Notary Public Permit Requirements in Madison, WI

1. EIN (Employer Identification Number)

   Required if you operate as an LLC/corporation or have employees. Sole proprietor notaries with no employees may use their SSN.

   Official government source

   Free·Immediate (online)

   Free

   Immediate (online)

1. Wisconsin Notary Commission

   Apply to the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) for a four-year notary commission. You must be a U.S. resident, at least 18, have the equivalent of an 8th-grade education, be familiar with the duties of a notary public, and have no arrest or conviction record affecting your ability to hold a position of public trust. You must pass the DFI notary exam with a score of 90% or better within one year of applying, submit an Oath of Office, purchase a $500 bond, and obtain an engraved official seal or rubber stamp. A permanent commission is available only to Wisconsin-licensed attorneys in good standing.

   Official government source

   $20 four-year notary public application fee; $50 attorney permanent notary application (DFI fee schedule). Add the cost of a $500 surety bond and an official seal or stamp, both bought from private vendors.·Not published - DFI notifies applicants by email when the commission is complete or if corrections are needed.

   $20 four-year notary public application fee; $50 attorney permanent notary application (DFI fee schedule). Add the cost of a $500 surety bond and an official seal or stamp, both bought from private vendors.

   Not published - DFI notifies applicants by email when the commission is complete or if corrections are needed.

2. Wisconsin Notary Public - $500 Surety Bond and Commission

   A four-year Wisconsin notary commission requires a $500 surety bond. You obtain the bond form from DFI, send it to a bonding company to complete, then file it with DFI along with your application, your oath, and printed proof that you passed the notary exam with 90% or better within the previous year. You also buy your own official seal or stamp. Attorneys licensed in Wisconsin may instead take a permanent commission, which needs no bond but does require a $3 Certificate of Good Standing from the Clerk of the Supreme Court.

   Official government source

   $20 application fee to DFI, by check or money order, for the four-year commission. The $500 is a coverage amount, not a price - the bond premium is set by the bonding company and DFI publishes no figure, directing applicants to a local insurance agent instead.·Four-year term. DFI publishes no processing time and the packet is mailed in, so allow for mail turnaround; check status at [email protected] or 608-266-8915.

   $20 application fee to DFI, by check or money order, for the four-year commission. The $500 is a coverage amount, not a price - the bond premium is set by the bonding company and DFI publishes no figure, directing applicants to a local insurance agent instead.

   Four-year term. DFI publishes no processing time and the packet is mailed in, so allow for mail turnaround; check status at [email protected] or 608-266-8915.

3. Notary Errors & Omissions Insurance (optional)

   Wisconsin requires a $500 surety bond filed with DFI for a four-year commission, and it is important to understand what that bond does not do: it protects the public, and if the surety pays a claim it can seek reimbursement from you. E&O is the separate, entirely optional policy that covers your own liability for an unintentional mistake. DFI does not require it and endorses no provider - its notary guidance simply tells applicants to contact a local insurance agent for notary bonding and related coverage.

   Official government source

   No state-set price. E&O is sold by private insurers and notary supply vendors, priced by the coverage amount you choose; Wisconsin publishes no schedule, so quote the coverage level you actually want rather than relying on a range.·Optional and available at any time - it is not part of the DFI filing, so it does not gate or delay your commission.

   No state-set price. E&O is sold by private insurers and notary supply vendors, priced by the coverage amount you choose; Wisconsin publishes no schedule, so quote the coverage level you actually want rather than relying on a range.

   Optional and available at any time - it is not part of the DFI filing, so it does not gate or delay your commission.

1. City of Madison — No Business License Required for Notary Services

   Madison does not require a business license for standalone notary businesses. The City Clerk's Office issues licenses only for specific regulated activities (e.g., alcohol, tobacco/vaping, adult entertainment, secondhand dealers), which does not include notary services.

   Official government source

   $0 (no license applies)·N/A

   $0 (no license applies)

   N/A

Official Sources

• Wisconsin — Notary Public Requirements
• Wisconsin Secretary of State

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