Nebraska notary commission
Nebraska notary commission: an 85% exam, three tries and a $15,000 bond
Pass the Secretary of State's 20-question online exam with 85%, buy a $15,000 bond with your oath endorsed on it, then apply in the Online Notary Portal with the exam certificate and bond and pay $30. Download your commission after the approval email and order your ink stamp seal. You must be 19, a pass is valid 90 days, and three failed attempts end your chance to become a Nebraska notary.
Nebraska eligibility
- 19 or older (Neb. Rev. Stat. 64-101).
- A US citizen or qualified alien.
- A Nebraska resident, or a resident of a bordering state with a regular place of work or business in Nebraska.
- No felony and no crime of fraud or dishonesty in the previous 5 years.
- A passing score on the Nebraska notary exam (64-101.01).
Source: Steps to Obtain an Initial Notary Commission; Neb. Rev. Stat. 64-101.
Exam, bond and portal in Nebraska
- Pass the exam. Online through ClassMarker, from the Secretary of State's website: 20 questions, 85% to pass, done without help. A pass is valid 90 days. Fail three times and you can no longer become a Nebraska notary.
- Buy the $15,000 bond. From a Nebraska insurance agent or online provider, in your intended notary name and home address. Sign as principal, then again before another notary when you take the oath.
- Apply in the Online Notary Portal. Upload the exam certificate and bond and pay the $30 fee. Paper filings stopped being accepted after December 31, 2023.
- Download your commission certificate. After the approval email.
- Order your ink stamp seal. Take the printed certificate to an office supply store.
Source: Steps to Obtain an Initial Notary Commission.
Nebraska costs
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Commission filing | $30 Paid in the Online Notary Portal. |
| $15,000 bond premium | Set by surety With your oath endorsed on it (64-102). |
| Ink stamp seal | Vendor price The only required supply. |
| Replacement commission certificate | $10 If you need another copy. |
| Online notary registration | $50 Optional, after the Online Notary Training Course and exam. |
A Nebraska commission costs $30 to file. The bond premium and stamp come from vendors; outside notary associations' certifications aren't required, and the Secretary of State doesn't endorse them.
Source: Steps to Obtain an Initial Notary Commission; Steps to Become an Online Notary.
NE starter kit · $29
Nebraska Notary Starter Kit
Nebraska's exam, $15,000 bond and portal steps, the 33-133 fee table, the signing-agent fee warning, ID and relative rules, the stamp seal wording, online notary registration, the required notice, a checklist, a budget and journal pages.
Four years, and renew in the last 30 days
A Nebraska commission lasts four years from its effective date (64-101(9)). File the renewal within 30 days before expiration, with a new bond; after expiration it's treated as a new application (64-104).
Nebraska law doesn't require a journal for general notaries, but the Secretary of State recommends one and posts a sample journal with instructions.
Source: Notary Frequently Asked Questions; Neb. Rev. Stat. 64-101.
Registering as a Nebraska online notary
Commissioned notaries may register as online notaries under 64-401 to 64-420. Finish the Secretary of State's Online Notary Training Course, pass its 20-question exam with 85% (three attempts, valid 90 days), apply in the portal with the $50 filing fee, then give your approval letter to an approved solution provider and set up your seal there.
Online acts cover acknowledgments, jurats, verifications or proofs, and oaths or affirmations, whether or not the principal is in Nebraska. Keep a secure electronic record of each online act, including the audio-video recording, for at least 10 years (64-409). An online act doesn't satisfy physical presence for wills and testamentary trusts or certain Uniform Commercial Code matters (64-418), and you may charge up to $25 more per online act (64-412).
Source: Steps to Become an Online Notary.
Statutory fees and signing agent offers
Neb. Rev. Stat. 33-133 sets the fees: $5 for taking an acknowledgment of a deed or other instrument, $5 for each certificate and seal, $2 for taking affidavits and $2 for administering an oath or affirmation. A government employee whose employer paid the commission and bond may not charge them.
The Secretary of State has warned notaries about offers that bill large "notary fees". A lender may pay you more for your time, but no one should label more than the statutory fee plus statutory mileage as a notary fee, so keep your notarial fee and any service charge on separate invoice lines. Your inked stamp seal reads "State of Nebraska" and "General Notary" or "General Notarial", with your commissioned name and expiration date (64-210).
Source: Neb. Rev. Stat. 33-133; Mobile notary and signing agent fee warning.
Want loan signings, not just walk-in notarizations? The Loan Signing Cheat Sheet explains the documents in a refinance or purchase package, and the Notary Marketing Kit covers getting found by title companies and local clients.
Nebraska notary questions
How old do you have to be to be a Nebraska notary?
19 (Neb. Rev. Stat. 64-101).
What happens if I fail the Nebraska notary exam?
You can try again, but after three failed attempts you can no longer become a Nebraska notary. You need 85% on 20 questions, and a pass is valid 90 days.
Can I send a paper notary application in Nebraska?
No. Paper filings stopped being accepted after December 31, 2023; you apply in the Online Notary Portal.
Can a signing agent charge a $150 notary fee in Nebraska?
The Secretary of State warns against labeling more than the statutory fee plus mileage as a notary fee. Bill any separate service charge on its own line.
Does a Nebraska notary need a journal?
Not by law for general notaries, though the Secretary of State recommends one. Online notaries must keep an electronic record of each online act for 10 years.
Guides for other states · Becoming a notary in New Jersey
General information from official Nebraska sources, checked November 2026. It is not legal advice, and we are not lawyers. Requirements and fees change, so confirm them with the Nebraska Secretary of State before you apply. MCC Solutions is not affiliated with the State of Nebraska.