Who requires it
Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions — Notary Public
License & permit · Wisconsin
Wisconsin Notary Public Bond
Applicants for a Wisconsin four-year notary public commission must execute an official bond in the sum of $500 under Wis. Stat. § 140.02. The Department of Financial Institutions requires the bond from a surety company licensed to write surety in Wisconsin and treats it as one filing step alongside the application, oath, exam certificate, and fee. DFI’s Notary Handbook states that once filed, the bond cannot be cancelled and expires with the four-year commission. Permanent commissions for attorneys licensed in Wisconsin do not require a bond. An employer “blanket bond” does not satisfy the statutory $500 notary surety.
Common bond amount
$500
Fixed statutory face for four-year commissions; permanent attorney commissions need no bond.
How you file
File the four-year official bond with the Department of Financial Institutions; not cancellable once filed
Renewal
Expires with the four-year commission; rebond when reapplying
Who requires it
Individuals applying or reapplying for a four-year Wisconsin notary commission through DFI. Wisconsin-licensed attorneys seeking a permanent notary commission are not required to post this bond.
How much is required
Wis. Stat. § 140.02 sets the official bond at five hundred dollars ($500). DFI materials consistently describe a $500, four-year surety for standard commissions.
How to get and file it
Purchase a $500 notary surety from a Wisconsin-authorized insurer, complete the DFI bond form (or a DFI-approved surety form), and submit it with the four-year application package, oath, exam certificate, and fee. Buying the bond alone does not authorize you to notarize. File the bond with DFI before the commission issues. Per the Notary Handbook, a filed four-year bond remains in force for the commission term and is not cancellable; it expires when the commission expires. Reapply with a new bond when seeking another four-year commission. Renewing notaries may submit paperwork as early as six months before expiration.
Cost note
Five hundred dollars is the required bond amount, not the premium you pay. DFI notes retail premiums for the $500 four-year bond often fall roughly in the $25 to $100-plus range depending on the seller—compare offers carefully. See bond amount vs premium. Bond amount vs premium →
Requirement checklist
- Required amount
- $500 official surety
- Term
- Aligns with the four-year commission
- Provider
- Surety licensed to write surety bonds in Wisconsin
- Exemption
- No bond for permanent commissions issued to Wisconsin-licensed attorneys
Official sources
Related resources
Frequently asked questions
Does buying a bond make me a notary?
No. DFI emphasizes that purchasing a bond is only one step. You must also complete the application, oath, exam, and fee process and receive a commission certificate before notarizing.
Can my employer’s blanket bond cover me?
No. The Notary Handbook requires a separate, specific $500 notary surety. A blanket employment bond does not fulfill the statutory obligation.
Surety basics (not repeated here)
Universal surety concepts explained once—linked here instead of repeated on every state or bond page.
Continue with a Wisconsin application
Wisconsin will be preselected. Choose your bond type in the application—we confirm the correct product against your agency form before anything is issued.
Last verified 2026-08-10. This guide is based on verified educational content and official sources.
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