The State Bar of Wisconsin accepts checks, money orders, cashier’s checks, credit cards or debit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express).
If using a credit or debit card, dues can be paid online, over the phone, or by mail.
Yes. Fully enrolled State Bar members (meaning, you have a bar card and were sworn in before July 1 this year) in good standing now can pay their dues and court assessments through WisBar.org from either a computer or mobile device. Members will receive a printed statement by mail, so those who prefer to pay with the printed version may do so.
To get started, log into WisBar.org, go to
myStateBar >
myDues and select the Pay Dues Online Now option on the bottom of that page.
You cannot pay your dues online if:
- You want to change your name or membership status;
- You were enrolled/sworn in on or after July 1 this year;
- Your membership is suspended; or
- Your office would like to pay for firm members in bulk
If you’d like to pay by check, money order, or cashier’s check, mail your payment with your printed statement (use either the printed statement mailed to your address of record or print your own statement). (See
how to print statements below.)
If your firm or organization prefers to pay assessments/dues for all firm members in bulk, do not fully complete the online payment process. Fill out your print statement and give it to your firm administrator, who will mail all firm statements and payments together.
Many firms have corporate credit cards or reimbursement processes that can be used to pay for annual assessment and dues. If those options are available, you can use the online payment process with your corporate card to pay for you annual fees.
Alternatively you can also use the online dues payment process (myStateBar > myDues) to complete the information on your statement (e.g., update your contact information, areas of practice, trust account information, if applicable). At the end of this process, select the Print Invoice button to download an invoice instead of paying electronically. Provide this invoice to your firm administrator to mail for payment.
Yes, the State Bar accepts faxed credit card payments. Please note that a fax confirmation received from your fax machine is not proof that the State Bar has received your payment. It is not a receipt of payment.
If you can’t locate the print statement mailed to all State Bar members in early May, here are two ways to print your statement:
- Log into WisBar.org, go to
myStateBar > myDues and select the Print & Mail Statement option on the bottom of the page; or
- You can use the online dues payment process (myStateBar > myDues) to complete the information on your statement (e.g., update your contact information, areas of practice, trust account information, if applicable). At the end of this process, select the Print Invoice button to print an invoice instead of paying electronically. Mail this invoice with your check to the State Bar of Wisconsin.
If you have an ad blocker enabled in your browser, you may need to remove/disable to allow printing.
Members of the Wisconsin Law Foundation Fellows now can pay their annual contribution via the dues process. If your statement reflects zero, you are either not a Fellows member or, if you are, you have opted not to pay your pledge through the dues process.
Note: Wisconsin Law Foundation contributions and Fellows pledges are 501(c)3 charitable contributions.
You can update your record with current profile information (business affiliation, address, email, and so) at any time. To do it yourself, log in to WisBar.org and go to myStateBar > myProfile. Or, contact Customer Service for assistance, (800) 729-7788 or
service@wisbar.org.
If you open new trust accounts after paying your assessments/dues, report these changes next spring when you receive a new statement.
Supreme Court assessments and State Bar dues are not deductible as charitable contributions but may be deductible as business expenses. Internal Revenue Code section 6033(e)(1) requires certain organizations to notify members that a portion of dues is allocable to lobbying activities. We are uncertain whether the requirement applies to the State Bar of Wisconsin. If it does, your bar card mailing will outline this percentage.
If you made a donation to the Wisconsin Law Foundation or paid your Fellows pledge, these payments are 501(c)3 charitable contributions.
Tax Information:
For fiscal year 2025, 10.60% of the State Bar membership dues payment and either $11.00 for lobbying or $4.00 for the lobby LITE programs relate to lobbying and would not be deductible. Please provide this information to your tax preparer.
Court assessments and State Bar dues are due on July 1. Pay by this deadline to avoid late fees. Membership fees are not refundable.
Note: Under SCR 10.03(6), the law licenses of Wisconsin lawyers can be suspended for failing to timely pay dues. This also could result in a revocation of the attorney’s permanent notary public commission.
Read more.
If you’re completing your statement online, look for the green information icons throughout the process. Hover your mouse pointer over the “i” symbol to read additional explanations or instructions.
If you’re completing the print statement, look for more information in the insert included in the mailing.
Need help completing your Trust Account/WisTAF Certificate (Step 4 in the online dues process)? Contact the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR), (877) 315-6941, ext. 2
If you still need help, please call customer service, (800)728-7788.
All active, inactive, and judicial members are able to sign up for this prepayment plan.
Emeritus members are not eligible to enroll in this prepayment plan. The primary reason for this exclusion is that the total charges that Emeritus members pay for Court assessments ($25) and State Bar of Wisconsin dues ($0) does not justify a prepayment plan.
If you wish to sign up for this prepayment plan, you must fill in and submit the
online form, sign it electronically, and submit it no later than January 9, 2025.
Because of the administration processes, and the number and timing of the monthly payments, you must sign up for this prepayment plan no later than January 9, 2025.
You may use any Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express credit or debit card. We cannot accept ACH or PayPal payments.
There are
NO ADDITIONAL FEES to sign up for this prepayment plan. Your payments will be applied to Supreme Court assessments and State Bar dues for Fiscal Year 2026. Supreme Court assessments encompass fees for the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the Board of Bar Examiners, the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, and the Wisconsin Client Protection Fund.
Because the prepayment cycle begins before many of these amounts have been set by the various entities (the State Bar, the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the Board of Bar Examiners, the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, and the Wisconsin Client Protection Fund) for the upcoming fiscal year which will then be included in your annual statement which is due June 30, the amounts in your initial payments are based on the actual amounts charged for the previous year. Any differences in these charges will be added to your final payment in June.
This prepayment plan includes six total payments. You will be charged five equal monthly payments automatically in January, February, March, April, and May. These charges will occur on or around the tenth of each month.
Your final payment in June must be initiated and made by you through the State Bar’s Online Assessment and Dues Payment Portal.
Your final payment must be made through the State Bar’s Online Assessment and Dues Payment Portal. At that time you will also update your record, sign up for any State Bar Practice Sections you wish to join, elect to make a donation to the Wisconsin Law Foundation, and may request the Keller dues reduction if selected. This also allows us to calculate any additional fees or reductions that are needed in your final payment.
You will also fill out, sign, and submit your Trust Account Certificate, which must be completed by EVERY member of the State Bar of Wisconsin, regardless of member type.
Because your initial payments are calculated on the previous year’s assessments and dues amounts, your final payment could vary from your first five payments. Your final amount depends on many factors including: how many Practice Sections you join and what their charges are, whether you make a donation to the Wisconsin Law Foundation, and if you elect to take the Keller dues reduction. It also allows us to apply any changes that may have occurred to the amounts set for dues and assessments after the initial January payments began (as then finalized by the State Bar, the Office of Lawyer Regulation, the Board of Bar Examiners, the Wisconsin Trust Account Foundation, and the Wisconsin Client Protection Fund).
Because of the administration processes, and the number and timing of the monthly payments, you must sign up for the prepayment plan no later than January 9, 2025. The enrollment period for Fiscal Year 2027 dues payments will be announced after July 1, 2025.
If you do not make your final payment (and any defaulted amounts which may have accrued) through the State Bar’s Online Assessment and Dues Payment Portal by June 30, you will begin receiving mailed invoices and email reminders.
You will receive at least one reminder email in June to prompt you to make your final June payment through the State Bar’s Online Assessment and Dues Payment Portal.
If your payment is declined for an expired card or insufficient funds, we will contact you to try to resolve or correct the issue. Any unpaid monthly amounts will be added to your final payment in June.
If the total amount owed for assessments and dues is not received by the June 30 deadline, the amount received will be applied to your payments, and you will begin receiving invoices for the remaining amount owed.
If assessments and dues remain unpaid past the August deadline for late payments, the late fee will be incurred and added to the amount owed.
If assessments and dues remain unpaid past the October 31 deadline for suspension, you will be suspended for nonpayment of dues at that time. Any payments already made will be applied to your account when the final payment is made.
