Can an Illinois notary notarize a document in Wisconsin? 

The answer is simply — NO!  A notary public can notarize signatures in their state ONLY.  Make sure both of your feet are on the soil of the state that you are commissioned in when you notarize documents.  You can meet people right at the border if they are out of state, but make sure that you and the signer are on your side of the border.  Imagine doing a signing at four corners in the Southwest!  You could be in four states simultaneously and eat fry-bread too!
 
Notary Public Illinois –
If you are an Illinois notary public, please keep your notarizations to Illinois only.  However, the Wisconsin notary division might allow you to apply to become a Wisconsin notary public.  If you have a dual commission, then you can use your Wisconsin notary seal and Wisconsin notary journal to notarize documents on the WI side of the border and you will be within the limits of the law.

 What about Louisiana Notary Law?
Louisiana is a very strange state. It has kept the laws from the colonial days when it was under Spanish and French rules. The laws are as ecclectic as the evolution of their cuisine that kept adding influences from immigrant cultures for hundreds of years.  Someone could do a PhD on the evolution of Gumbo and how it went from being African, to having Spanish and Italian influences, and then how people like to use French Anduille sausange to this dish now.  Wow! I’m getting hungry thinking about Louisiana.  But, the bottom line is that Louisiana has PARISHES, not counties, and notaries can be commissioned in their home parish, or a group of a few reciprocal parishes, or have statewide jurisdiction.  This is the only state I have heard of that has restrictions for what part of the state you can notarize in.  See our Louisiana notary public search page!

You might also like:

Can a notary sign an out of state Quit Claim Deed?
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=2182

Interesting and uncommon notary acts
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=483

Notary Acknowledgment information
http://blog.123notary.com/?p=1199