Is Notarization Required for GF-223 in Wisconsin?

The Legal Answer: No

Under Wis. Stat. § 48.979, notarization is not a statutory requirement for a Power of Attorney Delegating Parental Power. The form GF-223 includes an optional notary attestation block, but a delegation is legally valid as long as all parents holding legal custody sign the parent section and the agent signs the Statement of Agent.

Some commercial legal websites — including eForms — incorrectly claim that Wisconsin requires notarization for a minor Power of Attorney. This is wrong. The statute contains no notarization mandate.

The Practical Answer: Get It Notarized Anyway

The legal reality and the practical reality are different. School registrars, clinic front-desk staff, dentists and pharmacists see notarized documents as more "official." An unnotarized GF-223, even though it is legally valid, frequently triggers hesitation, additional phone calls to supervisors, or outright refusal to accept the form.

Wisconsin notaries may charge no more than $5 for most in-person notarial acts. Notary services are available at:

• Most banks and credit unions (often free for account holders)
• UPS stores and FedEx offices
• Public libraries in many Wisconsin counties
• Law offices
• Some AAA offices

The time spent getting the form notarized is almost always less than the time spent arguing with a school office or clinic about whether an unnotarized form is valid.

Notarization for Incarcerated Parents

If the parent signing GF-223 is incarcerated, prison social workers or institutional staff can arrange notary services within the facility. Contact the correctional institution's social services department to schedule the signing and notarization.

For parents in residential treatment facilities (substance abuse rehab, psychiatric hospitals), the facility may have a notary on staff or can arrange for one to visit.

When Notarization Is Actually Required

While the standard GF-223 does not need notarization, related documents in Wisconsin guardianship proceedings do:

• Form JN-1501 (Petition for Guardianship): requires notarized verification
• Form JN-1504 (Petition for Emergency Guardianship): requires notarized verification
• Form JN-1514 (Statement by Proposed Guardian): must be sworn and notarized
• Form GF-150 (UCCJEA Affidavit): requires notarized verification
• Form MV 3627 (Driver License Sponsorship POA): mandatory notarization required by DMV

If you are pursuing court guardianship rather than a simple delegation, notarization is mandatory for the petition documents.

Bottom Line

Do not let anyone tell you a GF-223 is invalid because it was not notarized — that is legally incorrect. But do not skip notarization to save ten minutes — the practical convenience is worth it.

For a complete GF-223 execution checklist that covers signatures, notarization, distribution and renewal tracking, the Wisconsin School and Medical Consent Guide walks through every step.

See more Wisconsin guides →