Chapter 59

59.43(1c)(jm) (jm) Record certificates of discharge of a person who has served in the U.S. armed forces.

59.43(1c)(k) (k) Keep an index of all documents that are recorded with the register of deeds.

59.43(1c)(t) (t) Upon commencement of each term, submit the signature of the register of deeds and the impression of the official seal or rubber stamp of the register of deeds to the secretary of state.

59.43(1c)(u) (u) Submit that portion of recording fees collected under sub. (2) (ag) and not retained by the county to the department of administration under s. 59.72 (5).

59.43(1g) (1g) Authority to reject entire group of related documents. If the register of deeds is presented with a group of related documents that has been identified by the person submitting the documents as representing a single transaction and one or more documents within the group may be refused recording because of a failure to comply with sub. (2m) or (2s), the register of deeds may return the entire group of documents unrecorded.

59.43(1m) (1m) Restrictions on documents with social security numbers.

59.43(1m)(a) (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, a register of deeds may not record any document offered for recording if the document contains the social security number of an individual.

59.43(1m)(b) (b) If a register of deeds is presented with a document for recording that contains an individual’s social security number, and if the register of deeds records the document but does not discover that the document contains an individual’s social security number until after the document is recorded, the register of deeds may not be held liable for the document drafter’s placement of an individual’s social security number on the document, and the register of deeds may remove or obscure characters from the social security number such that the social security number is not discernable on the document.

59.43(1m)(cm) (cm) If a register of deeds is presented with a document for recording that contains an individual’s social security number, the register of deeds may, prior to recording the document, remove or obscure characters from the social security number such that the social security number is not discernable on the document.

59.43(1m)(cs) (cs)

59.43(1m)(cs)1. 1. With regard to any document recorded by a register of deeds before April 1, 2006, which the register of deeds makes available for viewing or download on the Internet, the register of deeds shall make a reasonable effort to make social security numbers from the transferred document’s electronic format not viewable or accessible on the Internet.

59.43(1m)(cs)2. 2. No later than March 31 annually, every register of deeds of a county that has not completed making social security numbers from electronic format records not viewable or accessible on the Internet under subd. 1. shall submit to the department of administration a report regarding the progress made by the county during the preceding year in making social security numbers from electronic format records not viewable or accessible on the Internet under subd. 1., including a statement of the number of documents transferred to an electronic format in the preceding year, the number of these documents from which social security numbers were made not viewable or accessible on the Internet in the preceding year, the number of documents remaining from which social security numbers remain to be made not viewable or accessible on the Internet, and the estimated time needed to review the remaining documents for making social security numbers not viewable or accessible on the Internet.

59.43(1m)(d) (d) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to a federal income tax lien.

59.43(1m)(e) (e) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to vital records under subch. I of ch. 69.

59.43(1m)(f) (f) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to certificates of discharge or release recorded under s. 45.05.

59.43(1r) (1r) Personal information of judicial officers. The register of deeds shall shield from disclosure and keep confidential documents containing personal information covered by a written request of a judicial officer under s. 757.07, if the judicial officer specifically identifies the document number of any document to be shielded under this subsection. Notwithstanding the scope of protection generally provided under s. 757.07 with regard to publicly available content, as defined in s. 757.07 (1) (h), this subsection applies only to electronic images of electronic recorded documents specifically identified by a judicial officer as covered by a written request under s. 757.07. The register of deeds may allow access to an electronic recorded document subject to protection under this subsection only if the judicial officer consents to the access or access is otherwise permitted as provided under s. 757.07 (4) (e). This subsection does not apply to documents that are not electronic recorded documents. The requirements of this subsection supersede any statutory requirement that a government agency publicly post, display publicly available content, or permit inspection and copying under s. 19.35.

59.43(2) (2) Fees. Every register of deeds shall receive the following fees:

59.43(2)(ag) (ag) Subject to s. 59.72 (5) and except as provided in pars. (f) and (h), for recording any document entitled to be recorded with the register of deeds, $30.

59.43(2)(b) (b)

59.43(2)(b)1. 1. In this paragraph, “page” means one side of a single sheet of paper or, if in an electronic format, a single image or the duplication of one side of a single sheet of paper.

59.43(2)(b)2. 2. For copies of any document or portion of a document recorded by the register of deeds, $2 for the first page plus $1 for each additional page of each document. The register of deeds shall charge an additional $1 to certify a copy of a document under this paragraph. No fee under this paragraph may be charged to the department of revenue.

59.43 Note NOTE: Subds. 1. and 2. were renumbered from par. (b), as affected by 2025 Wis. Act 234, to par. (b) 1. and 2. by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.

59.43(2)(f) (f) The fees for processing vital records or for issuing copies of vital records shall be as provided in s. 69.22.

59.43(2)(g) (g) For making a new tract index upon the order of the board, the amount that is fixed by the board, to be paid from the county treasury.

59.43(2)(h) (h) For recording a cemetery plat under s. 157.07, a subdivision plat under s. 236.25 or a condominium plat under s. 703.07, $50.

59.43(2g) (2g) Payment of fees.

59.43(2g)(a) (a) All fees under sub. (2) shall be payable in advance by the party procuring the services of the register of deeds, except that the fees for the services performed for a state department, board, or commission or person contracting with the register of deeds under par. (b) may be invoiced to the department, board, or commission or person.

59.43(2g)(b) (b) Notwithstanding sub. (2), the register of deeds with the approval and consent of the board may enter into contracts to provide noncertified copies of documents pertaining to real property at a flat rate or rate per image established by the board which in no event shall be less than cost of labor and material plus a reasonable allowance for plant and depreciation of equipment used.

59.43(2m) (2m) Standard format requirements for recording documents.

59.43(2m)(a) (a) The register of deeds may refuse to record a document that does not substantially comply with the following:

59.43(2m)(a)1. 1. The name of the document is clear and is located not less than 0.5 inch nor more than 6 inches from the top of the first page of the document. If more than one document name is given, the register of deeds shall use the first name provided on the document for indexing purposes unless the register of deeds determines that using another name provided on the document preserves historical consistency.

59.43(2m)(a)3. 3. The document contains in the upper right corner of the first page, within the margins, a blank space of at least 3 inches by 3 inches for recording information. A document that does not contain the space under this subdivision may not be recorded.

59.43(2m)(a)4m. 4m. Except for a document that is electronically recorded, the document contains return information on the first page.

59.43(2m)(a)5. 5. The document contains a parcel identification number for each parcel affected by the document. This subdivision applies only in a county that requires the use of a parcel identification number.

59.43(2m)(a)6. 6. The paper is white and is at least 20 pound weight.

59.43(2m)(a)7. 7. The page width is 8.5 inches and the page length is either 11 inches or 14 inches. The maximum deviation from any of these measurements may not exceed 0.25 inch.

59.43(2m)(a)8. 8. If the document has multiple pages, the document is not hinged or otherwise joined completely at the top or sides.

59.43(2m)(a)9. 9. The entire document is clear and the letters, numbers, symbols, diagrams, and other representations in the document are large enough and dense enough to be reproduced or read by a copy machine or optical scanner to the extent that the image captured is legible.

59.43(2m)(a)10. 10. The names of the grantor and grantee of the transaction and any notaries and authenticators are clearly written or typed.

59.43(2m)(a)11. 11. Any image on the document is of a quality that the image can be electronically stored and reproduced so as to preserve the actual appearance of the image, including any color used in the image.

59.43(2m)(a)13. 13. The ink is black, blue, or red, except that signatures and coded notations on maps may be other colors.

59.43(2m)(a)14. 14. The top margin of each page is 0.5 inch, except that company logos may appear within this margin if they do not interfere with any of the other requirements of this subsection.

59.43(2m)(a)15. 15. The bottom and side margins of each page are at least 0.25 inch.

59.43(2m)(a)16. 16. The name of the person or governmental agency that drafted the document appears on the document. This subdivision does not apply to any of the following:

59.43(2m)(a)16.a. a. A document executed before May 9, 1957.

59.43(2m)(a)16.b. b. A decree, order, judgment or writ of a court.

59.43(2m)(a)16.c. c. A document that is executed or acknowledged outside of this state.

59.43(2m)(bm) (bm) A document substantially complies with par. (a) if the document satisfies most of the requirements of par. (a) and recording the document will not impair the ability of the register of deeds to accurately record, reproduce, or index the document.

59.43(2m)(c) (c) The register of deeds shall provide, upon request, a cover sheet that a person may complete and use as the first page of a document that the person seeks to record. The cover sheet shall be provided without charge and shall conform to the provisions of par. (a).

59.43(2s) (2s) Recording.

59.43(2s)(a) (a) Subject to par. (f), the register of deeds may refuse to record a document affecting real property that does not satisfy s. 706.05, identify the county of each parcel of real estate affected by the document, and provide a current legal description of each parcel, described in any of the following manners:

59.43(2s)(a)1. 1. For assessor’s plats, the manner described in s. 70.27 (3) (a).

59.43(2s)(a)2. 2. For recorded plats, the manner described in s. 236.28.

59.43(2s)(a)3. 3. For certified survey maps, the manner described in s. 236.34 (3).

59.43(2s)(a)4. 4. For county, municipal, or town plats, the manner described in s. 236.45 (2) (am).

59.43(2s)(a)5. 5. For condominium plats, the manner described in s. 703.12.

59.43(2s)(a)6. 6. For transportation project plats, the manner described in s. 84.095 (7).

59.43(2s)(a)7. 7. For cemetery plats, the manner described in s. 157.07 (2).

59.43(2s)(a)8. 8. For time shares, the manner described in s. 707.21 (1).

59.43(2s)(a)9. 9. By metes and bounds or any other manner that identifies the quarter or quarter-quarter section or government lot and that identifies the section, township, and range, the boundaries of which refer to the public land survey system or a recorded private claim, as defined in s. 236.02 (9m).

59.43(2s)(a)10. 10. In any manner used in a document that satisfies the requirements of s. 706.02 if the document reasonably identifies the parcel and provides sufficient information to reasonably enable accurate recording.

59.43(2s)(b) (b)

59.43(2s)(b)1. 1. Subject to par. (f), the register of deeds may refuse to record an assignment, satisfaction, partial release, subordination, correction instrument, or other recorded document that references a previously recorded document unless the document to be recorded contains the document number of the referenced document.

59.43(2s)(b)2. 2. Subject to par. (f), the register of deeds may refuse to record an assignment, subordination, partial release, or satisfaction that relates to more than one mortgage.

59.43(2s)(c) (c)

59.43(2s)(c)1. 1. Subject to par. (f), the register of deeds may refuse to record a document containing a marked scrivener’s error unless the error is clearly marked and initialed by the person making the correction.

59.43(2s)(c)2. 2. Subject to par. (f), the register of deeds may refuse to record a document to which correction fluid or tape is affixed unless the correction is initialed by the person making the correction.

59.43(2s)(d) (d) Subject to par. (f), the register of deeds may refuse to record a court document unless the document is certified as the original document or a true and accurate copy of the document by the clerk of courts or register of probate of the county in which the court from which the document originated is located. A certification under this paragraph may be made electronically. This paragraph does not apply to a court document that is included as an exhibit or attachment to another document.

59.43(2s)(e) (e) The register of deeds may not record a document that the register of deeds reasonably believes is being recorded for a fraudulent or other unlawful purpose.

59.43(2s)(f) (f) The register of deeds may not refuse to record a document that substantially complies with pars. (a) to (d). A document substantially complies with pars. (a) to (d) if it satisfies most of the requirements of pars. (a) to (d) and recording the document will not impair the ability of the register of deeds to accurately record, reproduce, or index the document.

59.43(3) (3) Deputies. Every register of deeds shall appoint one or more deputies, who shall hold office at the register’s pleasure. The appointment shall be in writing and shall be recorded in the register’s office. The deputy or deputies shall aid the register in the performance of the register’s duties under the register’s direction, and in case of the register’s vacancy or the register’s absence or inability to perform the duties of the register’s office the deputy or deputies shall perform the duties of register until the vacancy is filled or during the continuance of the absence or inability.

59.43(4) (4) Storage requirements. Upon the request of the register of deeds, any county, by board resolution, may authorize the register of deeds to replicate in electronic format recorded documents relating to real property and to store the original records within the county at a place designated by the board. The storage place for the original records shall be reasonably accessible by the register of deeds and safe and shall provide for the preservation of the records authorized to be stored under this subsection. The register of deeds shall keep an electronic copy of records under this subsection in a conveniently accessible format in the office of the register of deeds and shall provide for examination of these records in original form and in an enlarged, easily readable form upon request. The register of deeds may make certified copies from the original records or reproduced from a record maintained in an electronic format.

59.43(6) (6) Effect of certain omissions in registers’ records.

59.43(6)(a) (a) The validity and effect of the record of any document in the office of register of deeds is not impaired by the fact that the name of any grantor, grantee, witness, or notary was not printed or typed on the document or by the fact that it does not comply with sub. (2m) (a) 16.

59.43(6)(b) (b) A document that the register of deeds accepts for recording shall be considered recorded despite its failure to conform to the requirements of sub. (2m) or (2s) (a) to (d), if the document is properly indexed in a public index maintained in the office of the register of deeds.

59.43(7) (7) Including parcel identification number.

59.43(7)(a) (a) In counties with a population of 750,000 or more where parcel identification numbers are used in the tax roll for taxes based on the value of property in municipalities, any conveyance, as defined in s. 706.01 (4), of any interest in real estate located in such a municipality shall contain reference to the parcel identification number affected. The parcel identification number shall be required for the recording of the conveyance.

59.43(7)(b) (b) In counties with a population of less than 750,000 where parcel identification numbers are used in the tax roll for taxes based on the value of property in municipalities, any conveyance, as defined in s. 706.01 (4), of any interest in real estate located in such a municipality shall contain reference to the parcel identification number affected if the county in which the parcel is located enacts an ordinance that requires the use of such a number in a conveyance. The parcel identification number shall be required for the recording of the conveyance, for administrative purposes only, if the county enacts an ordinance under this paragraph.

59.43(8) (8) Required signature and seal on survey document for filing or recording. The register of deeds may not record a map, plat, survey, or other document within the definition of the practice of professional land surveying under s. 443.01 (6s) that does not have affixed to it the personal signature and seal of a professional land surveyor under whose responsible charge the map, plat, survey, or other document was prepared. This subsection does not apply to any deed, contract, or other recordable document prepared by an attorney, or to an order, including any map or other document submitted with the order, that is recorded under subch. I or VI of ch. 77.

59.43(9) (9) Index.

59.43(9)(a) (a) A register of deeds shall maintain an index for documents recorded by the register of deeds that contains at least all of the following:

59.43(9)(a)1m. 1m. Document number assigned to the document and, if given on the document, the volume and page where the document is recorded.

59.43(9)(a)2m. 2m. Time and date that the document was recorded.

59.43 Note NOTE: Subd. 2m. was renumbered from subd. 2., as affected by 2025 Wis. Act 234, to subd. 2m. by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.

59.43(9)(a)3. 3. Name of the grantor.

59.43(9)(a)4. 4. Name of the grantee.

59.43(9)(a)5. 5. Legal description of the land.

59.43(9)(a)6. 6. Name of the document.

59.43(9)(bm) (bm) The index shall be accessible and searchable by at least all of the following means: