Wisconsin does not require a journal for traditional notarizations — but strongly recommends one. RON requires a mandatory electronic journal with 7-year retention. Wisconsin is overseen by the DFI (not SOS), and attorneys receive permanent commissions. NotaryAct is state-configured for Wisconsin — RON fields fully enabled, best-practice journal available for all acts.
| ⚖️ Wisconsin Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | Wis. Stat. Chapter 140 · Wisconsin Act 125 (RON, eff. May 1, 2020) |
| Oversight Authority | Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) — not SOS ✓ |
| Traditional Journal | Not required by law · Strongly recommended by DFI |
| RON Electronic Journal | Mandatory — DFI-approved platform required ✓ |
| RON A/V Recording | Required — 7-year retention ✓ |
| Thumbprint / Fingerprint | Not required · Not prohibited · Optional in NotaryAct WI configuration |
| Attorney Commission | Permanent — does not expire for WI-licensed attorneys in good standing ✓ |
| Standard Commission Term | 4 years |
| Wisconsin Residency Required? | No — any U.S. resident 18+ may apply |
| Bond | $500 — among the lowest nationally |
| Max Notarial Fee | $5 per notarial act (Wis. Stat. § 140.07) |
| Exam Required? | Yes — 90% passing score required · Application fee $20 · New $500 bond |
| RON Estate Planning Docs | Additional requirements — attorney supervision required ✓ |
Wisconsin has several features that set it apart from most other states.
The DFI, not the SOS. The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions oversees notary commissions — not the Secretary of State as in the vast majority of states. This means all applications, renewals, RON platform approvals, and disciplinary matters run through the DFI. The DFI maintains an online portal for notary services at dfi.wi.gov.
Permanent commissions for attorneys. Wisconsin-licensed attorneys in good standing receive a permanent notary commission that does not expire as long as they maintain their law license. Standard commissions are 4 years. Attorneys can also perform RON but must still use DFI-approved technology.
No Wisconsin residency requirement. Wisconsin does not require state residency — any U.S. resident who meets the other qualifications may apply for a Wisconsin commission. This is one of the most permissive rules in the country.
Very low bond. At $500, Wisconsin’s required surety bond is among the lowest nationally. Most states require $10,000 or more.
Although no law requires a journal for traditional notarizations, every Wisconsin notary should maintain one. Without a contemporaneous record of each notarization — who signed, how they were identified, what was notarized, and when — a notary facing a later challenge or fraud allegation has no independent evidence of proper procedure.
Wisconsin’s max fee of $5 per act reflects the state’s consumer-protective approach to notarization costs. Notaries who treat their work professionally — keeping detailed records, verifying identity carefully, and maintaining organized logs — are better positioned to defend their practice and attract quality clients, including loan signing engagements where detailed records are expected.
✔ NotaryAct is state-configured for Wisconsin: NotaryAct’s Wisconsin configuration enables all recommended best-practice journal fields for traditional notarizations and all required fields for RON electronic journal entries. RON records are retained in encrypted cloud storage for the full 7-year minimum. Fingerprint capture is available as an optional feature. The $5 fee maximum is reflected in the Wisconsin fee field.
The DFI recommends the following fields for every voluntary journal entry. NotaryAct’s Wisconsin configuration enables all of them.
| 1 | Date and Time Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. |
| 2 | Type of Notarial Act Acknowledgment, jurat, oath, witnessing a signature, or copy certification. NotaryAct dropdown covers all Wisconsin-authorized act types. |
| 3 | Document Description Title or type of the document being notarized. NotaryAct includes a dedicated document description field. |
| 4 | Signer’s Name and Address Full name and address. NotaryAct’s barcode scanner auto-fills from any Wisconsin driver’s license. |
| 5 | Identity Verification Method Personal knowledge, government-issued ID type and details, or credible witness. NotaryAct supports all three with dedicated fields. |
| 6 | Signer’s Signature Electronic signature capture in NotaryAct. Comparing the journal and document signatures is one of the most effective real-time fraud detection methods available. |
| + | Fee Charged Wisconsin’s maximum is $5 per notarial act under Wis. Stat. § 140.07. NotaryAct includes a fee field. |
Wisconsin authorized permanent RON under Wisconsin Act 125, effective May 1, 2020. RON in Wisconsin is governed by the DFI, not the Secretary of State. Key requirements:
DFI-approved platforms only. Wisconsin notaries must use a technology provider approved by the DFI. The DFI maintains a list of approved providers. Standard video chat applications like Zoom or Teams are not compliant.
Two-factor identity proofing. For most remote notarizations, the notary must confirm identity using two different types of identity proofing before performing the act. The DFI guidance describes the options: credential analysis combined with knowledge-based authentication (KBA), biometric verification, or other approved methods.
Estate planning documents — additional requirements. Wisconsin has specific additional rules for remote notarization of estate planning documents (wills, trusts, powers of attorney, healthcare directives). These require attorney supervision and follow a different procedural track. Notaries should review the DFI’s specific guidance for estate planning RON before performing those acts remotely.
Recordings and journals. Every RON session must be recorded (audio and video) and retained for 7 years. An electronic journal entry is mandatory for each remote notarial act.
| Wisconsin Requirement | How NotaryAct Covers It | Met? |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional journal (best practice) | Full best-practice journal with all DFI-recommended fields in WI configuration | ✔ |
| RON mandatory electronic journal | Tamper-evident records; entries locked at submission; encrypted cloud | ✔ |
| 7-year RON record retention | Cloud storage retains records well beyond 7-year minimum | ✔ |
| All best-practice traditional journal fields | Date/time, act type, document description, signer name/address/signature, ID method, fee — all in WI configuration | ✔ |
| $5 fee maximum reflected | Fee field in WI configuration reflects $5 per act maximum | ✔ |
| Fingerprint — optional | Available as optional field via camera or Bluetooth scanner; not presented as required | ✔ |
Other state guides: Illinois · Minnesota · Michigan · Ohio · All 50 States →
NotaryAct’s Wisconsin configuration gives you mandatory RON electronic journal compliance and a comprehensive best-practice journal for traditional acts — overseen by the DFI, covered by one app. Your records are protected whether you notarize in person or remotely.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 140 and Wisconsin Act 125 (effective May 1, 2020) as in effect June 2026. Consult the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions at dfi.wi.gov or qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
