Eau Claire County was created in 1856 and named after the Eau Claire River. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 105,710 residents and a land area of 637.9 square miles. The county’s seat is Eau Claire City.

Courts in Eau Claire County

Eau Claire County is home to a Circuit and a Municipal Court. The Eau Claire County Circuit Court has jurisdiction over most cases arising from the county. It handles all civil matters, including contract disputes, claims to money or property, foreclosures, and tort cases. The court hears civil claims that are worth less than $10,000 as small claims. The small claims procedures are informal and do not require attorney representation. The criminal jurisdiction of the Circuit Court encompasses hearings for all felonies and misdemeanors.  The court also hears traffic matters that are beyond the jurisdiction of the Municipal Court.

Probate, family, and juvenile cases also fall within the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court. Probate matters include cases on wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and administration of a deceased estate. Family matters include domestic relations cases, divorce, custody, and support. Common examples of juvenile matters are delinquency and dependency cases.

The Municipal Court in Eau Claire County is situated in the City of Augusta. The court has jurisdiction over ordinance violations, traffic matters, and juvenile curfew violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Eau Claire County

The Eau Claire County Clerk of Circuit Court maintains records of the Circuit Court. These records are available upon requests made to the clerk’s office in person, by email, fax, or mail. Requests are to include case numbers to enable the clerk to locate the case files, or else the requester will have to pay a $5 search fee. Each page of a court record costs $1.25, while certification costs $5 per case number. Circuit records are also available online on the Wisconsin Circuit Court Access portal. Records of the Municipal Court are available at the relevant courthouse where the proceedings took place. 

Types of Public Court Records in Eau Claire County

Public court records include case files and materials relating to court proceedings, which are accessible to members of the public. Some examples in Eau Claire County are:

• Criminal case records
• Traffic case records
• Probate records
• Civil case records
• Small claims records

Confidential Court Records in Eau Claire County

Eau Claire County confidential court records include case files and materials that are exempted from public access. Such records are only open to persons and bodies provided by law. Some examples are:

• Records sealed pursuant to court order
• Adoption records
• Juvenile delinquency records
• Guardianship records
• Mental health commitment records
• Termination of parental rights records
• Financial disclosure statements in divorce cases

Juvenile Delinquency in Eau Claire, WI

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Eau Claire County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Wisconsin often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 438 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Eau Claire County. Of that total, 41% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 178 court cases. Another 20% were dependency cases that accounted for 87 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Eau Claire County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Eau Claire County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Eau Claire County, WI

https://www.wisconsin.gov/

County Seat:	Eau Claire
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1856
Total Square Miles:	645
2019 Population:	103,671
Persons/Square Mile:	0.01

Eau Claire County, WI Courts