NOTARY CERTIFICATION– EASIEST WAY TO RENEW.

Deposition Reporting - Jane M. Jones

As working certified court reporters, it is required that you keep your notary commission current.  If you’re anything like me, when you receive the documents in the mail informing you that your expiration date is looming, you groan and think, “I don’t have time for this.”  In this blog, I am going to tell you the steps you need to take to renew your notary certification.

1.  There is now a Wisconsin Notary Public quiz that you must pass in order to renew.  This is the first thing you need to do.  Go to www.wdfi.org.  Click on the Notary Public tab.  Then click on “Notary Tutorial Exam.”  There are seven chapters for you to study.  I would recommend printing them out and reading through them.  After you have finished studying the material (this should only take about an hour), then you are ready to take the quiz.  Once you start the quiz, you need to finish it at that time.  It is 50 questions.  If you have the seven chapters printed out, or a second computer handy, then you can refer to the chapters if you need to look something up.  After you are finished taking the test, you will receive your grade immediately.  You must get 90% to pass.  If you pass, you then need to print out a certificate verifying that you passed.  If you don’t pass, don’t worry about it.  You will be informed which questions you got wrong and which chapters to refer to for the correct answer.  Then you can retake the test.
2. Once you have your certificate for the quiz, then you need to go to the Forms tab of the same website.  You can print out the forms you need.  You will print out the Wisconsin Four-Year Commission Notary Public Application, the Oath of Office, and the form for the Notary Public Bond.  These are very easy to fill out.  Just follow the directions.  You will need a notary, other than yourself, for the Oath of Office form.
3. Make out two checks.  One will be made out to WDFI, for $20.00.  The other check will be made out to the Notary Bond Renewal Service for $25.00.
4. Personally, I then make it easy on myself and send my two checks, the three forms, and the certification that I have passed the tutorial, all to the following address:

Notary Bond Renewal Service
300 West Forest Avenue
Neenah, WI  54957-0698
Attn:  Ms. Judith Stilp

1-920-722-1331

No, these are not my relatives, but I have been using this firm for many years, and they are from my hometown and do a great job.  Once they get your paperwork, they will take care of sending everything to Madison for you, and you will be informed once your notary certification has been successfully renewed. 

I would note that I started receiving info in the mail about six months before my expiration date.  Once you send in the paperwork, your present notary commission will lapse, and the next term will begin.  You might want to wait until about two months before your expiration date.  Once you take the quiz, the certificate may only be good for a certain period of time, so I wouldn’t recommend taking the quiz and sitting on it for three months.

Also, the above method will only cost you $45.00 total, to renew.  The National Notary Association will offer you different options, some of which are more expensive.  Liability protection is also offered.  That is a personal decision you need to make.  I have never thought it was necessary; however, after studying for the quiz, you will realize that being a notary public does have many serious responsibilities and penalties for not complying with the statutes.

That’s it.  The whole renewal process should only take you about two hours.  It is worse thinking about it than actually doing it!  I hope this information will make the process easier.  Have a great day!

Jane M. Jones, RMR, CRR
Deposition Reporting
Wisconsin Court Reporter

Tags: Deposition Reporting, National Notary Association, notary public commission renewal, Wisconsin Court Reporters

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