801.18(9)(i) (i) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a will deposited for safekeeping under s. 853.09 may not be electronically filed. The original paper will shall be deposited with the court.

801.18(9)(j) (j) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this section, a person submitting a will to the court under s. 856.05 shall file the original paper will in the proper court. The register in probate shall image the will and create an electronic case file. The register in probate shall maintain the paper copy of a will in a separate file for the time period provided by SCR chapter 72.

801.18(9)(k) (k) Documents may be submitted during a court proceeding by traditional methods. Documents submitted in court shall be imaged and the imaged copy entered into the court record by the clerk of court.

801.18(9)(L) (L) For documentary exhibits, parties shall submit a copy of the exhibit and not the original. The clerk of court shall image each documentary exhibit and enter the imaged document into the court record. Copies of documentary exhibits so imaged may be discarded as provided in SCR 72.03 (3). If inspection of the original document is necessary to the court proceeding, the court may order that the original document be produced. Any original document so produced shall be retained as an exhibit as provided in SCR 72.03 (4).

801.18(9)(m) (m) An administrative agency submitting a record for judicial review in compliance with s. 227.55 shall image the administrative record and submit the imaged copy electronically using a method provided by the electronic filing system. The electronic record shall be the official record in the circuit court. If inspection of an original document is necessary to the court proceeding, the court may order that the original document be produced.

801.18(10) (10) Authentication. Electronic placement of the court filing stamp and the case number on each copy of an initiating document constitutes authentication under the statutes and court rules. An authenticated copy may be printed from the case management system by the clerk of court or from the electronic filing system by the user.

801.18(11) (11) Notarization and oaths.

801.18(11)(a) (a) Notaries public who hold valid appointments under ch. 140 may issue certificates of notarial acts for electronically filed documents as provided in this section.

801.18(11)(b) (b) Court officials authorized by law to perform notarial acts may do so by application of their electronic signatures provided through the electronic filing system.

801.18(11)(c) (c) Unless specifically required by statute or court rule, electronically filed documents are not required to be notarized.

801.18(11)(d) (d) Documents notarized by traditional methods may be filed through the electronic filing system if a handwritten signature and physical seal appear on the original document. The user shall submit an imaged copy of the notarized document to the electronic filing system, and the court shall maintain the imaged copy as the official court record. The court may require the submitting party to produce the original paper document if the authenticity of the notarization is in question.

801.18(11)(e) (e) An electronically filed complaint under ch. 799 may be verified by applying the electronic signature of the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s attorney to a written oath attesting that the facts of the complaint are true, without swearing to the oath in front of a notarial officer.

801.18(11)(f) (f) The director, in his or her discretion, may approve the use of an electronic notary technology compatible with the existing electronic filing system.

801.18(12) (12) Signatures of users.

801.18(12)(a) (a) To be considered electronically signed, a document must be submitted by or on behalf of a user through the electronic filing system. A document requiring the signature of a user shall bear either an electronic signature or a handwritten signature applied to a document before it is imaged. An electronic signature shall state “Electronically signed by” followed by the name of the signatory, and shall be placed where the person’s signature would otherwise appear. Either form of signature shall be treated as the user’s personal original signature for all purposes under the statutes and court rules.

801.18(12)(b) (b) A summons and complaint, petition, or other initiating document that is signed in compliance with par. (a) bears a sufficient signature under s. 802.05.

801.18(12)(c) (c) Each electronically filed document shall bear that person’s name, mailing address, electronic mail address, telephone number, and state bar number if applicable. Users shall notify the electronic filing system of any change in this information, consistent with sub. (3) (d).

801.18(12)(d) (d) An attorney may delegate the authority to submit documents to the electronic filing system to a person under the attorney’s supervision. Any document requiring the attorney’s signature is deemed to have been signed by the attorney if submitted to the electronic filing system and signed as provided in par. (a). Every attorney is responsible for all documents so submitted.

801.18(12)(e) (e) Every attorney is responsible for electronically filed documents to the same extent as for paper filings. Attorneys using the electronic filing system are subject to sanctions under s. 802.05 and contempt procedures under ch. 785, and are subject to discipline for a violation of any duty to the court under the supreme court rules.

801.18(12)(f) (f) Self-represented parties and filing agents under s. 799.06 are responsible for electronically filed documents to the same extent as for paper filings. Self-represented parties and filing agents using the electronic filing system are subject to sanctions under s. 802.05 and contempt procedures under ch. 785.

801.18(12)(g) (g) Users may submit documents without electronic signatures in the following situations:

801.18(12)(g)1. 1. A joint petition in an action for divorce or legal separation may be electronically filed if it bears the handwritten signature of one party and the electronic signature of the other or the handwritten signatures of both parties.

801.18(12)(g)2. 2. A stipulation will be considered signed by multiple persons if it bears the handwritten signatures of all signatories or if it bears the printed name of each signatory and contains a representation by the filing party that the filing party has consulted with the signatories and all have agreed to sign the document. This subdivision does not apply to the signature requirements of s. 809.107 (2) (bm) 6., (5) (a), or (6) (f), where a signature is required from the appellant or petitioner, other than the state, on whose behalf the document is filed.

801.18(12)(g)3. 3. The court may agree to accept a document with the handwritten signature of a user and direct that it be made part of the electronic record by the clerk of court.

801.18(12)(h) (h) For paper parties, every document requiring a signature shall be signed using a handwritten signature. If a document requiring a signature is filed by traditional methods, the filing party shall file a copy of that document and not the original paper document, as provided under sub. (9).

801.18(12)(i) (i) Documents containing handwritten signatures of third parties, such as affidavits, may be filed through the electronic filing system if a handwritten signature appears on the original document. The user shall submit an imaged copy of the signed document to the electronic filing system, and the court shall maintain the imaged document as the official court record. The court may require the submitting party to produce the original paper document if validity of the signature is challenged.

801.18(12)(j) (j) The director, in his or her discretion, may approve the use of other signature technologies to the extent that they work with the existing electronic filing system.

801.18(13) (13) Signatures of court officials.

801.18(13)(a) (a) If the signature of a court official is required on a document, an electronic signature applied through the court case management system may be used. The electronic signature shall be treated as the court official’s personal original signature for all purposes under Wisconsin statutes and court rules. Where a handwritten signature would be located on a particular order, form, letter, or other document, the official’s printed name shall be inserted.