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Register of Deeds

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1. What are your office locations?

• Kenosha County Administration Building - Main Office
  1010 56th St.
  Kenosha, WI 53140
  
  
  
• Kenosha County Center - Satellite Office
  19600 75th St.
  Bristol, WI 53104

2. How can I contact the Register of Deeds office by phone?

Vital Statistics (requests for birth, death, marriage and domestic partnership certificates):
(262) 653-2444


Real Estate (property records):
Kenosha (262) 653-2441

Bristol (262) 857-1845

3. What are your office hours?

Kenosha County Administration Building
Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (except holidays)
Real Estate recordings stop at 4:30 P.M.


Kenosha County Center
Monday - Friday 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (except holidays)
Real Estate recordings stop at 4:30 P.M.
This office is closed between noon and 1:00 P.M.

4. What are your fees?

View the fee schedule page for details on fees.

5. How can I obtain a copy of my birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership certificate or divorce certificate?

You can obtain a certified copy of any of the above referenced vital records at the Register of Deeds office (1010 56th Street Kenosha WI 53140). 

You will need to complete an application indicating your interest in the record. You will also need to provide acceptable identification as listed on the back of the application. The cost of a certified copy is $20.00 for the first copy and $3.00 for each additional copy. 

If you are unable to come to the office, you can download the application for a birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership or divorce certificate. Complete the application and mail it to our office with a money order for the correct amount along with a self-addressed, stamped envelope. 

Please check our vital records page for more information on the availability of vital records.

6. How do I remove the deceased name of my spouse from the property that we owned jointly?

To remove the name of the deceased spouse, you will need to complete a document called a Termination of Decedents Property Interest (PDF). Directions for completing this form are provided. The recording fee is $30.

You will need a copy of a document that shows joint tenancy, life estate, survivorship marital property, vendor's interest, or mortgagee's interest and a certified copy of the death certificate. You can purchase a certified copy of the death certificate through the Register of Deeds Office. The cost is $20 for one copy and $3 for each additional copy.

7. How do I change my name on the real estate I own?

To simply change your name on the property you own, you will need to complete and record a document called a Quit Claim Deed (PDF). You will also need to complete an electronic Real Estate Transfer Return online at revenue.wi.gov. 

After submitting the e-Return, you will be given the opportunity to print a receipt. This printed receipt must be submitted along with the completed deed for recording. The recording cost is a flat fee of $30.

8. How do I change my deed so that it reflects my married name?

This question is more complex than it seems. In its simplest form, you are not required to take any action. When you sell the property at some point in the future, indicate on the deed, for example, "Mary Smith, nka (now known as) Mary Jones hereby grants, etc." 

There are many other details that affect the answer to this question. The most important of which is Wisconsin's Marital Property law. This law assumes that property used by a couple during the course of a marriage is jointly owned unless specified otherwise. 

If you wish to remain the sole owner of the property and do not intend to convey any interest in the property to your spouse, steps must be taken prior to and during the marriage to ensure this occurs. 

However, if you intend for your spouse to share in the ownership of the property, there are a number of ways a married couple can hold title to the property. Each one has distinct legal implications. Depending on your financial status, age and other factors, a trust might even be advisable. 

As you can see, it is best to seek the help of an attorney to draft a deed that will accomplish your goals.

9. I have received real estate in my divorce settlement. What do I need to do?

If you have received real estate in a divorce settlement, you need to verify with your attorney that he has recorded a Quitclaim Deed or Warranty Deed with the Register of Deeds Office.

10. What is the difference between Joint Tenancy and Tenants in common?

Joint Tenancy - An undivided interest in the property, taken by two or more joint tenants. The interests must be equal, accruing under the same conveyance, and beginning at the same time. Upon the death of a joint tenant, the interest passes to the surviving joint tenants, rather than to the heirs of the deceased.

Tenancy in Common - A form of ownership whereby each owner holds an undivided interest in the property. The interests need not be equal, and, in the event of the death of one of the owners, no right of survivorship in the other owners exists.

11. If there is a piece of property - what is the ownership?

To determine the ownership of a property you need to look at the deed that was recorded which established the ownership. If the deed does not state a specific interest than it is assumed to be tenancy in common.

12. I have been told I need to get a "Legal description" of my property. Where do I obtain that?

In most cases your deed should have a complete legal description, however the Register of Deeds office cannot verify that the information on your deed is correct.  A copy of your deed may be purchased at the Register of Deeds Office. The cost for a 1 page document is $2.00 with each additional page costing $1.00.

While this seems simple enough, it can be complicated by two factors. If your property consists of a number of small parcels that have been combined over time, a simple concise legal description may not exist. The opposite can also be a problem. Your property may have previously been a large parcel from which smaller parcels were sold off. In both of these cases, several documents and some interpretation may be required to construct an accurate legal description.

If the history of your parcel fits into either of the above descriptions, you should contact a registered land surveyor for professional assistance in writing an accurate, updated legal description.

13. If one trustee of a trust dies, is it necessary to take any immediate action?

According to a member of the Probate and Real Property Section of the Wisconsin State Bar Association that was conferred with, the answer is "NO". The trust remains in effect. However, it is prudent to review the trust with your attorney periodically to determine if modifications to the trust would be advisable.

14. We recently paid off the mortgage on our home. When will we get a new deed showing that we no longer owe the bank anything?

Under Wisconsin law, you only ever receive one deed to your property and you should have received it shortly after you closed on the purchase of your property.


If you take a look at your deed, you will notice that your name appears as a "Grantee" but the bank is never mentioned. So, when you pay your mortgage in full, it is not a necessary to update your deed.


What does need to be done is to have a "Satisfaction of Mortgage" document recorded with the Register of Deeds office. Financial institutions are required to record such a document within a specified timeframe. If you received a "Satisfaction of Mortgage" endorsed with a time, date, and document number from a Register of Deeds office, nothing further needs to be done. If you have not received the endorsed satisfaction, you should check with your lender to be certain they processed the appropriate paperwork.

15. I am considering buying a parcel of real estate. How can I find out what liens, if any have been filed against it?

If you are borrowing money from a financial institution in order to make the purchase, a title search will be ordered by that financial institution well in advance of the closing. This search will reveal any outstanding liens.


If no financial institution is involved, then you will want to contract directly with a title company for a complete title search.

16. What is probate?

Probate is a court-supervised procedure for transferring ownership of someone's solely owned assets after he or she dies. The following brochure provides more information on Probate.

Probate FAQ (PDF)

17. Can we submit our documents for recording electronically?

Yes, since 2005, we have been recording documents electronically. Kenosha County Register of Deeds office provides this service through Corporation Service Company (CSC), Simplifile, eRecording Partners Network and Indecomm Global Services. For further information contact:

• CSC at erecording.com
• Simplifile at simplifile.com
• eRecording Partners Network at goepn.com
• Indecomm Global Services at indecomm.com

18. Where can I mail documents to be recorded by the Register of Deeds?

JoEllyn Storz
Kenosha County Register of Deeds
1010 56th Street
Kenosha, WI 53140