PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

200+ Free Wisconsin Notary Practice Questions

Pass your Wisconsin Notary Public Commission exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card✓ No hidden fees✓ Start practicing immediately
200+ Questions
100% Free

Loading questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Notary Public

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards39 videos42 blogs

California Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards4 videos8 blogs

New York Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards3 videos7 blogs

Texas Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards3 videos5 blogs

Pennsylvania Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideCheat SheetFlashcards2 videos4 blogs

North Carolina Notary Public

Practice QuestionsStudy GuideFlashcards2 videos4 blogs

More From This Family

Videos and articles for deeper review.

VideoAlabama Notary 2026: No Exam, $50K Bond, 4-Year TermVideoAlabama Notary 2026: No Exam, $50K Bond, 4-Year TermVideoAlabama Notary 2026: No Exam, $50K Bond, 4-Year TermVideoAlabama Notary 2026: No Exam, $50K Bond, 4-Year TermArticleAlabama Notary 2026: No Exam, $50K Bond, 4-Year Term8 min readArticleArkansas Notary 2026: No Exam, $20 Fee, 10-Year Term8 min readArticleConnecticut Notary Bond Requirements (2026): Cost, Filing, and Renewal8 min readArticleFlorida Notary 2026: No Exam, $7.5K Bond, 5 Steps11 min read
2026 Statistics

Key Facts: Wisconsin Notary Exam

4 years

Standard commission term (permanent for WI attorneys)

Wis. Stat. ch. 140 / DFI Notary Handbook

90%

Passing score on the 30-question DFI online exam (27 of 30)

Wisconsin DFI Notary Tutorial and Exam

$500

Required surety bond for a four-year commission

Wis. Stat. ch. 140 / DFI Notary Handbook

$5

Maximum fee per most in-person notarial acts

Wis. Stat. s. 140.02(9)

$20

DFI application filing fee ($50 for permanent attorney commission)

Wisconsin DFI Notary Handbook

May 1, 2020

Remote online notarization authorized in Wisconsin

2019 Wisconsin Act 125 / Wis. Stat. s. 140.145

Wisconsin commissions notaries through the DFI for a four-year term (permanent for licensed Wisconsin attorneys). Non-attorneys must pass the DFI online notary exam (30 questions, 90% to pass, open book) and post a $500 surety bond; the application filing fee is $20. Notaries may charge no more than $5 per in-person notarial act under s. 140.02(9), and Wisconsin has permitted remote online notarization since May 1, 2020.

Sample Wisconsin Notary Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your Wisconsin Notary exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 200+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which Wisconsin agency commissions notaries public and regulates them under Chapter 140 of the Wisconsin Statutes?
A.The Office of the Lieutenant Governor
B.The Wisconsin Secretary of State
C.The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI)
D.The clerk of the circuit court in each county
Explanation: In Wisconsin, the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), through its Notary Section, appoints and regulates notaries public under Chapter 140 of the Wisconsin Statutes and chapter DFI-CCS 25 of the Administrative Code. The DFI Secretary issues the commission.
2How long is a standard (non-attorney) Wisconsin notary public commission valid?
A.Two years
B.Four years
C.Ten years
D.Life of the notary
Explanation: A standard Wisconsin notary commission is valid for four years from the date of issuance unless it is revoked earlier. The notary must reapply (including retaking the exam and posting a new bond) to renew.
3What is the minimum surety bond amount a person must post to receive a standard four-year Wisconsin notary commission?
A.No bond is required
B.$5,000
C.$15,000
D.$500
Explanation: Wisconsin requires a $500 surety bond for all applicants seeking or renewing a four-year notary commission. The bond protects members of the public harmed by the notary's misconduct or neglect, up to $500.
4Does Wisconsin require a non-attorney applicant to pass an examination before being commissioned as a notary public?
A.No, Wisconsin requires only an application and bond
B.Yes, applicants must pass the DFI online notary exam
C.Only applicants in Milwaukee and Dane counties must test
D.Only applicants who plan to perform remote notarizations must test
Explanation: Wisconsin is one of the few states with a mandatory notary exam. Non-attorney applicants must complete the DFI online tutorial and pass its final exam, then submit the exam certificate with their application.
5What score must a non-attorney applicant achieve on Wisconsin's online notary final exam to pass?
A.80 percent or better
B.90 percent or better
C.100 percent (no wrong answers allowed)
D.70 percent or better
Explanation: Wisconsin's DFI notary final exam consists of 30 questions, and an applicant must score 90 percent or better to pass. Applicants who fail receive feedback and may review the tutorial chapters before retaking it.
6Which type of applicant may obtain a Wisconsin permanent notary commission and is exempt from the notary exam and the bond requirement?
A.Any applicant who pays a $200 filing fee
B.Any Wisconsin resident over age 65
C.An attorney licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and in good standing
D.A current or former county clerk
Explanation: A permanent commission under Wis. Stat. s. 140.02(2) is available only to a U.S.-resident attorney licensed to practice law in Wisconsin who submits a Certificate of Good Standing from the Wisconsin Supreme Court. No bond and no exam are required, and the filing fee is $50.
7What is the application (filing) fee paid to DFI for a standard four-year Wisconsin notary commission?
A.$10
B.$20
C.$50
D.$75
Explanation: The application filing fee for a standard four-year Wisconsin notary commission is $20, paid to the Department of Financial Institutions. (Total cost is higher once the bond and seal are added.) A permanent attorney commission costs $50.
8What is the maximum fee a Wisconsin notary may charge for performing most in-person notarial acts?
A.There is no statutory limit
B.$2 per act
C.$5 per act
D.$10 per act
Explanation: Under Wis. Stat. s. 140.02(9), a Wisconsin notary may charge no more than $5 for performing most in-person notarial acts, such as taking an acknowledgment of a deed. DFI may set a different (often higher) maximum for remote online notarizations.
9A document states 'This instrument was acknowledged before me on June 1, 2026, by Jane Doe.' Which notarial act does this certificate evidence?
A.A copy certification
B.A protest of a negotiable instrument
C.A jurat (sworn statement)
D.An acknowledgment
Explanation: Language reciting that an instrument was 'acknowledged before me' is a certificate of acknowledgment. In an acknowledgment the signer declares that they signed voluntarily and understand the document's nature, but they do not swear to the truth of its contents.
10In Wisconsin, what is the key difference between an acknowledgment and a jurat?
A.Only attorneys may take acknowledgments
B.A jurat may be done remotely but an acknowledgment may not
C.In a jurat the signer swears (under oath or affirmation) that the contents are true; in an acknowledgment the signer only confirms voluntary signing
D.An acknowledgment requires a witness but a jurat does not
Explanation: For a jurat, the signer takes an oath or affirmation that the statements in the document are true, and the notary must witness the signature. For an acknowledgment, the signer merely confirms that they signed voluntarily and understand the document; no oath about truth is given.

About the Wisconsin Notary Exam

The Wisconsin Notary Public Commission is issued by the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) under Chapter 140 of the Wisconsin Statutes. Non-attorney applicants must complete the free DFI online tutorial and pass a 30-question, open-book exam with a 90% score, post a $500 surety bond, and obtain an official seal before being commissioned for four years.

Questions

30 scored questions

Time Limit

No formal time limit (online, open book)

Passing Score

90% (27 of 30 questions)

Exam Fee

$20 application fee to DFI (the online exam itself is free) (Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI), Notary Section)

Wisconsin Notary Exam Content Outline

22%

Qualifications & Commissioning

Eligibility (18+, U.S. resident, 8th-grade-equivalent education, no disqualifying conviction), the mandatory DFI online exam, the $20 filing fee, the 4-year term, the permanent attorney commission, and renewal procedures.

24%

Notarial Acts & Certificate Wording

Acknowledgments versus jurats, oaths and affirmations, witnessing unsworn signatures, copy certifications, protests, venue, and representative-capacity certificate language.

12%

Identification & Personal Appearance

Satisfactory evidence of identity under s. 140.07, the 3-year ID expiration window, credible witnesses, and the requirement that the signer personally appear.

16%

Seal, Bond & Fees

Required seal/stamp elements (Notary Public, State of Wisconsin, full legal last name), the $500 surety bond, optional E&O insurance, and the $5 maximum statutory fee.

14%

Remote Online Notarization

RON under Chapter 140 effective May 1, 2020, approved technology providers, dual identity proofing, 7-year audio-video retention, and attorney-supervised estate-planning rules.

12%

Prohibited Acts, UPL & Discipline

The vital-records prohibition, conflicts of interest, the limits on unauthorized practice of law, grounds for revocation, and criminal and civil penalties.

How to Pass the Wisconsin Notary Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: 90% (27 of 30 questions)
  • Exam length: 30 questions
  • Time limit: No formal time limit (online, open book)
  • Exam fee: $20 application fee to DFI (the online exam itself is free)

Keys to Passing

  • Complete 500+ practice questions
  • Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
  • Focus on highest-weighted sections
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

Wisconsin Notary Study Tips from Top Performers

1Read the DFI Notary Public Handbook and complete the free 7-chapter online tutorial before attempting the exam, even though it is open book.
2Memorize the core Wisconsin numbers: 4-year term, $500 bond, $20 filing fee, $5 maximum fee per act, and the 90% passing score on 30 questions.
3Drill the acknowledgment-versus-jurat distinction: only a jurat involves an oath/affirmation about truth and requires watching the signer sign.
4Know the s. 140.07 ID rule (current or expired no more than 3 years) and the credible-witness backup when a signer lacks acceptable ID.
5Understand RON specifics: effective May 1, 2020, approved providers, dual identity proofing, 7-year recording retention, and the separate s. 140.147 estate-planning process.
6Study what is prohibited: certifying vital records, notarizing without personal appearance, notarizing self/spouse documents, and the unauthorized practice of law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Wisconsin require a notary exam?

Yes. Non-attorney applicants must complete the free DFI online tutorial and pass a 30-question, open-book final exam with a score of 90% or better (27 of 30). The exam certificate must be dated within one year of the commission and submitted with the application. Wisconsin-licensed attorneys are exempt from the exam.

How long does a Wisconsin notary commission last?

A standard Wisconsin notary commission lasts four years from the date of issuance. Attorneys licensed to practice law in Wisconsin and in good standing may instead obtain a permanent commission, which lasts as long as they remain a U.S.-resident licensed Wisconsin attorney.

How much is the Wisconsin notary bond?

Wisconsin requires a $500 surety bond for every four-year commission. The bond protects the public for up to $500 in damages from the notary's misconduct or neglect; damages beyond $500 are the notary's personal responsibility. No bond is required for a permanent attorney commission.

What can a Wisconsin notary charge per notarial act?

Under Wis. Stat. s. 140.02(9), a Wisconsin notary may charge no more than $5 for performing most in-person notarial acts, plus a small per-folio copying charge (12 cents) for certain documents. DFI may set a different maximum for remote online notarizations.

Does Wisconsin allow remote online notarization (RON)?

Yes. Wisconsin has permitted remote online notarization since May 1, 2020 (2019 Wisconsin Act 125, codified in Chapter 140). Any commissioned notary may perform RON after authorizing with a DFI-approved technology provider; the act is recorded on audio-video and retained at least seven years. Estate-planning documents follow a separate attorney-supervised process under s. 140.147.

Is a notary journal required in Wisconsin?

No. Wisconsin does not require a notary to keep a journal for standard in-person notarizations, though DFI encourages keeping one as a defensive record. For remote online notarizations, the mandatory audio-video recording effectively serves as the record of the transaction.