How to Become a Notary in Wisconsin (2026 Guide)

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Wisconsin requires a $500 surety bond, a state tutorial and exam (90% to pass), and a $20 application fee. The commission lasts 4 years and the maximum notary fee is $5 per act. Here is how to get started.

Wisconsin Notary Requirements

Wisconsin issues two commission types. The four-year commission is the standard path below. The permanent commission is reserved for attorneys licensed to practice law in Wisconsin: submit a certificate of good standing from the Wisconsin Supreme Court ($3, dated within two months of the application) with a $50 fee, and you are commissioned for as long as your law license lasts, with no bond (a suspended or revoked law license takes the commission with it). The standard four-year requirements:

• You must be a United States resident.
• You must be 18 years of age or older
• You must have at least an eighth-grade education.
• You need to get a 90% or higher score on the notary exam within one year of applying.
• You must be compliant with the state of Wisconsin Statutes in regard to arrests and convictions.

Disqualifying Factors

Wisconsin screens for character: an applicant with a felony conviction, or a conviction for a crime involving dishonesty or theft, cannot be commissioned unless the conviction has been pardoned. Lesser offenses are evaluated against the state’s statutes on arrests and convictions. If something in your record is borderline, attach the court documents rather than waiting for DFI to ask.

Application Process

Here is the Wisconsin notary public application process:

• To become a notary public in Wisconsin, the notary applicant must thoroughly study and comprehend the obligations and criteria stipulated by the state’s notary law.
• Fill out the notary application. You can start it online, pay for it online, or print it out and fill it in by hand.
• Get a notary bond for at least $500
• Take the oath of office
• You need the exam certificate from the Wisconsin Notary Public Tutorial
• Submit all forms to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions with the required $20 fee.
• Should your application be accepted, you’ll receive a notification from the Department of Financial Institutions.

Training is required: Wisconsin notaries must complete the state’s free online Notary Public Tutorial before applying.

Exam Requirements

All Wisconsin Notaries must pass the final assessment exam with a minimum score of 90%. If unsuccessful on your first attempt, you can retake it as many times as necessary until successfully passing. Once passed, a certificate will be issued and need to be submitted electronically or by mail to the Department of Financial Institutions for registration.

Bond Requirements

Yes, four-year Wisconsin notaries must obtain a surety bond for $500, the smallest in the country. A blanket bond does not fulfill the requirement; the bond form must name you. DFI publishes the premium range ($25 to about $100 for the same coverage), and the bond expires with the four-year commission. Damages beyond $500 are yours personally, which is the honest reason to consider E&O.

E&O Insurance Requirements

Errors and omissions insurance is not required, but it is recommended. The $500 bond pays the public; E&O is what pays your own defense and damages when a notarial mistake turns into a claim.

Stamp Requirements

Yes, all Wisconsin notaries must purchase a notary stamp. This is an official seal that will be used for all documents that need to be notarized.

Journal Requirements

The state of Wisconsin does not require keeping a notary journal, but it is recommended. A journal can help protect you if a notarization you performed is questioned. Keep your journal in a safe place that is locked.

Costs to Get Commissioned

The application fee is $20.

The notary bond should cost about $20

As a Wisconsin notary, there are certain items you must acquire to complete your duties. The price of the necessary supplies will depend on what type of products you select. For instance, the average cost for a rubber stamp is between fifteen and twenty-five dollars, while the journal may range from ten to fifty dollars (depending on the brand). You should also budget for basic supplies like pens, sticky notes, and ink refills.

Authorized Notarial Acts

Wisconsin law allows for the following notarial acts:

1. Take acknowledgments
2. Administer oaths or affirmations
3. Take verifications on oath or affirmation
4. Witness or attest signatures
5. Certify or attest copies
6. Take depositions
7. Note protests of negotiable instruments

Remote Online Notarization

Yes, remote online notarizations are allowed in Wisconsin. However, the state has strict standards regarding which documents are permitted to be notarized for a remotely located individual. Wisconsin runs RON through approved technology providers (Wisconsin Act 125, signed March 3, 2020): you register with any provider on the state’s list and may begin remote notarizations once the provider approves you, with the provider informing DFI, but the notary must follow specific requirements for each remote online notarization. This includes partnering with communication technology providers that allow the notary to perform notarial acts.

Commission Length

The notary commission will last for four years. However, if you have been licensed to practice law in this state, then there is an opportunity to apply and receive a permanent notary public commission.

Renewal Process

In Wisconsin, renewal repeats the original process: retake the Notary Tutorial Exam (90% again), file a new application with a fresh bond and the $20 fee. You may renew within the 6 months before expiration, and DFI asks you to submit at least 3 weeks early. DFI sends renewing notaries an alert with a unique code about 30 days before expiration.

How Much You Can Charge

Wisconsin caps notary fees at $5 per document for acknowledgments and similar acts (Wis. Stat. 140.02(9)(e)) — a per-document cap, not per-signature — and the same cap applies to remote online notarizations under 2019 Act 125. Travel fees for mobile notaries are not regulated by the state.

Becoming a Signing Agent

To become a notary signing agent in Wisconsin, you must first be an active commissioned notary public. You can then take certified signing agent training to learn about loan document terminology and other necessary protocol for conducting real estate signings. You will also need an E&O insurance policy and to register with signing services. Once you have the qualifications, you can start your business as a notary signing agent.

Wisconsin’s real estate market creates steady demand for signing agents, particularly in the Milwaukee and Madison metro areas.

Notarizing for Family Members

Wisconsin, like most states, does not impose a flat ban on notarizing for relatives. The rule that matters: you cannot notarize any document in which you or your spouse have a direct beneficial interest. Only a few states, including Florida, Massachusetts, and Michigan, flatly prohibit notarizing for certain family members.

Penalties for Notary Misconduct

Notarizing without authority is a misdemeanor; fraud or forgery tied to a notarial act is a felony. The Department of Financial Institutions can revoke a commission for cause, and the $500 bond pays the public while your personal liability rides on top.

Your Commission Belongs to You

Your commission is personal: no employer controls it, your stamp goes with you when you change jobs, and no employer can require you to skip proper procedure.

How Wisconsin Compares to Neighboring States

Requirement	Wisconsin	Minnesota	Michigan	Iowa	Illinois
Bond	$500	None	$10,000	None	$5,000
Exam	Yes (tutorial)	No	No	No	Yes (85%)
Training	Tutorial	No	No	No	Yes
Term	4 years	5 years	6 years	3 years	4 years
Max Fee	$5/document	No cap	$10	No cap	$5
RON	Yes	Yes (2018)	Yes	Yes	Yes

Wisconsin has the lowest bond in the Midwest ($500), paired with the required tutorial and exam. Minnesota and Iowa require no bond — and since Minnesota repealed its fee cap and Iowa never had one, both leave pricing to the market. Michigan carries a $10,000 bond and a 6-year term, and Illinois pairs its $5,000 bond with the 3-hour course and 85% exam it added in 2024. Full guides: Minnesota, Illinois.

Frequently Asked Questions