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Free Wisconsin Notary Acknowledgment Template

A Wisconsin notary acknowledgment is the certificate a notary signs and seals after you confirm you signed a document voluntarily. Fill in the wording with our customizable template before your appointment.

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What Is a Notary Acknowledgment in Wisconsin?

A Wisconsin notary acknowledgment certifies your declaration before a notarial officer (Wis. Stat. § 140.01). By making it, you state that you signed a record for the purpose it describes. Chapter 140 of the Wisconsin Statutes and chapter DFI-CCS 25 of the Administrative Code govern it.

Wisconsin Requirements for a Notary Acknowledgment

The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) appoints notaries and publishes a Notary Public Handbook, revised September 2024.

Two Kinds of Commission

Most notaries hold a four-year commission backed by a $500 surety bond. By contrast, attorneys licensed in Wisconsin may apply for a permanent commission, which needs no bond.

Seal or Stamp

Every notary, including attorneys, must affix their official seal or stamp for each notarial act on a tangible record. It can be any size or shape. However, it must show “Notary Public,” “State of Wisconsin,” and the notary’s name, including their full legal last name.

Signing Beforehand

For an acknowledgment, you don’t have to sign in front of the notary. However, you must appear and acknowledge that you signed, and the notary shows you your signature to confirm it.

Venue

In Wisconsin, the venue shows where the notary is when the act takes place, not where they live. So a certificate reads “State of Wisconsin, County of” followed by that county.

Fees

A notary may charge no more than $5 for most in-person notarial acts (Wis. Stat. § 140.02(9)). Since fees can change, confirm them first.

Journal

Finally, Wisconsin doesn’t require a notary journal, although DFI encourages one.

Can You Get a Wisconsin Notary Acknowledgment on an Estate Plan Remotely?

Yes, but with extra steps. Wisconsin handles remote notarization of estate planning documents under a separate statute, section 140.147.

According to DFI’s handbook, the session must use two-way, real-time audio and video. In addition, a Wisconsin-licensed attorney in good standing must supervise it and attach a special affidavit of compliance to the document.

Meanwhile, for other documents, a notary uses the remote online procedures in section 140.145 with a technology provider approved by DFI. Either way, the notary must be physically in Wisconsin.

Tip

See blank lines for other signers? DFI’s handbook suggests the notary cross out and initial any unused signature lines so no one can sign there later.

How to Sign a Wisconsin Notary Acknowledgment

In practice, a typical appointment follows DFI’s model ceremony.

  1. Bring a government photo ID showing your name, address, picture, and signature.
  2. Show the notary the document and tell them what kind it is.
  3. Confirm you’re signing of your own free will and for the document’s purpose.
  4. Sign, or confirm the signature you already made.
  5. Next, the notary compares your signature with your ID.
  6. The notary completes, signs, and seals the certificate.

What to Include in a Wisconsin Notary Acknowledgment

DFI’s handbook models a satisfactory certificate. After “State of Wisconsin” and a county line, the key sentence follows: “This instrument was acknowledged before me on (date), by (name).”

A complete Wisconsin notary acknowledgment includes:

  • The venue, “State of Wisconsin, County of ___”
  • The acknowledgment sentence with the date and signer
  • The notary’s signature and “Notary Public”
  • “My commission expires on” and the date
  • The official seal or stamp

When you sign for someone else, add “duly authorized” wording. The handbook’s sample reads “by Robert Jones, as the duly authorized President of the ABC Corporation.” Start your Wisconsin notary acknowledgment with Document Genius so the wording is ready.