Legal Costs in Madison, WI (2026)
Filing fees for LLCs, divorce, small claims, and notary services in Madison — all sourced from official Wisconsin state records.
Madison is a city in Dane County, Wisconsin. Whether you're starting a business, filing a small claims case, or going through a divorce, the fees you pay are set at the Wisconsin state level — not the city or county level — with limited exceptions for county-specific court fees. Forming an LLC costs $130 in state filing fees. Small claims cases can be filed for disputes up to $10,000 in the Small Claims Court. Divorce filing fees in Wisconsin start at $184. All figures on this page are verified from official Wisconsin government sources and updated for 2026.
Form an LLC in Madison, WI
To form an LLC with a Madison address, you file with the Wisconsin Secretary of State — not the city or county. The state filing fee is $130. Standard processing takes 5 business days. There is also an annual report fee of $25.
0| State filing fee | $130 |
| Annual report fee | $25 |
| Standard processing | 5 business days |
| Expedited processing | 1 |
| Publication cost | Not required |
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Small Claims Court in Madison
Small claims cases in Madison are heard at the Small Claims Court in Dane County. The maximum you can sue for is $10,000. Filing fees range from $50–$95 depending on the claim amount.
| Court name | Small Claims Court |
| Filing location | Dane County |
| Maximum claim limit | $10,000 |
| Filing fee | $50–$95 |
| Written contract SOL | 6 years |
| Oral contract SOL | 6 years |
Where to File in Madison
Always call ahead to verify hours and accepted payment methods before visiting. Hours may vary on holidays.
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Filing for Divorce in Madison
Divorce petitions in Madison are filed at the Dane County courthouse. The Wisconsin state filing fee is $184. Sheriff service costs $50.
| Filing location | Dane County Courthouse |
| Filing fee | $184 (Wisconsin state) |
| Sheriff service fee | $50 |
| Children surcharge | None |
| Parenting class | Not required |
| Certified copy fee | $10 |
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Find a Notary in Madison, WI
Wisconsin caps notary fees at $5 per notarial act ($5 for remote online notarization). Common places to find a notary in Madison: your bank (often free for account holders), UPS Store, FedEx Office, public libraries, and law offices.
Wisconsin also allows Remote Online Notarization (RON) — get documents notarized via video call from anywhere, capped at $5. Useful if you can't travel to a Madison notary in person.
| Acknowledgment fee cap | $5 |
| Jurat fee cap | $5 |
| RON (remote online) | $5 |
| State fee law | Yes — fee cap enforced |
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