For Notaries · Nebraska
How to Become a Notary Public in Nebraska
To become a notary in Nebraska, you must be at least 19, a U.S. citizen or qualified alien, and a Nebraska resident (or work in-state). You pass a free 20-question state exam, post a $15,000 surety bond, and pay the $30 state fee for a 4-year term. No training course is required.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Nebraska notaries are commissioned by the Secretary of State, whose Notary Division administers the state's notary laws from Lincoln. The process runs entirely online: you take a 20-question exam (85% to pass) through the state's testing platform, post a $15,000 surety bond, and file your application with the Secretary of State along with the $30 state fee. No paid training course is required — the exam is free and self-prepared from the state's statutes and FAQ. Once commissioned for a four-year term, you order your ink stamp seal and begin notarizing. Nebraska also lets commissioned notaries add remote online notarization, so many register to serve signers over secure audio-video sessions.
Nebraska Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | Be at least 19 years old; a U.S. citizen or qualified alien; a Nebraska resident, or a resident of a bordering state who maintains a regular place of work or business in Nebraska; able to read and write English; and not convicted of a felony (unless fully pardoned before commissioning) or a crime involving fraud or dishonesty within the previous five years. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | A $15,000 surety bond is required for the commission term, purchased from a Nebraska insurance agent or online provider (the Secretary of State does not sell bonds). The applicant signs the bond as principal and again under oath before another notary. Premium varies by provider. No separate bond is required to add remote online notarization. |
| State filing fee | $30 state commission filing fee, paid online by credit/debit card or eCheck through the Secretary of State's online notary portal. Adding online (remote) notary registration costs an additional $50 filing fee. |
| Commission term | 4 years |
| Notary education | Not required for a standard commission — Nebraska does not mandate a paid training course, and the state's FAQ notes out-of-state notary associations' courses are not required or endorsed. (Adding online remote notary registration does require completing the Secretary of State's own free training course before the online exam.) |
| Exam | Required. A 20-question online exam administered through ClassMarker; you must score 85% to pass, with three attempts allowed. The passing certificate is valid for 90 days and must be uploaded with your application. There is no fee for the exam, and no proctor — you complete it online without assistance. |
Nebraska notaries must pass a state exam, post a $15,000 surety bond, and pay a $30 commission fee for a four-year term. — National Notary Association — How to Become a Notary in Nebraska
How to Become a Notary in Nebraska: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Verify you are at least 19, a U.S. citizen or qualified alien, a Nebraska resident (or a bordering-state resident who works in Nebraska), and have no disqualifying felony or fraud/dishonesty conviction within the last five years.
- 2
Take and pass the Nebraska notary exam
Complete the free 20-question online exam via the Secretary of State's ClassMarker link, scoring 85% or higher (three attempts allowed). Save the passing certificate as a PDF to upload with your application.
- 3
Obtain a $15,000 surety bond
Buy a $15,000 notary surety bond from a Nebraska insurance agent or online provider. Sign it as principal, then sign again under oath before another notary; use the name you'll be commissioned under.
- 4
Submit your application and $30 fee
Log into the Secretary of State's online notary portal, complete the initial commission application, upload your exam certificate and bond, and pay the $30 filing fee by card or eCheck.
- 5
Receive your commission and get your seal
Once approved, download your commission certificate from the portal and order an ink stamp seal engraved with 'State of Nebraska,' 'General Notary,' your commissioned name, and your expiration date. A journal is recommended but optional. You can now notarize statewide.
- 6
Optional: add remote online notarization
To notarize remotely, complete the state's free online notary training course and exam, pay the $50 registration fee, and set up your electronic seal with an approved solution provider.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Nebraska
Remote online notarization is operative in Nebraska. A notary who holds an active Nebraska commission can register as an Online Notary Public through the Secretary of State's portal: complete the state's free training course, pass a separate 20-question online exam (85%), and pay a $50 filing fee. The notary then selects a state-approved solution provider to set up the electronic seal. No additional surety bond is required.
Online / remote notary application fee: $50 online notary registration filing fee
Nebraska's remote online notarization took effect July 1, 2020; online notaries are governed by Chapter 8 (Online Notary Public) of the Secretary of State's rules.
See how RON is authorized in Nebraska — and state by state →
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the Nebraska remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Nebraska instead? Notarize online with a Nebraska commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Nebraska
Nebraska allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Nebraska commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in Nebraska? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in Nebraska?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| State commission filing fee | $30 |
| $15,000 surety bond | Varies by supplier (approx. $40) |
| Notary exam | $0 (free, state-administered) |
| Notary ink stamp seal | Varies by supplier (approx. $30) |
| Online (remote) notary registration | $50 (optional) |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a Nebraska Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Nebraska caps what a notary may charge per notarial act, and here is exactly where those ceilings sit.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | $5 (jurat $2) |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | $25 + fee |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how Nebraska compares with every other state in the full 50-state breakdown of what a notary costs.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Nebraska
Commission term in Nebraska
4 years
No state renews a commission automatically, and notarizing on a lapsed one is treated as acting without authority — start the renewal before the date above arrives.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your Nebraska Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Nebraska notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long does a Nebraska notary commission last?
A Nebraska notary commission runs for four years. You renew within 30 days before it expires by resubmitting an application, renewing your $15,000 bond, and paying the $30 renewal fee.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Nebraska?
Expect roughly $100 total: the $30 state filing fee, about $40 for the $15,000 surety bond, and about $30 for the ink stamp seal. The state exam is free. Adding remote online notarization costs another $50.
Is a class or exam required to become a Nebraska notary?
No training class is required, but a state exam is. You must pass a free 20-question online exam with an 85% score (three attempts). Nebraska's FAQ specifically notes that paid notary-association courses are not required or endorsed.
Who appoints and administers notaries in Nebraska?
The Nebraska Secretary of State commissions notaries and administers notary law through its Notary Division in Lincoln. Applications, renewals, and online notary registrations are all filed through the Secretary of State's online portal.
Can Nebraska notaries perform remote online notarizations?
Yes. Since July 1, 2020, a notary with an active Nebraska commission can register as an Online Notary Public by completing the state's free training course and exam and paying a $50 fee, then working through a state-approved solution provider.
How much can a notary charge in Nebraska?
Nebraska's maximum fee for a standard in-person notarial act is $5 (jurat $2), per act or signature.
How much can a Nebraska notary charge for online notarization?
Nebraska's listed maximum fee for a remote online notarization is $25 + fee, against $5 (jurat $2) in person.
When does a Nebraska notary commission expire?
The Nebraska commission term is: 4 years. No state renews a commission automatically — once yours lapses you cannot perform notarial acts until the renewal or reappointment is complete, so calendar the expiration date and start the paperwork early.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the Nebraska cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- What a loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby West North Central guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- Nebraska Secretary of State — Steps to Obtain an Initial Notary Commission (official)
- Nebraska Secretary of State — Notary Public (official)
- Nebraska Secretary of State — Steps to Become an Online Notary (official)
- Nebraska Secretary of State — Notary FAQ (official)
- National Notary Association — Nebraska
This guide summarizes public requirements from Nebraska's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.