How to become a notary public in Wisconsin

Wisconsin notary public licenses

Wisconsin issues 2 notary public credentials. Each has its own section below; the table shows what each one covers and its headline requirements.

Applies to every license level

These rules are the same for every Wisconsin notary public license on this page, so they are shown once here. Each license's own section lists only what differs.

Requirements

Also required

Before applying, buy an engraved seal or rubber stamp showing "State of Wisconsin", "Notary Public" and your name, including your full current legal last name. No titles such as "Dr." or "Atty.". Any size or shape is allowed, and the expiry date is optional. Put a clear impression on the application. Always sign exactly as the name appears on the seal.⁴

Also required

Give DFI written notice of any change of contact information, including email, within 10 days. File the Address/Name/Seal Change form (no fee) before using a new name or seal.²

Also required

Every notarial act must be performed while physically in Wisconsin. A Wisconsin commission does not authorize acting in another state.³

Fees

What a notary public may charge the public:

• A notary may charge no more than $5 for most in-person notarial acts (Wis. Stat. § 140.02(9)).³

How to apply

Apply online

dfi.wi.gov⁶

Application form

Form (PDF, dfi.wi.gov)²⁷

Processing time

Usually within two weeks of DFI receiving the forms and fee. DFI notifies the applicant by email or mail. Do not notarize before then.³⁵

Who needs a Notary Public commission

An impartial public witness appointed by DFI. Notarial acts include taking acknowledgments, administering oaths and affirmations, taking verifications on oath or affirmation, witnessing or attesting signatures, certifying or attesting copies, and noting protests of negotiable instruments. A notary may not copy or certify vital records such as birth or death certificates.¹

Other rules on who may do this work:

• Attorneys licensed in Wisconsin may instead hold a permanent commission.¹

Requirements for a Notary Public commission

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

Minimum age

18 years old¹

High school diploma or GED

Not required²

Education or training

At least the equivalent of an eighth-grade education, and familiarity with notary duties. DFI recommends its free online tutorial.³

Exam

Wisconsin Notary Public Tutorial/Exam (online, DFI)²

Background check

Background check required²
A person convicted in state or federal court of a felony, or of a misdemeanor involving fraud, forgery or similar, may not be commissioned unless the offense has been expunged or pardoned. Applicants with such an arrest or conviction record answer "yes" on the application and attach an explanation and documentation for review.²
You can ask the board to review your record before you apply³

Residency or citizenship

Must be a resident of the United States. Wisconsin residence is not required, but the notary must be physically in Wisconsin when notarizing.³

Surety bond

$500⁸ (Every four-year commission, new or renewal; not required for permanent commissions)

Insurance

An errors and omissions policy is optional. It protects the notary, not the public, and is not filed with DFI.³

Also required

Sign an oath of office before a notarial officer, swearing to support the U.S. and Wisconsin constitutions.²

Also required

A journal is not required for in-person notarial acts, though DFI encourages one. For remote online notarization, an audio-visual recording of each act must be kept for at least 7 years.³

Also required

Remote online notarization needs no separate commission or license. A commissioned notary signs up and trains with a DFI- and Remote Notary Council-approved technology provider, which notifies DFI; the notary search then shows the notary as a remote online notary. The notary must be in Wisconsin. Each remote act is recorded, and the recording is kept 7 years. The certificate must say "This notarial act involved the use of communication technology." Remote notarization of estate planning documents follows Wis. Stat. § 140.147 instead, under a supervising Wisconsin attorney.⁹

How much a Notary Public commission costs

The board's pages we cite do not list the exam fee.

How to apply

1. Check eligibility: U.S. resident, 18 or older, at least an eighth-grade education, familiar with notary duties, and no disqualifying conviction (felony, or misdemeanor involving fraud or forgery, unless expunged or pardoned). You may ask DFI for an eligibility review first.³
2. Take the free online DFI tutorial and pass the exam with 90% or better. The certificate must be less than 1 year old when you apply. Print it.²
3. Buy your seal or stamp (before applying) and a four-year $500 surety bond from an insurer that writes surety bonds in Wisconsin. The insurer completes items 7-13 of the bond form.⁴
4. Sign the Oath of Office in front of a notarial officer (not yourself).¹
5. File online (MyWisconsin ID login; upload each form) or mail the application, oath, bond form, exam certificate and a $20 check or money order to DFI Notary Records Section, PO Box 7847, Madison, WI 53707-7847.⁶ Form (PDF, dfi.wi.gov)⁷
6. Wait for DFI's email or mail notice that the commission is issued, usually within two weeks. Only then may you notarize.²

Renewal and continuing education

How often

Every 4 years³

When it expires

Not renewed automatically. Reappointment uses the same process as a first application: new exam certificate, application, oath and $500 bond, plus $20. You may reapply within the 6 months before expiry; DFI suggests at least 3 weeks before. If the commission lapses, do not notarize until the new one is issued.³

Renewal fee

$20⁴ (Reappointment for a new four-year term (exam, oath and new bond again))

If it expires

There is no late fee or grace period: reapply as for renewal and do not notarize during the gap.⁴

Renew online

dfi.wi.gov⁴

Moving to Wisconsin with a license from another state

These are the routes DFI publishes for the Notary Public commission. The other notary public licenses have their own routes in their sections below.

Notary Public commission

Same notarial powers as a four-year notary. Attorneys do not become notaries automatically; they must apply. The commission does not expire while the attorney stays a U.S. resident licensed in Wisconsin, and is automatically revoked if the law license is suspended or revoked.¹

Requirements

Experience

Must be licensed to practice law in Wisconsin, with a license that has never been suspended or revoked.⁵
License you must hold first: Wisconsin law license in good standing (State Bar number), never suspended or revoked⁵

Exam

Not required¹

Background check

DFI may revoke for conviction of certain crimes while commissioned, or on Supreme Court notice that the law license was surrendered, suspended or revoked.⁵

Residency or citizenship

Must be a resident of the United States and licensed to practice law in Wisconsin. The notary must be in Wisconsin when notarizing.³

Fees

You pay DFI (application fee) and Clerk of the Wisconsin Supreme Court (certificate of Good Standing from the Wisconsin Supreme Court).

Each line is a separate charge as the board lists it. The board does not publish a combined total, so none is shown here.

How to apply

1. Confirm you are a U.S. resident licensed to practice law in Wisconsin whose license has never been suspended or revoked. If it was, apply for the four-year commission instead.⁵
2. Request a Certificate of Good Standing from the Clerk of the Supreme Court, PO Box 1688, Madison, WI 53701-1688 ($3). It must be dated within 2 months of your application.⁵ Form (PDF, dfi.wi.gov)⁷
3. Buy a seal or stamp showing "Notary Public", "State of Wisconsin" and your name. No "Atty." or "Esq.".⁵
4. File online, or mail the application (with seal impression and State Bar number), the certificate of good standing and $50 to DFI Notary Records Section.⁶
5. Do not notarize until DFI notifies you that the commission has been issued.⁵

Renewal

How often

No renewal (the license does not expire)³

When it expires

No renewal. The commission lasts while the holder remains a U.S. resident licensed to practice law in Wisconsin. It is automatically revoked if the law license is suspended or revoked; the attorney may then apply for a four-year commission.¹

From another state

The rules this license shares with every other level are under Applies to every license level.

City and county rules

Notary Public (four-year commission)No local license: apply only to the Department of Financial Institutions.⁶

Check a license or report a problem

Before you hire a notary public in Wisconsin, you can confirm the license is current on the board's own search. Every board we cover in Wisconsin is on the Wisconsin license lookup page.

Look up a license

dfi.wi.gov¹⁰

File a complaint

dfi.wi.gov¹¹

Laws and rules

The requirements above come from these laws and board rules.

• Wis. Stat. ch. 140; § 140.145 remote notarial acts; § 140.147 remote estate-planning documents)
• Wis. Admin. Code ch. DFI-CCS 25 (incl. DFI-CCS 25.03 remote online notarization)
• Wis. Stat. § 140.02(2) (permanent commission for attorneys, no bond)

Common questions

Notary public licenses in other states

• Alabama
• Alaska
• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Hawaii
• Idaho
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Montana
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Oregon
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Vermont
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wyoming