It turns out there is a simple solution to the problem of being able to share the original hand written details on Wisconsin vital records as a source to your genealogical conclusions.
The question below popped into my mind after a years worth of communicating with elected "leaders," who are clearly not interested in fixing this grand mess. Perhaps people making laws shouldn't benefit from immunity so that there is some actual accountability? I mean how many times are junk laws passed as pork and then have to go through the long legal process of being overturned? Answer; more times than should ever be allowed. And what happens to the culprits behind that questionable all too common practice? Why nothing at all.... welcome to America the land where constitution unfortunately becomes a convenient high grade toilet paper to these people.
Question: When is a record not a vital record and bound by the copiously stupid parts of Chapter 69 of the state statues?
Answer: Without a signature and date, it's just a piece of paper. The signature and date are what "activates" its status as a legal vital record under the law. [see 69.21(1)(b)1]
So we remove that since I don't really care about that. And voila, we having something far better than the non certified vital record they will issue... We have something that is no longer a vital record at all, but retains all the useful information in its original handwriting should someone want to reinterpret it or look at the facts. And the best part is you can copy it and share it electronically where with that useless crap they will issue you, that is not the case.
Simply redact the registrar's signature and date with a marker before coping. If you really want to do a good job you can also mark out the file number. Afterwards no one can say you made a "copy" since its no longer identical to the original, which is the definition of a copy. What you have made is a derivative no longer bound by Chapter 69.
In my opinion the pre 1907 records are Not legally "vital records" bound by Chapter 69. They lack a registrars signature. We'd be seeing Henry Berendson or Xaver Martin's signature if they were for the Brown County area. They were not required by the government till 1907, most were not originated by the government (they were copied from church records), and they were not conceived as being used for identity when they were copied. It remains unclear why some some people consider them vital records bound by Chapter 69. If they are not as I feel is the case they should be no legal requirement to stamp these not for identity, nor a need to show a photo ID to obtain them, nor should they have to follow the statutory fee schedule.
What is even more bizarre and contradictory with the per 1907 records is that anyone can obtain a certified version of these records. The part about needing to show a direct tangible interest like you would for post 1907 records is exempted on the pre 1907 records. Since they will issue them certified to anyone; I'd argue their continued status under Chapter 69, under which, records are supposed to be protected from fraudulent use is clearly not happening or are of no concern and thus they have not justified reason to continue to under those rules as they are no longer fulfilling the stated purpose.
And for that matter I have purchased post 1907 marriage reference copies that also lack a signature of any kind. Again a good thing to ask the Attorney General's opinion on if you ask me.
Ta-da!
(P.S. the law should still get fixed, but I have better things to do than babysit for free)
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