Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 59.43 (2026)

Register of deeds; duties, fees, deputies

✓ current as of July 2026

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59.4359.43 Register of deeds; duties, fees, deputies.

59.43(1b)(1b) Definitions. In this section:

59.43(1b)(a)(a) “Document” includes a deed, mortgage, instrument, or writing.

59.43(1b)(b)(b) “Legal description” means the description under sub. (2s) (a).

59.43(1bm)(1bm) Construction of statutes. The recording of a document with the register of deeds also constitutes filing the document with the register of deeds.

59.43(1c)(1c) Duties. Subject to sub. (1m), the register of deeds shall do all of the following:

59.43(1c)(a)(a) Subject to subs. (2m) and (2s), record all documents submitted to the register of deeds that are not prohibited by law from being recorded with the register of deeds.

59.43(1c)(b)(b) Perform the duties that are related to vital records under ss. 69.05 and 69.07.

59.43(1c)(c)(c) Subject to s. 77.22, indicate on conveyances the real estate transfer fee paid or, if the conveyance is not subject to a fee, the reason for the exemption, citing the relevant subsection of s. 77.25.

59.43(1c)(d)(d) Keep permanently and maintain the documents, books, images of recorded documents, and indexes mentioned in this section.

59.43(1c)(e)(e) Endorse upon each document recorded by the register of deeds the date, hour, and minute when it was recorded. The register of deeds shall record each document under this paragraph in the order in which it is received. An endorsement under this paragraph is prima facie evidence of the date, hour, and minute that the document was recorded.

59.43(1c)(f)(f) Endorse on each document recorded by the register of deeds a unique number consecutive to the number assigned to the previously recorded document in its series.

59.43(1c)(g)(g) Except as provided in any agreement with the submitter, upon provision by the submitter of adequate postage, deliver to any person indicated as an authorized recipient by the submitter documents left with the register of deeds for recording.

59.43(1c)(h)(h) Accept into the state vital record system all marriages, deaths, and domestic partnership terminations presented to the register of deeds for filing.

59.43(1c)(i)(i) Make and deliver to any person, upon payment of the required fees, a certified copy with the official seal of the register of deeds affixed or a noncertified copy of any recorded document in the office of the register of deeds.

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 NoteNOTE: 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 NoteNOTE: 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:

59.43 NoteNOTE: Par. (bm) was renumbered from par. (b), as affected by 2025 Wis. Act 234, to par. (bm) by the legislative reference bureau under s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.

59.43(9)(bm)1.1. Name of the grantor.

59.43(9)(bm)2.2. Name of the grantee.

59.43(9)(bm)3.3. Document number and, if given on the document, the volume and page where the document is recorded.

59.43(9)(bm)4.4. If the county has a tract index, by legal description.

59.43(10)(10) Certifications to discharge and release discriminatory restrictions. With regard to certifications to discharge and release discriminatory restrictions under s. 710.25 (5) (a) related to previously recorded documents, the register of deeds shall relate to the certification, the document number where the previously recorded document is recorded.

59.43(12)(12) Destruction or transfer of documents and indexes.

59.43(12)(a)(a) The board of any county may, upon request of the register of deeds, authorize the destruction of all obsolete documents pertaining to chattels antedating by 6 years, including final books of entry.

59.43(12)(b)(b) A board may, upon request of the register of deeds, authorize the destruction of all documents pertaining to town mutual insurance companies that were formerly required to be filed under ch. 202, 1971 stats., and that under s. 612.81 no longer have to be filed and all documents pertaining to stock corporations that were formerly required to be recorded under ch. 180, 1987 stats., and that under ch. 180 no longer have to be recorded. At least 60 days prior to the proposed destruction, the register of deeds shall notify in writing the state historical society which may order delivery to it of any records of historical interest. The state historical society may, upon application, waive the notice.

59.43(12)(c)(c) Notwithstanding this subsection, sub. (1c), and ss. 16.61 (3) (e), 19.21 (1) and (5), and 59.52 (4), the board may authorize the transfer of the custody of all records maintained by the register of deeds under s. 342.20 (4), 1979 stats., to the department of transportation.

59.43(12m)(12m) Tract index system.

59.43(12m)(a)(a) The board by ordinance may require the register of deeds to keep a tract index such that records containing valid legal descriptions may be searched by all of the following:

59.43(12m)(a)1.1. Quarter-sections or quarter-quarter sections of land or government lots within the county, 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(12m)(a)2.2. Recorded certified survey map and lot or outlot number.

59.43(12m)(a)3.3. Recorded plat, by name and lot, block, outlot, or unit within the plat.

59.43(12m)(b)(b) No index established under par. (a) may be discontinued, unless the county establishing the index adopts, keeps and maintains a complete abstract of title to the real estate in the county as a part of the records of the office of the register of deeds of that county.

59.43(12m)(c)(c) If the board determines that a tract index system is unfit for use, the board may, by resolution, establish a new and corrected tract index. Any person who is authorized by the board to compile the new tract index shall have access to the old tract index and any other county records that may assist the person in compiling the new tract index. Upon completion, and approval by the board, of the new tract index system, the old tract index system shall be preserved as provided in s. 59.52 (3) (b). The resolutions of the board ordering, approving and adopting the new tract index systems, certified by the clerk, shall be recorded in each volume of the new tract index system and upon the resolution of the board adopting the new system, such a system is the only lawful tract index system in the register of deeds’ office.

59.43(13)(13) Real property recording notification system. A county that retains moneys under s. 77.24 shall establish a real property recording notification system to be administered by the register of deeds. Upon application by a person, the system shall monitor publicly recorded real property records for activity and changes related to properties owned by a specific person or a specific property, and, upon the recording of a new document against a monitored property, notify the applicant. No fee may be charged to an applicant for the monitoring of property records under a system established under this subsection.

59.43(14)(14) Limitation on use of certain devices. The register of deeds may prohibit or otherwise limit the use of electronic devices in any area under the authority of the register of deeds.

59.43 HistoryHistory: 1995 a. 201 ss. 326, 327, 335, 338 to 353, 355, 361, 367, 369, 375, 377 to 380, 382 to 384; 1995 a. 225 ss. 159, 160, 162; 1995 a. 227; 1997 a. 27 ss. 2164am to 2164e, 9456 (3m); 1997 a. 35, 79, 140, 252, 282, 303, 304; 1999 a. 96; 2001 a. 10; 2001 a. 16 ss. 1999m to 2001m, 4041b; 2003 a. 33 s. 2811; 2003 a. 48 ss. 10, 11; 2003 a. 206 ss. 1 to 7, 23, 24; 2005 a. 25 ss. 1231 to 1234, 2493; 2005 a. 41, 139, 441; 2009 a. 98, 314, 320; 2013 a. 20, 92, 358; 2015 a. 48, 196; 2017 a. 102; 2017 a. 207 s. 5; 2017 a. 334; 2023 a. 210, 235; 2025 a. 25, 234; s. 13.92 (1) (bm) 2.

59.43 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See s. 779.97 for fees for filing federal liens and releases of liens.

59.43 Cross-referenceCross-reference: See s. 182.01 (3) for the requirement that certain corporate documents must bear the name of the drafter of the instrument before it may be filed by the Department of Financial Institutions.

59.43 AnnotationThe express powers to appoint and discharge deputies under this section are separate from those of the county and are not subject to a collective bargaining agreement entered into by the county. Crawford County v. WERC, 177 Wis. 2d 66, 501 N.W.2d 836 (Ct. App. 1993).

59.43 AnnotationCrawford County, 177 Wis. 2d 66 (1993), is restricted to its facts. Deputized employees, apart from a chief deputy, are exempt from the terms of collective bargaining agreements only to the extent that they are managerial or supervisory employees. County of Eau Claire v. AFSCME Local 2223, 190 Wis. 2d 298, 526 N.W.2d 802 (Ct. App. 1994).

59.43 AnnotationExcept for their elected superior’s power to appoint and discharge, chief deputies are subject to the Municipal Employment Relations Act, ss. 111.70 to 111.77, and are not excluded from a collective bargaining unit as a matter of law. Oneida County v. WERC, 2000 WI App 191, 238 Wis. 2d 763, 618 N.W.2d 891, 00-0466.

59.43 AnnotationA register of deeds does not have authority to correct an original recording of a deed made by a predecessor. 61 Atty. Gen. 189.

59.43 AnnotationIn a county maintaining a tract index system, the register of deeds must enter into the index any deed, mortgage, or other recorded document that affects title to or mentions an indexed tract or any part thereof. 63 Atty. Gen. 254.

59.43 AnnotationSection 59.513 [now sub. (5)] does not apply unless the document affects real estate in the manner described in the statute. 63 Atty. Gen. 594.

59.43 AnnotationRegisters of deeds have no obligation to file or record “common-law liens” or “common-law writs of attachment.” 69 Atty. Gen. 58.

59.43 AnnotationRegisters of deeds entering into contracts under sub. (2) (c) may insist on provisions protecting the identity and integrity of records obtained under the contracts and protecting the public. Authority to require provisions directly prohibiting the contracting party from selling or disseminating copies of the records is not prohibited and may reasonably be implied from the general contracting authority under sub. (2) (c). OAG 1-03.

59.43 AnnotationThe fee requirements of sub. (2) (b), not those of s. 19.35 (3), apply to electronic copies of records obtained pursuant to sub. (4), unless the requester has entered into a contract authorized by sub. (2) (c). OAG 1-03.

59.43 AnnotationUnder s. 706.05 (1), only instruments that affect an interest in land are entitled to be recorded. A land patent is the instrument by which the government conveys title to portions of the public domain to private individuals. “Land patents,” “updates of land patent,” and other similarly-titled documents filed by private individuals that purport to be grants of private land from private individuals to themselves or other private individuals are not true land patents and are invalid on their face and not entitled to recording under s. 706.05 (1). OAG 4-12.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 12 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1973–2024 · leading case: Split Rock Hardwoods, Inc. v. Lumber Liquidators, Inc., 2002 WI 66 (Wis. 2002).

Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment

Split Rock Hardwoods, Inc. v. Lumber Liquidators, Inc., 2002 WI 66 (Wis. 2002). · cites it 4× “, Wis. Stat. §§ 59.43 (1)(g), 88.90(2), 103.”

George v. Argent Mortg. Co. (In Re Radbil), 364 B.R. 355 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 2007). · cites it 7× “Wis. Stat. § 59.43 (l)(a). The Register’s duties further require that he or she (e) Endorse upon each instrument or writing received by the register for record a certificate of the date and time when it was received, specifying the day, hour and minute of reception, which shall…”

Margaret Pulera v. Town of Richmond, 2017 WI 61 (Wis. 2017). · cites it 4× “See generally, Wis. Stat. § 59.43 (2015-16). Therefore, a town's decision in regard to laying out, altering or discontinuing a highway is not final until the register of deeds records the town's highway order.”

George v. Guar. Mortg. Co. (In Re Ljubic), 362 B.R. 914 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 2007). · cites it 7× “Wis. Stat. § 59.43 (l)(a). The Register’s duties further require that he or she (e) Endorse upon each instrument or writing received by the register for record a certificate of the date and time when it was received, specifying the day, hour and minute of reception, which shall…”

Becky Chasensky v. Scott Walker, 740 F.3d 1088 (7th Cir. 2014). “The fact that a candidate for this appointment has filed bankruptcy, coupled with the fact that the desired public office involves management *1098 of a staff responsible for significant sums of money, conceivably raises questions regarding the practical — and political — wisdom…”

Juneau Cnty. v. Associated Bank, N.A., 2013 WI App 29 (Wis. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 2× “" Wis. Stat. §§ 59.43 (2m), 706.02(1), and 706.”

TJ Auto LLC v. Mr. Twist Holdings LLC, 2014 WI App 81 (Wis. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 4× “a certificate of the date and time when it was received" as well as "a number consecutive to the number assigned to the immediately previously recorded or filed instrument," Wis. Stat. § 59.43 (1)(e), (f), neither of which was done with the unrecorded map in question.”

Seelen v. Melissa Marie Arnette & Wells Fargo Bank N.A. (In re Arnette), 584 B.R. 304 (Bankr. W.D. Wis. 2018). · cites it 4× “Based solely on the statutory language, Wisconsin has expressed a preference for grantor/grantee indexes. It would be senseless for this Court to rule that a diligent purchaser must search a land tract index, when a land tract index may not even exist in some counties.”

Lipscomb v. Abele, 918 N.W.2d 434 (Wis. Ct. App. 2018). “§ 59.43 ), but no other offices; and (3) therefore, the compensation provision applies strictly to the employees whose offices are created in these statutes.”

Opinion No. Oag 10-90, (1990), 79 Op. Att'y Gen. 54 (Wis. Att'y Gen. 1990). · cites it 4× “The supreme court in commenting on identical language in section 59.43, the precursor to section 59.”

Hamilton v. Dep't of Indus., Labor & Human Relations, 203 N.W.2d 7 (Wis. 1973). · cites it 2× “A clerk’s duties are basically ministerial, 6 but sec. 59.43, Stats., gives the clerk the discretion as to how he will carry out these duties.”

Cnty. of Dane v. Mary Jo Johnson, 2024 WI App 20 (Wis. Ct. App. 2024). “§ 59.43(7)(b), the 8 While Johnson ultimately concedes the point, there was some equivocation in her briefing and at oral argument.”

— Wis. Stat. § 59.43(12m) — 1 case

Seelen v. Melissa Marie Arnette & Wells Fargo Bank N.A. (In re Arnette), 584 B.R. 304 (Bankr. W.D. Wis. 2018). “Based solely on the statutory language, Wisconsin has expressed a preference for grantor/grantee indexes. It would be senseless for this Court to rule that a diligent purchaser must search a land tract index, when a land tract index may not even exist in some counties.”

— Wis. Stat. § 59.43(7)(b) — 1 case

— Wis. Stat. § 59.43(l)(e) — 2 cases

George v. Argent Mortg. Co. (In Re Radbil), 364 B.R. 355 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 2007). “Wis. Stat. § 59.43 (l)(a). The Register’s duties further require that he or she (e) Endorse upon each instrument or writing received by the register for record a certificate of the date and time when it was received, specifying the day, hour and minute of reception, which shall…”

George v. Guar. Mortg. Co. (In Re Ljubic), 362 B.R. 914 (Bankr. E.D. Wis. 2007). “Wis. Stat. § 59.43 (l)(a). The Register’s duties further require that he or she (e) Endorse upon each instrument or writing received by the register for record a certificate of the date and time when it was received, specifying the day, hour and minute of reception, which shall…”

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