday, September 7, 2026
Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 26, 2026
Day after Thanksgiving, Friday, November 27, 2026
Christmas Eve, Thursday, December 24, 2026
Christmas Day, Friday, December 25, 2026

Last Recording day of 2026 –Wednesday, December 30, 2026
(Courthouse open-all documents must be received before 3:30 pm)

New Year’s Eve, Thursday, December 31, 2026
New Year’s Day, Friday, January 1, 2027

Monday through Thursday, 7:00am-5:30pm
(closed on Fridays)

To schedule quarterly Saturday vital record appointments online:

April 18,2026, July 18, 2026, and October 17, 2026

Under the authority of Chapters 59.43 and 69 of the Wisconsin Statutes, the Register of Deeds is the custodian of real estate land records. Recorded real estate documents are a matter of public record and can be inspected by anyone during regular business hours or available online.

Vital records are protected and only available to the person named on the record, immediate family member, or an agent representing the person named in the record. 

• Statewide issuance of Birth records available in our office are from October 1, 1907 to present.

• Death records available in our office are from September 1, 2013 to present.  Deaths prior to August 31, 2013 must be obtained from the county where the death occurred.

• Statewide issuance of Marriage Certificates available in our office are from October 1, 1907 to present.

• Statewide issuance of Divorce Certificates available in our office are from January 1, 2016 to present.  Divorce records prior to 2016 must be obtained from the county where the divorce occurred.

Vital Records Fees

• $20.00 for the first copy (of each record)
• $3.00 for each additional copy

Acceptable forms of payment are Cash or Check made payable to "Register of Deeds".

Click here for Order Forms

There are 3 ways to obtain vital records:

1. Come into the office located at: 432 E Washington St. Room 2084, West Bend.  Print and complete the form and bring it with you  (identification is required).
2. Print and complete the form and mail it to our office with the appropriate fee.
3. Order online with credit card.  Click here to order Vital Records Online

Any questions pertaining to a specific record, please call (262) 335-4321 or Email Washington County Vital Records Clerk.

Washington County Register of Deeds has partnered with an independent company to process online requests - VitalChek Network, Inc.  An additional fee is charged by VitalChek for this service.  All major credit cards are accepted, including American Express®, Discover®, MasterCard® or Visa®..

Any questions pertaining to a specific Birth, Death, Marriage, or Divorce record can be verified by completing and mailing in the verification form.  The fee is $7.00 per name.  Click here for the Vital Record Verification Application.

Genealogical & historical real estate records are available back to the mid-1800's. You may search our records anytime between the hours of 8:00am – 4:00pm Tuesday through Thursday.  APPOINTMENTS ARE ENCOURAGED.

VITAL STATISTICS RULES PURSUANT TO WI STATUTES CHAPTER 69, ADMIN RULE DFS 142

1. Sign in at the front desk.
2. No CAMERAS, cell phones, food, or drinks.
3. Ask Register for approval of laptop.
4. No children under the age of 12.

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

NOTE: A statewide vital records law went into effect June 1, 1907. Vital Records prior to 1907 are limited.

Recording fees are governed by Wisconsin Statute §59.43 and are uniform throughout the State.  Documents received between 8:00am-4:00pm are recorded the same day they are received.

Original documents that have been recorded are returned in three business days.  (Please contact the ROD office for an email option.)

Recording and copy fees  Please make checks payable to "Register of Deeds".

• Fee to record a document = $30.00
• Fee to record a Subdivision or Condominium Plat = $50.00
• Copies of recorded documents = $2.00 first page/$1.00 addl page(s)
• Oversized plat copies = $2.00 per linear foot per page
• Certified copies: $3.00 first page/$1.00 addl page(s)

Links for blank forms

DOR Website: Wisconsin Real Estate Transfer Return
Blank Forms: Real Estate Documents
WRDA Website: Miscellaneous Forms

What is LandShark?

LandShark is an online system used to search recorded land record documents. Name searches are free. Viewing or printing recorded documents costs $2.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page per document, plus a $3.00 convenience fee. Payment is accepted via MasterCard, Visa, or Discover.

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS LANDSHARK

For title companies, law firms, or banks, please contact the Register of Deeds office to establish an escrow account at 262-335-4320.

Through a partnership between Washington County and the Washington County Historical Society, historic plat books have been scanned, cataloged, and are available online to search and view at no cost. Full-size copies are available for a small fee through the Register of Deeds office.

Select the Historical Maps link to display a folder with available years.  Select a year.  All pages are provided in PDF format and require the free Adobe Reader to view.

Historical Maps 

Additional years will be added when historic books are located and copyright laws permit.

What is Land Notification/Fraud Alert?   The LandNotification system gives you the ability to monitor a name or a specific parcel of land for property real estate activity. You can create one or more alerts that are triggered when a real estate document is recorded in the Washington County Register of Deeds office with the name identified in the alert. When an alert is triggered, an email will be sent to the email address provided.  The email will contain more information about the activity and will have a link to LandShark, our county on-line property records system.

Click here to sign up for LandNotification alerts 

For more information, contact Register of Deeds office at 262-335-4320 or Email Washington County Register of Deeds Office.

Deed Fraud: What Property Owners Should Know

What is deed fraud?

Deed fraud occurs when someone records a forged or false document that claims an interest in real property. This may involve forged signatures, false notarizations, or documents submitted by someone without legal authority.

Can someone steal my home just by filing a deed?

No. Recording a document does not automatically transfer legal ownership of property. Property ownership is determined by law and, when disputed, by the courts. A fraudulent deed does not override the rights of a lawful property owner. 

What is the role of the County Recorder?

The County Recorder’s Office records documents as required by state law. Recording is a ministerial function, meaning the Recorder does not investigate fraud, verify signatures, or determine the legal validity of documents or ownership claims.

What should I do if I believe fraud has occurred?

• Contact local law enforcement to report suspected fraud.
• Consult a real estate attorney – statute of limitations, rights, and remedies are all state specific.
• Notify your title insurance company, if applicable.

Can I prevent someone from recording a fraudulent document?

No. It is not possible to prevent someone from recording a fraudulent document. Recording offices are required by law to record documents that meet statutory requirements on their face. 

What about title insurance?

Title insurance is a private insurance product that may provide coverage or legal defense for certain title issues, including fraud, depending on the policy coverage. County Recorder offices do not sell or endorse private insurance products.

County Recorder offices are committed to maintaining accurate public records while operating within the law. If you have concerns, please ask our staff about available public resources.