The Wisconsin State Bar dues statement is the annual form that every member of the State Bar of Wisconsin uses to pay yearly membership dues and the Wisconsin Supreme Court assessments that keep a law license active. It bundles several separate charges into one bill, and it must be paid by July 1 each year to avoid late fees and, eventually, suspension.
The form looks simple, but it carries real weight. Miss a line, skip the trust account certificate, or pay late, and your license to practice law in Wisconsin can be suspended under SCR 10.03(6). With more than 25,000 active and inactive members billed each spring, the State Bar mails printed statements in early May, with payment due July 1, the start of the fiscal year. This guide walks you through every line, shows you three filled-out examples, and answers the questions filers ask most.
Here is what you will learn:
- 🧾 What each numbered line on the statement means and exactly what to write on it
- 💳 How to pay online through myDues or by mail, phone, or fax
- 📅 The deadlines, the $50 late fee, and the suspension timeline if you skip payment
- 🏦 How to complete the Trust Account/WisTAF Certificate that every member must sign
- ⚖️ The common mistakes that trigger a license hold and how to dodge them
What the Dues Statement Is and Who Must File It
The Wisconsin State Bar dues statement is a combined annual invoice. It collects two different kinds of charges: the membership dues that fund the State Bar itself, and the assessments the Wisconsin Supreme Court directs the Bar to collect on its behalf. The Court asks the Bar to gather these payments to avoid duplicate billing, so one statement covers many obligations at once.
Every lawyer admitted to the State Bar of Wisconsin must respond to this statement, regardless of member class. That includes active members, inactive members, judicial members, emeritus members, and out-of-state members. Wisconsin has a unified (mandatory) bar, which means you cannot practice law in the state without being a dues-paying member. Inactive status is not available to anyone who practices law in Wisconsin.
The statement matters because it is tied directly to your license. The Supreme Court requires payment under its rules, and the dues FAQ page confirms that failure to pay can lead to suspension and even revocation of your permanent notary public commission. The form is governed by the Supreme Court Rules (SCR), the agency that receives it is the State Bar of Wisconsin (acting for the Court), and the penalty for non-compliance is loss of your right to practice. The revision code on the current insert reads DU0007_2026 3/25, so confirm your statement carries that mark to know you have the right version.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Gather everything before you open the statement. The form moves fast, and missing one item can stall your payment or force a follow-up mailing. The online myDues process will not let you advance until each required step is complete, so prep saves time.
- Your State Bar member number and WisBar.org password. You need both to log in and pay online; without them you cannot reach the myDues portal, and you will have to call customer service to reset access.
- The printed statement or its member-number reference. It lists your calculated dues and assessments by class; if you lost it, you can reprint it from myDues, but you still need your login.
- Your current business and residence addresses. The State Bar Bylaws require members to keep these current at all times, and your business info feeds your public Lawyer Search listing.
- Your email address. It is how the Bar sends receipts and your bar card; leave it off and you may miss confirmations and reminders.
- Names, addresses, and phone numbers of your financial institutions. You need these for the Trust Account Certificate; missing them means you cannot complete a step that is mandatory for every member.
- The number of trust, fiduciary, and safe deposit accounts you hold in Wisconsin. You report each count in the T, F, or S boxes; a wrong count can misstate your trust account compliance.
- A payment method. The Bar accepts checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, and Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express; without one ready, you cannot finish.
- Your member class confirmation. Active, inactive, judicial, emeritus, or out-of-state status changes which lines you owe; an outdated class can leave you over- or under-billed.
- Your first-admission date. It controls Young Lawyers Division membership and the size of your optional dues reduction; the wrong date changes your total.
- Your top five areas of practice and time percentages. The form asks for these for your profile; skipping them leaves your Lawyer Search listing incomplete.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The State Bar mails a printed statement to every member’s address of record in early May. If you keep that mailing, you already have the form in hand, complete with your name, member number, and the dues and assessments the Bar has calculated for your class.
If you cannot find the printed statement, you have two ways to get it. Log in at WisBar.org and go to myStateBar > myDues, then choose Print & Mail Statement to print a fresh copy. Or, start the online dues process, fill in your information, and at the end select Print Invoice to download a bill you can mail with a check. The official dues payment portal and FAQs explain both paths.
To pay online, you must be a fully enrolled member in good standing who was sworn in before July 1 of the current year. You cannot pay online if you need to change your name or membership status, were sworn in on or after July 1, are already suspended, or want your firm to pay for several lawyers in bulk. In those cases, use the printed statement instead. The online flow runs in seven steps, and green information icons (the “i” symbols) appear throughout with extra help when you hover over them.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out the Wisconsin Dues Statement Line by Line
The printed statement is organized as numbered lines from 1 through 12, followed by your contact information and the Trust Account Certificate. Work top to bottom. Many lines are pre-calculated by the Bar based on your member class, but you still confirm each one, and several require your input or signature.
Lines 1 & 2 — Supreme Court Board Assessments
Lines 1 and 2 ask you to pay the assessments for the two Supreme Court boards: the Board of Bar Examiners and the Office of Lawyer Regulation. These boards operate under the Supreme Court, and the Bar collects their fees so you get one bill instead of three.
You do not calculate these. The Bar prints the amount based on your member class, so you confirm the figures match your class and carry them into your total. The entries are dollar amounts already filled in for you.
For example, Janet Reyes, an active member, sees the board assessments printed on Lines 1 and 2 and simply verifies them before paying. A common edge case: judicial class members other than Supreme Court justices, and emeritus inactive members (age 70 and older who filed a written request for emeritus inactive enrollment), do not pay these assessments. The most common mistake is ignoring these lines because they are pre-filled; failure to pay board assessments results in suspension of your Wisconsin law license. A frequent misconception is that these fees go to the State Bar, when in fact they fund the Supreme Court boards, and questions about them should go to the boards, not the Bar.
Line 3 — Wisconsin Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection
Line 3 is the annual assessment for the Wisconsin Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection. This fund reimburses clients harmed by lawyer dishonesty, and SCR 12.07 requires every attorney to pay enough each year to keep the fund balance at $250,000.
You do not compute this either. The protection fund committee sets the figure needed for the fiscal year, and the Bar prints it on Line 3 based on your member class. You confirm and include it in your total.
For example, Marcus Bell, an active solo attorney, sees the client protection assessment on Line 3 and adds it to his required fees. The key edge case: this assessment applies to most classes, including emeritus members, but lawyers classified as inactive on the statement are exempt. The common mistake is assuming inactive status removes every fee; it removes this one but not all. A misconception is that this assessment is optional charity, when it is in fact mandatory, and failing to pay it suspends your law license.
Line 4 — Public Interest Legal Services Fund
Line 4 is the Public Interest Legal Services Fund (PILSF) assessment. This money supports civil legal aid for low-income Wisconsin residents, and the Supreme Court added it to SCR 10.03(5)(a) in 2005 for all active members, then extended it to judicial members in 2008.
The amount is set and printed for you. In 2025 the Court increased this assessment to $75, so active and judicial members see that figure on Line 4 and carry it into the total.
For example, Priya Nandi, an active member, enters $75 worth of PILSF assessment exactly as printed on Line 4. The edge case here is class-based: inactive and emeritus members generally do not carry an active-member PILSF charge, so check that your printed amount matches your class. The common mistake is crossing this line out as a donation you can decline; it is a required assessment, not a gift, and skipping it leaves your required fees short and your license at risk. A misconception is that PILSF money funds the State Bar, when it actually funds public interest legal services for people who cannot afford a lawyer.
Line 5 — State Bar Dues
Line 5 is the actual State Bar membership dues, the charge approved by the Bar’s Board of Governors. This is the core membership fee that funds the Bar’s programs and operations.
The Bar calculates your dues by member class and prints the figure on Line 5. You verify it and include it. Emeritus inactive members (age 70 and older who filed a written emeritus inactive request) are exempt and see $0.
For example, David Okoro, a mid-career active lawyer, confirms his full active dues amount on Line 5. The important edge case: inactive membership lowers your dues but is not available to anyone who practices law in Wisconsin, so do not select it to save money if you still practice. If you need to change your class, call Customer Service at (800) 728-7788 before paying. The common mistake is choosing inactive status while still practicing, which is improper and can create regulatory problems; the misconception is that dues are voluntary in a mandatory bar, when failing to pay them suspends your license.
Line 6 — Late Fee
Line 6 is the late fee. It applies only if you pay after the due date.
You enter this line only when you are paying late. A $50 late fee is assessed after the due date, so if you pay on time, this line stays blank or zero.
For example, Janet Reyes pays in early June and writes $0 (or leaves Line 6 blank) because she beat the deadline. The edge case: if you pay in July or August after the July 1 due date, you add the $50 here. The common mistake is forgetting to add the late fee when paying late, which leaves your payment short and keeps your account flagged as unpaid. A misconception is that the late fee is the only consequence of paying late, when continued nonpayment leads all the way to suspension.
Line 7 — Subtotal of Required Fees
Line 7 is the subtotal of everything you must pay to keep your license. It adds up the Supreme Court assessments and the State Bar dues.
Add Lines 1 through 6 and write the result on Line 7. This is the number that retains your Wisconsin law license, so treat it as the non-negotiable minimum.
For example, Marcus Bell totals his board assessments, client protection, PILSF, and dues and writes that combined figure as $[his required subtotal] on Line 7. The edge case: even if you add nothing optional later, you must still pay at least this Line 7 amount. The common mistake is math errors that understate the subtotal, which leaves your required fees partly unpaid and exposes you to suspension. A misconception is that optional items below can offset required fees; they cannot, because Line 7 stands on its own.
Line 8 — Section and Division Memberships
Line 8 covers optional section and division memberships. Sections are practice-area groups (like Family Law or Business Law), and divisions are member groups (like the Young Lawyers Division).
Your current memberships are pre-marked with an “X.” To keep one, do nothing. To add one, check its box. To drop one, draw a line through the name and box. Then add up the cost of all sections and divisions you are keeping or adding and write that total on Line 8.
For example, David Okoro keeps two practice sections and adds one, then writes the combined dues for those three on Line 8. Edge cases on divisions: members under 36, or within their first five years after admission, are automatically in the Young Lawyers Division and may opt out; out-of-state members are automatically in the Nonresident Lawyers Division and may opt out; government-salaried members may join the Government Lawyers Division; and members 60 or older are eligible for the Senior Lawyers Division, though that one is not automatic. The common mistake is forgetting to add section costs to Line 8, which leaves your total short. A misconception is that crossing out a section still requires payment, when removing it before paying removes the charge.
Line 9 — Wisconsin Law Foundation Contribution
Line 9 is a voluntary, tax-deductible donation to the Wisconsin Law Foundation. The Foundation funds law-related public education and access-to-justice projects.
To give, choose a contribution level and write the amount on Line 9. Smaller amounts are welcome too. If you do not wish to donate, leave it at zero.
For example, Priya Nandi decides to give and writes $50 on Line 9 as a charitable contribution. The edge case: Wisconsin Law Foundation Fellows can pay their annual pledge here, and if the line shows zero, you are either not a Fellow or have chosen not to pay the pledge through dues. The common mistake is treating Line 9 as required and paying it under pressure; it is fully optional, and skipping it has no effect on your license. A misconception is that this donation is the same as a business expense, when it is actually a 501(c)(3) charitable contribution deductible on a different basis.
Line 10 — Subtotal
Line 10 combines your required fees with your optional items. It is the running total before any dues reduction.
Add Line 7, Line 8, and Line 9, then write the sum on Line 10. This captures required fees plus sections, divisions, and any donation.
For example, David Okoro adds his required subtotal, his section dues, and his $0 donation, and writes the combined figure on Line 10. The edge case: if you added nothing on Lines 8 or 9, Line 10 equals Line 7. The common mistake is dropping a section cost or donation when totaling, which makes Line 10 disagree with your final payment. A misconception is that Line 10 is the final amount due, when an optional reduction on Line 11 can still lower it.
Line 11 — Optional Dues Reduction (Nonchargeable Activities)
Line 11 is the optional Keller dues reduction. It lets you withhold the part of your dues the Bar spends on certain nonchargeable lobbying and political activities, based on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that members cannot be forced to fund such activity.
The reduction is pre-calculated by member class. Active members admitted to their first bar on or before April 30, 2023, voting judicial members, and Supreme Court justices may withhold the full reduction; new active members admitted on or after May 1, 2023, senior active members, and inactive members may withhold one-half; non-voting judicial members may withhold two-thirds. To take it, initial Line 11.
For example, Janet Reyes, admitted in 2010, initials Line 11 to take the full reduction printed for her class. The edge case: emeritus members are not eligible because they pay no dues. The common mistake is taking the reduction without initialing the line, which voids it and leaves you paying the full amount. A misconception is that taking the Keller reduction harms your standing, when it is a recognized right and the enclosed insert states the exact reduction amount for the year.
Line 12 — Total
Line 12 is your final amount due. It reflects whether or not you took the dues reduction.
If you took the reduction, subtract Line 11 from Line 10 and write the result on Line 12. If you did not, simply copy Line 10 onto Line 12. This is the figure you pay.
For example, Janet Reyes subtracts her Line 11 reduction from her Line 10 subtotal and writes the lower number on Line 12 as her payment. The edge case: a member who skips the reduction writes the same number on Line 10 and Line 12. The common mistake is forgetting to subtract Line 11 after initialing it, which means you overpay. A misconception is that Line 12 can be paid in part to “stay current,” when only paying the full required portion keeps your license active.
Contact Information Section
This section confirms your business, residence, and electronic information. Article I, Section 1 of the State Bar Bylaws requires you to keep your residence and principal office addresses current at all times.
Review what is printed and correct anything outdated in the space provided. Add your email address if it is missing.
For example, Marcus Bell updates his new office suite number and adds his work email. The edge case: if you have no business address, your residence information is used for your public Lawyer Search listing instead. The common mistake is leaving an old firm address, which sends your bar card and notices to the wrong place. A misconception is that the Bar sells your contact data, when it does not sell phone, fax, or email information.
Trust Account/WisTAF Certificate — Section 1: List of Accounts
This is the trust account portion, and every member must complete it, regardless of class. Under SCR 20:1.15(i)(4) and (k)(11), failure to complete the certificate and acknowledgments is grounds for automatic suspension, just like nonpayment of dues.
In Section 1, list the name, address, and telephone number of each financial institution where you hold a trust account, fiduciary account, or safe deposit box in Wisconsin. Then enter how many of each type you hold in the boxes labeled T, F, and S.
For example, if David Okoro holds three trust accounts including an IOLTA, he writes 3 under box T. The edge case: if you use more than two institutions, attach a separate list and check the box that says a list is attached. The common mistake is leaving this blank because you think it is only for solo lawyers, when in fact all members must complete it; skipping it triggers automatic suspension. A misconception is that accounts opened later belong here, when accounts opened after you file are reported on next year’s certificate.
Trust Account/WisTAF Certificate — Section 2: Certifications
Section 2 is where you certify your trust account situation by checking the boxes that fit you. All lawyers must check either Box a. or Box b.
Read every option, because more than one can apply. For instance, if you hold trust, fiduciary, or safe deposit accounts not listed on your firm’s Certificate of Accounts and not covered by an exception under SCR 20:1.15(m), you list them in Section 1 and check Boxes c. and e.
For example, Sara Lindqvist, an out-of-state lawyer licensed where she primarily practices, checks Box f. because her home state has overdraft notification and she keeps no required Wisconsin trust account. The edge case: a lawyer licensed only in Wisconsin handling federal matters elsewhere who accepts trust funds must keep a Wisconsin trust account and check Box g.; if that lawyer holds no trust funds, they check Box d. The common mistake is checking only one box when several apply, which misstates your compliance. A misconception is that solo lawyers can rely on a firm certificate, when the Law Firm Certificate of Accounts is not for solo practitioners.
Trust Account/WisTAF Certificate — Section 3: Acknowledgments
Section 3 is your signed acknowledgment that you understand your duties under SCR 20:1.15. By signing, you confirm awareness of the specific trust account rules.
Read each acknowledgment carefully before you sign. If any requirement is unfamiliar, study it first, because your signature can be used as evidence later.
For example, Marcus Bell reviews each statement, recognizes his duties on safekeeping client funds, and signs. The edge case: these statements may be admissible in an investigation or proceeding about how you managed trust property, so signing without reading is risky. The common mistake is signing blindly to finish faster, which can backfire if a dispute arises. A misconception is that the acknowledgments are a formality, when they carry real evidentiary weight; questions go to the OLR Trust Account Program.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three named filers show how different members move through the statement from top to bottom. Each represents a common situation.
Scenario 1 — Janet Reyes, mid-career active attorney in private practice
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Lines 1 & 2 (Board assessments) | Confirms pre-printed BBE and OLR amounts for active class |
| Line 3 (Client Protection) | Confirms the printed active-class assessment |
| Line 4 (PILSF) | Enters the printed $75 active-member assessment |
| Line 5 (State Bar dues) | Confirms full active dues |
| Line 6 (Late fee) | Leaves $0 — paying before July 1 |
| Line 7 (Required subtotal) | Adds Lines 1–6 into her required total |
| Line 8 (Sections/Divisions) | Keeps Family Law Section; adds its cost |
| Line 11 (Dues reduction) | Initials to take the full Keller reduction (admitted 2010) |
| Line 12 (Total) | Line 10 minus Line 11; pays online by credit card |
| Trust Account Certificate | Lists one IOLTA, writes 1 in box T, checks Box a. and signs |
Scenario 2 — Tyler Chen, newly admitted lawyer in his first three years
| Form Section | What Tyler Enters |
|---|---|
| Lines 1 & 2 (Board assessments) | Confirms printed active-class board assessments |
| Line 3 (Client Protection) | Confirms printed active assessment |
| Line 4 (PILSF) | Enters $75 active-member assessment |
| Line 5 (State Bar dues) | Confirms his active dues amount |
| Line 6 (Late fee) | Leaves blank — pays on time |
| Line 7 (Required subtotal) | Totals required fees |
| Line 8 (Sections/Divisions) | Auto-enrolled in Young Lawyers Division; keeps it |
| Line 11 (Dues reduction) | Initials for one-half reduction (admitted after May 1, 2023) |
| Line 12 (Total) | Subtracts Line 11 from Line 10 |
| Trust Account Certificate | No trust account yet; checks Box d. and signs |
Scenario 3 — Sara Lindqvist, attorney electing inactive status
| Form Section | What Sara Enters |
|---|---|
| Member class | Confirms inactive (does not practice in Wisconsin) |
| Lines 1 & 2 (Board assessments) | Confirms printed amounts for her class |
| Line 3 (Client Protection) | Enters $0 — inactive members are exempt |
| Line 4 (PILSF) | No active-member assessment for inactive class |
| Line 5 (State Bar dues) | Confirms reduced inactive dues |
| Line 7 (Required subtotal) | Totals her reduced required fees |
| Line 11 (Dues reduction) | Initials for one-half reduction (inactive class) |
| Line 12 (Total) | Line 10 minus Line 11 |
| Trust Account Certificate | Out-of-state, licensed where she practices; checks Box f. and signs |
How to File the Completed Statement
You can file and pay through several channels. Choose the one that fits your situation, and keep proof either way.
- Online portal. Log in at WisBar.org myDues, complete the seven steps, and pay with Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. A receipt displays on screen at once, an email confirmation follows if you have an address on file, and your bar card and receipt arrive by mail in 7 to 10 business days. Online payments update your record within 24 hours.
- By mail. Mail your printed statement with a check, money order, or cashier’s check (or a credit card authorization) in the envelope provided to the State Bar of Wisconsin. Mailed payments can take about seven days to post to your record, so send early and keep a copy of the statement and a record of the check as your proof.
- By phone. Call (800) 728-7788 to pay by credit or debit card. Keep your confirmation details, since the phone payment posts like an online one.
- By fax. The Bar accepts faxed credit card payments at (608) 257-5502, but note a fax confirmation from your machine is not proof the Bar received it and is not a receipt; verify your Dues Paid Thru Date online afterward.
If your firm pays in bulk, do not finish the online payment yourself. Instead, use myDues to update your information and print an invoice, then give it to your firm administrator, who mails all the firm’s statements and payments together. A prepayment plan is also available for active, inactive, and judicial members who enroll by the January deadline, spreading the cost over five monthly payments plus a final June payment made through the portal.
What Happens After You File
Once you pay, the Bar processes your payment and updates your Dues Paid Thru Date, which you can check anytime under myStateBar. Online payments update within 24 hours; mailed payments can take about seven days after they arrive.
You receive a receipt and, within 7 to 10 business days, your new State Bar membership card by mail. If you paid online with an email on file, a confirmation lands in your inbox right away. Keep these records, because they prove your license stayed active for the fiscal year that runs July 1 to June 30.
If you do not pay, the consequences escalate on a set timeline. After the due date, a $50 late fee attaches. If fees remain unpaid past the late-payment deadline in August, that late fee is added to what you owe. If they remain unpaid past the October 31 suspension deadline, your license is suspended for nonpayment under SCR 10.03(6), which can also cost you your permanent notary public commission. Payments already made are applied to your account once you settle the balance.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Statement
Each error below has a direct cost. Read them before you submit.
- Ignoring pre-filled Lines 1 and 2. Skipping board assessments suspends your law license.
- Treating Line 3 as optional. The client protection assessment is mandatory for most classes, and nonpayment suspends your license.
- Crossing out the Line 4 PILSF assessment. It is required for active and judicial members, so removing it leaves your required fees short.
- Choosing inactive status while still practicing. Inactive status is barred for anyone practicing in Wisconsin and can create regulatory trouble.
- Forgetting the $50 late fee on Line 6 when paying late. Your payment posts short and your account stays flagged.
- Math errors on the Line 7 subtotal. An understated required total leaves part of your license fee unpaid.
- Leaving section costs off Line 8. Your total will not match your selected memberships.
- Taking the Line 11 reduction without initialing it. The reduction is voided and you pay the full amount.
- Forgetting to subtract Line 11 on Line 12. You overpay your dues.
- Skipping the Trust Account Certificate. Failure to complete it is grounds for automatic suspension, even if your dues are paid.
- Checking only one box in Section 2 when several apply. This misstates your trust account compliance.
- Mailing payment at the last minute. Mailed payments can take seven days to post, risking a missed deadline and a late fee.
Do’s and Don’ts
These quick rules keep your filing clean and your license safe.
Do’s
- Do confirm your member class first, because it controls which lines you owe and how much.
- Do pay by July 1, because that beats the late fee and the suspension timeline.
- Do complete the Trust Account Certificate, because every member must, and skipping it triggers suspension.
- Do keep your receipt and bar card, because they prove your license stayed active.
- Do update your address and email, because the Bylaws require current contact info and the Bar sends notices there.
- Do verify your Dues Paid Thru Date online, because it confirms your payment posted.
Don’ts
- Don’t use your browser’s back button online, because it kicks you out of the dues system.
- Don’t treat the fax confirmation as a receipt, because it does not prove the Bar received your payment.
- Don’t choose inactive status to save money if you practice, because that status is not allowed for practicing lawyers.
- Don’t sign the acknowledgments without reading them, because they can be used as evidence later.
- Don’t pay only part of the required fees, because a partial payment still leaves you exposed to suspension.
- Don’t forget firm-bulk rules, because finishing your own online payment can disrupt a coordinated firm filing.
Pros and Cons of Paying Online vs. by Mail
Both channels are valid; the right one depends on how you pay and whether your firm coordinates.
| Paying Online | Paying by Mail |
|---|---|
| Posts to your record within 24 hours, so your status updates fast | Can take about seven days to post, slowing confirmation |
| Instant on-screen receipt and emailed confirmation, giving quick proof | Proof depends on your own copy of the statement and check record |
| Built-in green “i” help icons reduce errors as you go | No live prompts, so math and box errors are easier to make |
| Handy for solo and individual filers who pay by card | Better when a firm pays many members in one envelope |
| Bar card arrives 7 to 10 business days after payment | Bar card timing depends on mail processing on both ends |
The main con of online filing is that it is closed to certain members, such as those changing name or status, those sworn in on or after July 1, suspended members, and firms paying in bulk. The main con of mail is timing risk; if your check posts after a deadline, you can still owe a late fee. New filers often prefer online for the guidance, while large firms lean on mail to batch payments.
FAQs
Do I have to complete the Trust Account Certificate if I have no trust account?
Yes. Every member must complete it regardless of class. If you hold no trust account, you still check the box that fits your situation and sign, because skipping it triggers automatic suspension.
Can I pay my Wisconsin dues online?
Yes. Fully enrolled members in good standing sworn in before July 1 can pay through myStateBar > myDues, by computer or mobile, using a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express card.
Do I write the late fee on Line 6 if I pay early?
No. Line 6 stays blank or zero when you pay by the deadline. The $50 late fee applies only after the due date passes.
Do I subtract the dues reduction myself on Line 12?
Yes. If you initial Line 11 to take the reduction, you subtract Line 11 from Line 10 and write the result on Line 12. If you skip it, copy Line 10.
Are State Bar dues tax deductible?
No. They are not deductible as charitable contributions, though they may be deductible as a business expense. For fiscal year 2026, 9.70% of dues relates to nondeductible lobbying activity.
Do inactive members pay the client protection assessment on Line 3?
No. Lawyers classified as inactive on the statement are exempt from the Line 3 client protection assessment, though most other classes, including emeritus members, must pay it.
Can I change my member status while paying online?
No. You cannot pay online if you want to change your name or membership status. Use the printed statement and call Customer Service at (800) 728-7788 instead.
Do I initial Line 11 to take the Keller dues reduction?
Yes. You must initial Line 11 to claim the reduction. Taking it without initialing voids the reduction, and you end up paying the full amount.
Is a faxed credit card payment proof that I paid?
No. A fax confirmation from your machine is not a receipt and does not prove the Bar received your payment. Verify your Dues Paid Thru Date online afterward.
Can a solo practitioner rely on a firm trust account certificate?
No. The Law Firm Certificate of Accounts is not for solo practitioners. Solo lawyers complete their own Trust Account/WisTAF Certificate on the dues statement.
Will my license be suspended if I miss the deadline?
Yes. If fees stay unpaid past the October 31 deadline, your license is suspended for nonpayment under SCR 10.03(6), which can also revoke your permanent notary public commission.
Do I report a trust account I opened after filing on this year’s certificate?
No. Accounts opened after you file are reported on next year’s certificate. List only the trust, fiduciary, and safe deposit accounts you hold when you file.
Can my firm pay my dues for me?
Yes. Your firm can pay in bulk. Do not finish your own online payment; instead print your invoice from myDues and give it to your firm administrator to mail with the others.
Is the Wisconsin Law Foundation contribution on Line 9 required?
No. Line 9 is a voluntary, tax-deductible 501(c)(3) donation. Leaving it at zero has no effect on your dues, your fees, or your license.