Last Update:  August 10, 2026

All Columbia County Sheriffs’ Sales of Mortgage Foreclosures are conducted on Mondays, beginning at 11 a.m., in the hallway outside room 113 at the Columbia County Courthouse, located at 400 DeWitt Street, Portage, Wisconsin.

Upcoming Sheriff Sale dates are listed below.  This is only a listing of noticed Sheriff Sales.  Sheriff Sales are subject to cancellation or rescheduling at any time without notice.  For full details, please refer to the terms of sale, the legal announcements in the designated county newspaper of the Portage Daily Register, and / or one of the posting sites in the City of Portage, or city, town or village where the property is located.

The prospective purchaser buys the property "as is."  The Sheriff's Office does not have any specific information about the properties.  We do not set up viewings of the property.  The Sheriff's Office does not have keys to the properties nor know if persons occupy the property.  The Sheriff’s Office cannot grant permission to any prospective buyer to enter and inspect any structure that may be located on the property to be sold.  Prospective buyers may desire to contact a title company or an attorney to perform a title search.  Questions regarding the legalities of purchasing a foreclosed home should be directed to an attorney that specializes in foreclosures.  Further, it is the buyer’s responsibility to have the occupants legally removed if the property is occupied.  Persons interested in obtaining information about a property are encouraged to contact the plaintiff or their attorney of record with the contact information provided below.

By bidding at the Sheriff’s Sale, the prospective buyer is consenting to being bound by the following terms:

• 10% of the winning bid in cashier’s check, money order, or bank-certified funds payable to the Columbia County Clerk of Court due immediately after the sale.  If the winning bidder does not have the certified funds with them, the property will go to the next highest bidder.  Cash and personal checks are not accepted.
• Property is sold as is and subject to all legal liens and encumbrances.
• Buyer to pay applicable Wisconsin Real Estate Transfer tax, costs of deed recording, and all remaining costs of the sale within 10 days of confirmation of the Sheriff’s sale.  Failure to pay the balance due will result in forfeiture of the deposit to the Plaintiff.
• Bidders not a party to this action are subject to the requirement of Wisconsin Statute section 846.155.  An eligible third-party bidder is a person that intends to submit a bid at a sale of a property and that is not any of the following:
  • A party in the foreclosure action.
  • An agent of a party in the foreclosure action.
  • An assignee of the plaintiff in the foreclosure action.
• All third-party bidders or their representatives must meet the minimum bidder qualifications:
  • Does not own an interest in Wisconsin property against which taxes have been levied that are more than 120 days delinquent;
  • Is not directly or indirectly owned, managed, or controlled, in whole or in party, by a person that owns an interest in Wisconsin property against which taxes have been levied that are more than 120 days delinquent;
  • Does not directly or indirectly own, manage, or control, in whole or in party, an entity that owns interest in Wisconsin property against which taxes have been levied that are more than 120 days delinquent;
  • Has no unsatisfied judgement against it related to a state or local building code violation with respect to Wisconsin property;
  • Is not directly or indirectly owned, managed, or controlled, in whole or in party, by a person against whom an unsatisfied judgment exists related to a state or local building code violation with respect to Wisconsin property;
  • Does not directly or indirectly own, manage, or control, in whole or in part, an entity against whom an unsatisfied judgment exists related to a state or local building code violation with respect to Wisconsin property; and
  • Is not submitting a bid on behalf of or as an agreement with a person that does not meet these qualifications.
• Third-party bidder affidavit false representation:
  • If the Court determines that the affidavit filed by Third-Party Bidder contains false information, the Court may refuse to confirm the sale and order the following:
    • The bidder shall forfeit the amount of the deposit or down payment delivered to the Clerk of Courts
    • The Clerk of Court shall pay the amount forfeited to the parties that would be entitled to the proceeds of the sale as ordered by the Court
    • The mortgaged premises shall be resold
    • The Clerk of Court shall destroy the deed executed to the purchaser, and that deed is of no effect
  • Additionally, if the Court determines the Third-Party Bidder Affidavit contains false representation that was made knowingly, the Court may order the bidder, the individual who signed the affidavit on behalf of the bidder, or both to: 
    • Forfeit up to $1,000.00
    • Bar them from submitting a bid at any sale of mortgaged premises conducted in the county for a period of time not to exceed one year from the date of the order entered

10% of the successful bid will be due to the Clerk of Court immediately following the sale of the property.  The highest bidder will be required to deposit 10% of the bid in the Clerk of Courts Office in the form of cashier's check, money order, or bank certified funds payable to "Columbia County Clerk of Courts."  This deposit is required at the time of the sale.  Cash or a personal check will not be accepted. 

REQUIRED FORMS:

A third-party affidavit form must be completed and submitted with each awarded sale.  A copy of this form will be available at the time of the sale.  (CV-550; Eligible Third-Party Bidder Declaration)

A third-party verification form must be completed prior to the sheriff's sale.  A valid photo ID with current information must be presented with the verification form.  A copy of this form will be available at the time of the sale.  (Third-Party Bidder Verification)   

NOTE TO ATTORNEYS:

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office does not accept or present opening bids on behalf of the Plaintiff.  Please be present or have a representative from the financial institution or your office present at the time of the sale to present opening bids to the Sheriff’s representative.