Are electronic signatures legal in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin's version of the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, in chapter 137 of the statutes, says an electronic signature satisfies any law that requires a signature. Its exclusions are broader than the uniform text: family-law records, court documents and several consumer notices are all outside it.
Updated October 13, 2026 · 3 min read
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Wisconsin: at a glance
WI- E-signature law
- Wisconsin Uniform Electronic Transactions Act
- Citation
- Wis. Stat. §§ 137.11–137.26
- In effect since
- 2004
- Based on UETA
- Yes
- Remote notarization
- AllowedWis. Stat. § 140.145
- Doesn't cover
- Wills and testamentary trusts (§ 137.12(2)(a))
- UCC chapters 401 and 403 to 410, except § 401.306 (§ 137.12(2)(b))
- Adoption, divorce and other family-law records (§ 137.12(2m)(a))
- Court notices, court orders and official court documents (§ 137.12(2m)(b)–(d))
- Required notices of utility shutoff, primary-residence default, foreclosure or eviction, health or life insurance cancellation, product recalls, and hazardous-materials documents (§ 137.12(2r))
The rules in chapter 137
Wisconsin enacted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act as 2003 Wisconsin Act 294 (Assembly Bill 755), signed April 20, 2004 and published May 4, 2004. The core is § 137.15:
- A record or signature may not be denied legal effect or enforceability solely because it's electronic.
- A contract may not be denied legal effect solely because an electronic record was used to form it.
- An electronic record satisfies a writing requirement, and an electronic signature satisfies a signature requirement.
The chapter applies only between parties who have each agreed to transact electronically, read from context and conduct, and a party can always refuse the next transaction electronically (§ 137.13). A court can't exclude a record or signature just for being electronic (§ 137.21).
What Wisconsin leaves out
| Excluded | Where |
|---|---|
| Laws on executing wills or creating testamentary trusts | § 137.12(2)(a) |
| The Uniform Commercial Code chapters 401 and 403 to 410, except § 401.306 (sales and leases stay covered) | § 137.12(2)(b) |
| Records on adoption, divorce or other family-law matters | § 137.12(2m)(a) |
| Court notices, court orders and official court documents like briefs and pleadings | § 137.12(2m)(b)–(d) |
| Legally required notices of utility shutoff; default, foreclosure or eviction on a primary residence; health or life insurance cancellation; dangerous product recalls; and hazardous-materials papers | § 137.12(2r) |
The notice exclusions in § 137.12(2r) track the federal ESIGN Act's own exceptions in 15 U.S.C. § 7003(b). Send those notices the way the governing law requires.
How it works with the federal ESIGN Act
Section 137.12(2p) says the chapter applies to transactions governed by the federal ESIGN Act but isn't meant to limit, modify or supersede ESIGN's consumer consent rule, 15 U.S.C. § 7001(c). So when a law requires you to give a consumer information in writing, get ESIGN-style consent before delivering it electronically: disclose their rights, get consent electronically and confirm they can open the format. Our plain-English guide walks through it.
Filing with Wisconsin agencies
A record the law says must be submitted to a Wisconsin governmental unit in writing, with a signature, can be submitted electronically with an electronic signature, if that governmental unit consents and no law prohibits it (§ 137.25(1)). Check the agency's own rules before you file.
Remote notarization
If a law requires notarization, the notary's electronic signature and required details attached to the record satisfy it (§ 137.19). Since 2019 Wisconsin Act 125, a notary located in Wisconsin can also notarize for a remotely located person over live audio and video, except for administering an oath to a witness at a deposition (§ 140.145). See remote online notarization. SignMaster doesn't notarize documents.
Practical notes
- Get agreement on record. A line in your contract saying both sides agree to sign electronically puts the agreement § 137.13 asks about in writing.
- Keep an accurate copy everyone can open. That satisfies retention rules (§ 137.20).
An accurate copy only helps if it can still be opened later. Every signer can download SignMaster's completed PDF, and the certificate of completion at its end records each event with a timestamp. Consent is on file too: no one signs until they've agreed to sign electronically, and the disclosure version they saw is saved with that agreement.
Questions? Answers.
Can I sign a contract electronically in Wisconsin?
Yes. With both parties' agreement (§ 137.13), § 137.15(4) lets an electronic signature satisfy a signature requirement. The chapter doesn't cover wills, most UCC matters, family-law records or court documents.
Can a marital settlement agreement be e-signed in Wisconsin?
Not under chapter 137. It excludes records governed by laws on divorce and other family-law matters (§ 137.12(2m)(a)). Court rules and family law decide what's accepted, so ask a Wisconsin family lawyer.
Can I get a document notarized online in Wisconsin?
Yes. A notary located in Wisconsin can notarize for someone appearing by live audio and video under § 140.145, following its identity and recording requirements.
Sources
- Wis. Stat. ch. 137, Electronic Transactions and Records · docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
- 2003 Wisconsin Act 294 (AB 755) · docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
- Wis. Stat. § 140.145, notarial act for a remotely located individual · docs.legis.wisconsin.gov
- Uniform Law Commission, Electronic Transactions Act (enactment history) · uniformlaws.org
- 15 U.S.C. § 7001, ESIGN Act general rule of validity (govinfo) · govinfo.gov
- 15 U.S.C. § 7003, ESIGN Act exceptions (govinfo) · govinfo.gov
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and how they apply depends on your situation. For advice about a specific document, talk to a lawyer licensed in your state.