Notary Agent’s Duties
Wisconsin Mobile Notaries
A Notary Public in Wisconsin performs a blend of unique and standard services for those wishing to have their documents officially attested to and acknowledged.
In Wisconsin, a notary public may be appointed for four years (in contrast with some other states, such as West Virginia, where the term of the office lasts five years).
At its core, the role of Notary public in Wisconsin remains the same as in other states. Notaries can:
- Take acknowledgments
- Administer oaths and affirmations
- Take verifications upon oath or affirmation
- Certify/attest copies
- Witness or attest signatures
- Execute protests
Seals are a standard part of all documents presided over by a notary and, in Wisconsin, include the standard information. In Wisconsin, the seal will also bear details of the “County of Venue”.
And while this is strictly prohibited in other states, a Notary Public in Wisconsin may bear witness to signatures (and perform a notarial act) of family members, relatives, and/or spouses.
In Wisconsin, the assigned notary public does not have to maintain a journal. However, if the individual occupying this office does choose to keep a journal anyway, they’ll need to follow some statutory guidelines.
These include a record of:
- Date and type of notarial act
- Names and signatures of persons involved
- Numbers from ID cards and driver’s licenses presented
This comes in handy in case of a dispute down the road.
In Wisconsin, it’s the Department of Financial Institutions that control and administers the office of the Notary Public. That means the Notary Public is answerable to the Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions, not the Secretary of State.
Let’s say you have certain documents — birth certificates, adoption papers, marriage licenses, corporate documents, school transcripts, and/or trademarks — that have been issued in Wisconsin by the WDFI.
In order to certify the signatures of public officials and notaries on these documents, the office of the Secretary is responsible for issuing “apostilles”. These are certifications required and given for all countries that follow the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961.
One more thing: Is it that all lawyers are naturally considered a Notary Public in Wisconsin?
No.
Attorneys in Wisconsin do not automatically become qualified to be a Notary Public in Wisconsin, simply because they’re qualified ot practice law.
However, under Wis. Stat. section 137.01(2), they can apply for a permanent commission as a notary public, once they apply to the DFI and pay a fee of $50. That means no four-year term — they’ve got the ability to be a Notary Public, as long as their license remains in good standing
