Acceptance and refusal to accept record; social security numbers
Wis. Stat. § 409.520
in effect(1) Mandatory refusal to accept record. A filing office shall refuse to accept a record for filing for a reason set forth in s. 409.516 (2) and may refuse to accept a record for filing only for a reason set forth in s. 409.516 (2).
(1m) Social security numbers.
(a) A filing office may not file and index a record under this subchapter if the record contains the social security number of an individual. If a filing office is presented with a record that contains an individual’s social security number, the filing office may, prior to filing and indexing the record, remove or obscure characters from the social security number such that the social security number is not discernable on the record.
(b) If a filing office is presented with a record for filing and indexing that contains an individual’s social security number, and if the filing office does not discover that the record contains the individual’s social security number until after the record is filed and indexed, the filing office is not liable for the record drafter’s placement of the individual’s social security number on the record and the filing office may remove or obscure characters from the social security number such that the social security number is not discernable on the record.
(c) If a filing office files and indexes a record that contains the complete social security number of an individual, the record drafter is liable to the individual whose social security number appears in the filed and indexed record for any actual damages resulting from the record being filed and indexed.
(2) Communication concerning refusal. If a filing office refuses to accept a record for filing, the filing office shall communicate to the person that presented the record the fact of and reason for the refusal and the date and time the record would have been filed had the filing office accepted the record. The communication must be made at the time and in the manner prescribed by filing-office rule but, in no event more than:
(a) Five business days after the filing office receives the record for records received before July 1, 2003; and
(b) Two business days after the filing office receives the record for records received on or after July 1, 2003.
(3) When filed financing statement effective. A filed financing statement satisfying s. 409.502 (1) and (2) is effective, even if the filing office is required to refuse to accept it for filing under sub. (1). However, s. 409.338 applies to a filed financing statement providing information described in s. 409.516 (2) (e) which is incorrect at the time the financing statement is filed.
(4) Separate application to multiple debtors. If a record communicated to a filing office provides information that relates to more than one debtor, this subchapter applies as to each debtor separately.
Source: WI Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/document/statutes/409.520Fetched: 10/7/2026