Wisconsin Genealogy Records

Many people today are interested in learning more about their past and their ancestors. As a result Genealogy is one of the most common terms in search engines on the World Wide Web. For those who are new to the world of Genealogy, there are many ways one can find information regarding their ancestors. Some of the most common forms of public records used for genealogy are: For Birth Records Just like most other states, Wisconsin has certain guidelines for genealogical research. Most states started recording birth records at a single point in history, but in Wisconsin, this happened on a county by county basis. Even today, if you want to find out if a birth certificate is available, you need to check the county's filing history. For Death Records Unlike other states, vital records registration in Wisconsin was voluntary up until 1907. It is estimated that under 50% of death records were even documented before that time. Death records since 2003 to the present are kept more confidentially. If you need to access information about a more recent death, you will need to get help from the vital department record staff member to complete your search. For Obituaries Wisconsin is a hardy state full of farmers and city folk who understand the importance of family. If you are looking for Wisconsin obituaries, there are several state wide websites you can use to find the listing you are looking for. You can start with the website for the Appleton Public Library. This small town library has listings from the 1800's as well as many recent listings from the last few decades. All of the listings here come from area newspapers. The Antigo Genealogy Gopher website is another great resource for those folks living in this wonderful state. It features listings from 1892 all the way up to modern times. You can also tap into the huge amount of information stored at the website of the Genealogical Research Society of Eau Claire. They feature listings that go all the way back to 1858! This listing service is actually more complete than most since they include obits from all over the state and not just ones in that area. The website for the La Crosse Public Library is also quite comprehensive. You can find listings here from 1904 to the present and the easy to use interface takes no time at all to master. For Marriages In Wisconsin, requirement to register marriages started in 1907. However, surprisingly many marriages were registered prior to this vulnerability.