Milwaukee County Circuit Court Filing Fees and Waivers

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office fee may be paid by cash, credit card, money order, or cashier's check payable to the Sheriff's Office.

The fee is payable with cash, credit card, money order or cashier’s check made payable to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Applications for waiver of costs and fees generally must be made in the Chief Judge’s office, except for harassment or domestic abuse restraining-order or injunction cases.

Except in cases in which a person seeks a harassment or domestic abuse restraining order or injunction (which cases are governed by paragraph C.), all applications for waiver of costs and fees under Wis. Stat. § 814.29 shall be made in the office of the Chief Judge.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Fee-waiver applications in harassment or domestic abuse injunction or restraining-order cases must be submitted to the Family Court Commissioner through the Task Force on Family Violence office.

All applications for waiver of costs and fees in cases in which the petitioner seeks a harassment or domestic abuse injunction or restraining order shall be submitted to the Family Court Commissioner through the office of the Task Force on Family Violence.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Fee

$5

Applies to

Judgment filing

A $5.00 judgment filing fee must be paid by cashier’s or certified check or money order payable to the Clerk of Circuit Court, unless the Family Court Commissioner permits payment in cash at the final hearing.

11. A cashier’s or certified check or money order payable to the Clerk of Circuit Court for the judgment filing fee ($5.00), unless the office of the Family Court Commissioner grants permission to the parties to bring the funds in cash to the final hearing.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Fee

5 $

Applies to

Judgment document

The $5.00 judgment filing fee must be paid by cashier’s check, certified check, or money order payable to the Clerk of Circuit Court.

A cashier’s or certified check or money order payable to the Clerk of Circuit Court for the judgment filing fee ($5.00).

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Judgment modification motion

The Milwaukee County Department of Child Support Enforcement is exempt from the filing fee for judgment-modification motions filed for parties receiving W-2, medical assistance, SSI, or food stamps.

No filing fee shall be charged to the Milwaukee County Department of Child Support Enforcement for filing judgment modification motions on behalf of a party receiving W-2, medical assistance, SSI or food stamps.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026CRITICAL

Applies to

Jury or appeal fee waiver request

A request to waive jury or appeal fees must be submitted in writing to the Chief Judge on a municipal-court form when the jury or appeal demand is filed.

All requests for waiver of jury fees or of appeal fees shall be made in writing to the Chief Judge, on a form available at the municipal court, at the time of filing the jury or appeal demand.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Fee waiver application

A fee-waiver application must be completed, notarized, and accompanied by income or benefit verification and submitted to Room 609; an approved waiver remains valid for 30 days.

Here is the form you need to apply for a waiver of fees. Fill out the form, sign it in front of a Notary Public, and take it and proof of your eligibility (including proof of benefits currently being received, or the most recent month's worth of pay stubs/proof of income) to Room 609 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse for consideration. Once approved, this waiver of fees is good for 30 days.

Checked and corrected to match the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Fee

$25

Applies to

Courthouse security pass application

An attorney seeking a courthouse security pass must apply in person for Chief Judge approval, bring personal identification and a $25.00 check payable to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, and be photographed during designated hours.

To obtain a courthouse security pass, the attorney shall file an application in person for approval by the Chief Judge accompanied by personal identification and a check in the amount of $25.00 made payable to the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office and be photographed by the Sheriff's Office during designated hours.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Transcript charges and clerk photocopy charges

The Chief Judge cannot waive transcript charges or Clerk of Circuit Court photocopy charges.

The Chief Judge is not authorized to waive transcript charges or charges for photocopies made by the Clerk of Circuit Court.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Earnings garnishment forms

The Clerk may issue earnings garnishment forms upon payment of the appropriate fee, provided the notice is filed no later than 5 business days after service on the garnishee.

B. The Clerk’s office may issue earnings Garnishment forms upon payment of the appropriate fee and prior to the filing of the earnings garnishment notice provided that the earnings garnishment notice is filed with the Clerk’s office no later than 5 business days after the date the garnishee is served.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Jury fee

Unless the court orders otherwise, the jury fee must be paid within 30 days after the scheduling order is issued.

Unless the court orders otherwise, the jury fee shall be paid within 30 days after the court issues the scheduling order pursuant to Rule 3.8.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026WARNING

Applies to

Jury fee

If no party pays the jury fee, all parties waive the right to a jury.

If no party pays the jury fee, the right to a jury is waived by all parties.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026INFO

Fee

4

Applies to

Genealogy research search request

A mailed genealogy research request requires a prepaid $4 search fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

There is no cost to conduct a search on your own. However, if you mail us a request for a search, a $4 search fee must be pre-paid, and the request must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026INFO

Fee

10

Applies to

Will safekeeping

The Probate Court charges a $10 fee to hold a copy of a will for safekeeping.

The Milwaukee County Register in Probate will hold a copy of your will for safekeeping. There is a $10 fee for this service.

Checked against the court's document on Oct 5, 2026INFO

Applies to

Domestic abuse petition

No filing fee is charged for a domestic abuse petition.

There is no filing fee for a domestic abuse petition.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Fee

20 ?

Applies to

Adult adoption ?

A check or money order for $20 made payable to “State of Wis. Vital Records” (if original birth certificate is from Wisconsin). No cash.

Summary: For a Wisconsin original birth certificate, the petitioner must bring a $20 check or money order payable to State of Wis. Vital Records; cash is not accepted.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Eviction case ?

File the forms in Room 104 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse, 901 N. 9th Street to pay the court fee.

Summary: Eviction forms must be filed in Room 104 of the Milwaukee County Courthouse, and a court fee must be paid.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Civil case ?

There is also a filing fee that must be paid, which varies by type of case. The fee is paid and the documents are filed in Room 104 of the courthouse.

Summary: Starting a civil lawsuit requires payment of a case-dependent filing fee when the summons and complaint are filed in Room 104.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Civil cases

Applies to

Jury fee

On or before _________________________, the jury fee shall be paid or, pursuant to Local Rule 3.9, all parties shall be deemed to have waived their right to a jury.

Summary: The jury fee must be paid by the scheduling deadline or the parties will be deemed to have waived their right to a jury.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Objection or cross petition ?

All required fees shall be paid before or at the time of filing.

Summary: Required fees for an objection or cross-petition must be paid before or when the filing is made.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.CRITICAL?

Applies to

Small claims summons ?

An action shall be commenced by the issuance by the Clerk of Circuit Court, upon payment of the filing fee, of a summons form or payment seal for use on a summons form approved by the court.

Summary: Commencement of a small-claims action requires payment of the filing fee before the Clerk issues the approved summons form or payment seal.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to

Sheriff service of eviction papers ?

There is a fee for this service.

Summary: A fee applies when the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office is requested to attempt service of eviction papers.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.WARNING?

Applies to

Jury trial demand ?

Upon a timely, proper demand for a jury trial under Wis. Stat. § 799.21 and upon payment of the fee, the case shall be transferred by tab to a civil division branch to which large claims civil actions are assigned, except that evictions actions shall be transferred to the duty judge for expedited scheduling.

Summary: A jury-trial demand must be timely and proper and the fee must be paid before transfer by tab to a large-claims civil division branch, except eviction actions are transferred to the duty judge for expedited scheduling.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Fee

1 ?

Applies to

Probate record copy ?

The cost to make copies of records is $1 per page.

Summary: Copies of probate records cost $1 per page.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Fee

20 ?

Applies to

Adult adoption ?

$20 State of Wisconsin Vital Records Filing Fee (if original birth certificate is from Wisconsin)

Summary: A $20 State of Wisconsin Vital Records filing fee applies when the original birth certificate is from Wisconsin.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Fee

4 ?

Applies to

Certified copy of adoption order ?

$4 for certified copy of order for adoption (optional)

Summary: A certified copy of the adult adoption order is optional and costs $4.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

Fee

4 ?

Applies to

Certified copy of adoption order ?

If you want a certified copy of the order, go to Room 207 following the hearing and pay $4 after the hearing.

Summary: A certified copy of the adult adoption order may be obtained in Room 207 after the hearing for a $4 fee.

Not confirmed. Read the court's wording below.INFO?

If the application is denied, petitioner may request review by the Chief Judge.

Summary: A petitioner whose harassment or domestic abuse fee-waiver application is denied may request review by the Chief Judge.