CLERK OF COURTS PUBLIC NOTICE REGARDING PAPER FILINGS AND PAYMENTS  (Effective Friday, May 1, 2020)

The Clerk of Court’s office, through dedication and professionalism, shall strive for service excellence to the Circuit Court and general public of St. Croix County. The office is committed to providing timely assistance, ensuring equal access to court services, treating users of the court system with respect and dignity, and enhancing public trust and confidence in the court system.

Services

The Clerk of Court’s office is a public administrative entity, charged by Statute to provide administrative and record-keeping services for the circuit courts and the citizens of St. Croix County. The Clerk of Circuit Court is a public official, elected every four years, whose primary duties are enumerated in section 59.40 of the Wisconsin Statutes. The Clerk is the administrator of the Clerk of Circuit Courts office and holds the responsibility for budgeting and administering trial court resources accurately and efficiently.

The Clerk of Court is part of the Judicial Branch of local government and as such is required to maintain a record of all documents filed with the courts, keep a record of all court proceedings, and collect various fines and forfeitures ordered by the court and specified by statute.

Divisions

The complexity of the office and the duties involved necessitate departmentalizing the work into areas of:

• Accounting
• Civil
• County Ordinance Violations
• Criminal
• Family
• Juvenile Ordinance Violations
• Paternity
• Small Claims
• Traffic

Support

These divisions provide the specialized support services for all court actions related to these areas. This includes:

• docketing pleadings
• entering judgments
• filing new cases
• preparing conviction papers for those sentenced to prison
• receipting and disbursing fees and fines
• reporting case dispositions to the proper agencies
• scheduling cases for hearing
• serving the public by telephone and in person
• taking court minutes

Duties

Duties also include:

• issuing warrants
• processing search warrants
• providing the court with jurors on those cases in which a jury trial has been requested
• records retention management
• vacating warrants
• payment of witness fees, court ordered fines/costs and guardian ad litem fees
• processing orders for psychological evaluations
• processing requests for interpreters
• recording juror attendance and processing payment vouchers for jury service
• docketing money judgments and satisfying judgments for public information
• maintaining the law library for the public to use

FREE LEGAL CLINIC 

St. Croix County offers a free legal clinic which is staffed by members of the St. Croix Valley Bar Association. Free legal clinic information is listed below:

1. Third Wednesday of every month
2. 6:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m.
3. Location: St. Croix County Government Center, 1st Floor
4. First come, first serve

Free Legal Clinic Safety Plan

• Attendees and volunteers will be asked screening questions upon entry into the building.  Anyone answering "yes" will not be allowed to attend the legal clinic and will be advised to return the following month.
• All volunteers and attendees are required to wear masks at all times while in the Government Center.
• A maximum of 8 volunteers and attendees will be allowed in the meeting room at one time.
• Attendees will be monitored to ensure social distancing while waiting in the hallway.
• Time limits of 10-15 minutes with the attorney will be strictly enforced to limit the amount of time attendees are present in the Government Center.

Legal Advice

Clerk of Court staff cannot give legal advice. Please contact an attorney if you have legal questions or call the lawyer referral service at 800-362-9082.
 

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