For more than a century, some of the most important laws ensuring transparency in American government have been those that require that all units of government publish their activities in newspapers. These publications are commonly referred to as public notices or legal notices.
Chapter 985 of the Wisconsin State Statutes outlines the publication requirements for legal notices in newspapers.
Certification & rates
Newspapers must submit certification paperwork annually in order to accept a fee to publish legal notices.
Public notice ads
Help statewide promotion of public notices by promoting this important public service in your newspaper and on your website.
Search public notices
Search notices that were originally published by newspapers in Wisconsin and nationwide.
Coding public notices
Make sure your notices are included on the statewide public notice website — as required by law — by coding them properly.
Proof of publication
An affidavit of publication is a legal document with certain required elements.
More resources
The WNA’s 2017 guide on the current state of public notices includes an overview about public notices in newspapers, as well as 10 sales and promotion suggestions for members.
The Public Notice Resource Center, established in 2003 by the American Court and Commercial Newspapers, aims to educate the public about their right to know and the role of notices. The WNA is a member of the PNRC.
The WNA hosted an hour-long webinar with Bill Goff, director of the newspaper certification program for the Wisconsin Department of Administration, and Denise Guttery, WNA Media Services Director.
Goff discussed the newspaper certification process, how to measure font sizes and columns widths, and how to calculate your public notice rates. Guttery discussed how to properly code notices and how to access your digital archive. They also answered questions about newspaper publication of public notices in Wisconsin.
