Notaries in Wisconsin are prohibited from notarizing incomplete documents. The document must be fully completed before the notarization takes place to prevent fraudulent additions or alterations after the notarization.
Wisconsin notaries are prohibited from certifying copies of public or vital records, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or death certificates. These documents must be certified by the issuing government agency.
Wisconsin notaries should avoid notarizing documents for family members to prevent any potential conflict of interest. Even if the notary stands to gain no direct financial benefit, notarizing for a relative could still create the appearance of partiality.
A Wisconsin notary is prohibited from notarizing a document if the signer's identity cannot be verified. The notary must obtain proper identification, such as a government-issued ID, before proceeding with the notarization.
A Wisconsin notary is prohibited from notarizing a document written in a language they do not understand. The notary must be able to read and comprehend the document to ensure it is complete and to perform their duties properly.
