Colleen, The Register of Deeds office has checked with other offices and know they are well within their rights. They are not keeping you from the records. Only limiting their use. The indexes are still available for viewing. If a lawsuit comes about, I can assure you, they have the ammo to prove that people have been defacing these records and they need to be preserved. Other Register of Deeds offices in other counties across the US have limits on the use of their records. Believe me, I know. I have been to a lot. Sauk County was one that offered their records freely but that priviledge will be taken away in order to preserve the records for future generations. It is my understanding that some of the records are on microfilm at the State Historical Society. You may want to check with them. Kathy -----Original Message----- From: Colleen Boose <boose@win.bright.net> To: WISAUK-L@rootsweb.com <WISAUK-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Friday, February 18, 2000 3:59 PM Subject: [WISAUK] County records >I read with interest the recent decision by the Sauk County Register of >Deeds regarding their 'hands-off' policy. > >What happened to the "Freedom of Information Act"??? > >It would be interesting to see if their decision could result in a lawsuit. > >Colleen >Hager City, WI > >