For Notaries · Wisconsin
How to Become a Notary in Wisconsin
To become a notary in Wisconsin, you must be a U.S. resident aged 18 or older with at least an eighth-grade education, pass the free online DFI exam with 90% or better, post a $500 surety bond, and file your application with the Department of Financial Institutions along with the $20 state fee for a four-year term.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Wisconsin notaries are commissioned by the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), which administers the state's notary program under Statutes chapter 140. The process is straightforward: confirm you are a U.S. resident aged 18 or older with an eighth-grade education, pass the free online DFI notary exam with a score of 90% or better, purchase a $500 surety bond, then mail your application, oath of office, bond form, and $20 state fee to the DFI Notary Records Section. Commissions run four years. Once commissioned, you can also register through a DFI-approved technology provider to perform remote online notarizations for signers located anywhere.
Wisconsin Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | Must be a resident of the United States, at least 18 years old, and have at least the equivalent of an eighth-grade education. A person convicted of a felony, or of a misdemeanor involving fraud, forgery, or similar, may not be commissioned unless the offense has been expunged or pardoned. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | Required. You must post a $500 surety bond purchased from an insurance company qualified to write surety bonds in Wisconsin, submitted on a DFI-approved bond form with your application. |
| State filing fee | $20 state filing fee, paid by check or money order payable to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Notary education | No mandatory training course or set hours. DFI offers a free online notary tutorial to help you prepare for the required exam, but completing it is not separately mandated. |
| Exam | Required. You must pass the free online DFI Notary Public exam with a score of 90% or better, taken within one year of submitting your application. It is taken online (not proctored in person) and may be repeated. |
Wisconsin requires a $500 surety bond and a $20 filing fee for a four-year notary public commission, submitted to the Department of Financial Institutions. — Wisconsin DFI — Four-Year Notary Public Commission Application (NOT100)
How to Become a Notary in Wisconsin: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you are eligible
Verify you are a U.S. resident aged 18 or older, have at least an eighth-grade education, and have no disqualifying felony or fraud/forgery misdemeanor conviction (unless expunged or pardoned).
- 2
Pass the online DFI exam
Take the free online DFI Notary Public tutorial and exam and score 90% or better within one year of applying. Print your passing certificate to include with the application.
- 3
Obtain your $500 surety bond
Purchase a $500 notary bond from an insurance company qualified to write surety bonds in Wisconsin, using a DFI-approved bond form.
- 4
Submit your application and $20 fee
Mail the Four-Year Notary Public Commission Application, oath of office, bond form, exam certificate, and the $20 fee to the DFI Notary Records Section in Madison.
- 5
Receive your commission and start notarizing
Once DFI issues your commission, get your official seal/stamp reading 'State of Wisconsin,' 'Notary Public,' and your name, then begin notarizing. To notarize remotely, register with a DFI-approved RON technology provider.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Wisconsin
Remote online notarization is operative in Wisconsin. Any commissioned Wisconsin notary may perform notarial acts for remotely located individuals — no separate RON commission or license is required. You register by signing up and training with a DFI/Remote Notary Council-approved technology provider; the provider then notifies DFI, which flags you as a remote online notary in its public database. RON acts require two-factor identity proofing, tamper-evident technology, and a seven-year audio-video recording. Special procedures apply to estate-planning documents (attorney-supervised) under Wis. Stat. 140.147.
Online / remote notary application fee: No separate state RON registration fee; technology-provider platform fees vary by provider.
Authorized by 2019 Wisconsin Act 125, effective May 1, 2020; governed by Wis. Stats. ch. 140 (secs. 140.145, 140.147, 140.20) and Wis. Admin. Code ch. DFI-CCS 25.
See how RON is authorized in Wisconsin — and state by state →
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the Wisconsin remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Wisconsin instead? Notarize online with a Wisconsin commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Wisconsin
Wisconsin allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Wisconsin commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in Wisconsin? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in Wisconsin?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State application fee (DFI) | $20 |
| $500 surety bond | Varies by supplier |
| Online DFI notary exam | Free |
| Official notary seal/stamp | Varies by supplier |
| RON technology provider (optional) | Varies by provider |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a Wisconsin Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Wisconsin caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $5 |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | $5 + tech |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how Wisconsin compares with every other state in the full 50-state breakdown of what a notary costs.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Wisconsin
Commission term in Wisconsin
4 years
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your Wisconsin Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Wisconsin notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long does a Wisconsin notary commission last?
A standard Wisconsin notary commission is a four-year term. Wisconsin-licensed attorneys in good standing can instead hold a permanent commission that lasts as long as they remain licensed.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Wisconsin?
The state charges a $20 application fee, and you must purchase a $500 surety bond (premium varies by supplier). The DFI online exam is free. Budget additional amounts for an official seal or stamp and, if desired, a journal.
Is a class or exam required to become a Wisconsin notary?
No formal training class is mandated, but an exam is required. You must pass the free online DFI Notary Public exam with a score of 90% or better within one year of applying. DFI provides a free tutorial to help you prepare, and the exam can be retaken.
Who appoints notaries in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin notaries are commissioned and administered by the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), which handles applications, exams, bonds, and remote online notary registration under Statutes chapter 140.
Can Wisconsin notaries perform remote online notarizations?
Yes. RON has been operative in Wisconsin since May 1, 2020, under 2019 Act 125. Any commissioned Wisconsin notary can perform remote acts after signing up and training with a DFI-approved technology provider; no separate state RON fee is charged, though provider platform fees apply.
How much can a notary charge in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $5, per act or signature.
How much can a Wisconsin notary charge for online notarization?
Wisconsin's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $5 + tech, against $5 in person.
When does a Wisconsin notary commission expire?
The Wisconsin commission term is: 4 years. No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the Wisconsin cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- What a loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby East North Central guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- Wisconsin DFI — Notary Public General Information
- Wisconsin DFI — Four-Year Notary Public Commission Application (NOT100)
- Wisconsin DFI — Remote Online Notary
- Wisconsin DFI — Guidance for Notaries Seeking to Perform RON
This guide summarizes public requirements from Wisconsin's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.