Rock County Wisconsin - Clerk of Circuit Court

Clerk of Court

For the protection of the public and staff, there is limited access to the Clerk of Court office.

Effective Monday, March 23, in-person services will not be available. The clerks’ service counters will be closed. You are encouraged to complete Clerk of Court business online, over the phone or by mail.

Payments should be made by phone, online or mail.

By phone: Call GovPayNet at 1-888-604-788. Use pay location code 1547 and your case number. To look up your case number go to www.wicourts.gov.
Online: Visit www.wicourts.gov services/for the public/ pay court fees on line.
Mail: Send a check or money order to Clerk of Circuit Court, 51 S Main St, Janesville, WI 53545. Include your case number on the check or money order.
Cash payments will not be accepted during this period of extraordinary circumstances.

For payment related questions or accounting matters, call 608-743-2216.

New case filings or documents will not be accepted in person.

You are encouraged to file electronically at www.wicourts.gov under eFile/eCourts.
Documents can be mailed to Clerk of Circuit Court, 51 S Main St, Janesville, WI 53545. The filing fee in the form or a check or money order must be included with your filing.
Documents can be filed using the drop box located outside the lobby of the Clerk of Court office on the second floor of the courthouse with the filing fee attached. Please be sure your check or money order is attached.
Due to limited staff, processing of documents may be delayed.

Restraining orders

You are encouraged to file electronically at www.wicourts.gov under eFile/eCourts.
Legal assistance and information can be found at www.wicourts.gov/services/ for the public/self-help law center.
For those unable to file electronically, forms can be picked up at the Security Station at the Courthouse. Use the drop box located outside the lobby of the Clerk of Court office on the second floor of the courthouse to drop off your documents. Be sure to include a phone number where you can be reached after the judge reviews your request.

Record requests can be completed over the phone or by mail. Copies are $1.25 per page. Certification is $5.00 per document.

By phone: Call 608-743-2359.
By mail: Mail your request to Clerk of Circuit Court, 51 S Main St, Janesville, WI 53545. Include a contact number with your request.

Jury trials have been postponed for the near future. Call the Juror Line at 608-743-5550 and 608-743-5572 for updated information. Potential jurors will receive a revised summons when jury trials resume.

Small claims and eviction hearings will be scheduled on Wednesdays by the court upon the filing of documents. Contested cases will be heard in front of the duty judge on Friday of the following week.

For questions and concerns, call 608-743-2200 and follow the prompts. Due to limited staff in the office, calls may not be answered. Leave a message and staff will return your call.

Stay healthy and safe by staying home. Thank you.

Responsibilities of the Clerk of Circuit Court

Custodian of the Record
Record keeping for the courts is governed by state statute and Wisconsin Supreme Court rule. These rules require that the Clerk maintain records of all documents filed with the courts, keep a record of court proceedings and collect various fees, fines and forfeitures. The Clerk of Circuit Court also must establish and promote procedures for reasonable access to court records as well as maintain the confidentiality of records as set forth by statute and court order.

Jury Management
Automation in the courts has made the process of selecting and notifying potential jurors much more efficient and has improved record keeping for jury management. The Clerk works with the director of state courts and the Legislature to continue to improve jury management. Wisconsin citizens are obligated for no more than one month of jury service in a four-year period.

Court Finances
Millions of dollars in fees, fines and forfeitures are paid through the Clerk’s offices annually. The Clerk of Circuit Court works to meet this fiscal responsibility with accurate, efficient and effective accounting practices. Financial software, designed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, assists the Clerk in efficiently handling this money.

Court Administration
The Clerk of Circuit Court is at the center of an enormous variety of activities and works daily with many different people. Law enforcement, the legal community, local, state and federal agencies, businesses and the general public depend upon the office of the Clerk of Circuit Court to solve a wide range of problems. The Clerk provides an administrative link between the judiciary, the county board and the public; the clerk also works closely with other court staff to ensure that the courts run smoothly and efficiently.