Wisconsin Legislative Council
ACT MEMO
One Ea st Ma in Stre e t, Suite 401 • Ma dison, W I 53703 • (608) 266-1304 • le g.council@le gis.wisconsin.gov • http://www.le gis.wisconsin.gov/lc
Prepared by: Amber Otis, Senior Staff Attorney April 8, 2024
2023 Wisconsin Act 245
[2023 Senate Bill 29]
Uniform Unsworn
Declarations Act
BACKGROUND
Prior law, referred to as the Uniform Unsworn Foreign Declarations Act, allowed certain types of signed
declarations, such as affidavits or statements, that are not given under oath to have the same effect as
those that are given under oath if, at the time of making the declaration, the person is physically located
outside the United States, and the declaration is given under the penalty of false swearing.
2023 WISCONSIN ACT 245
2023 Wisconsin Act 245 replaces prior law with the Uniform Unsworn Declarations Act, based on
uniform legislation recommended by the Uniform Law Commission. Specifically, Act 245 expands the
authorized use of unsworn declarations to persons located either within or outside the United States,
rather than only those physically located outside of the United States, and maintains the requirement
that a person signing an unsworn declaration do so under penalty of false swearing.
Effective date: March 29, 2024.
For a full history of the bill, visit the Legislature’s bill history page.
AO:ksm