Notary Commission, Application, Bonding, and Renewal
Commission basics
Nebraska notary commissions are issued by the Secretary of State. An applicant must meet the statutory qualifications, submit the application, take the required oath, and file an approved surety bond. Nebraska commissions run for a four-year term. The bond is $15,000. Do not confuse the application fee with the bond premium, and do not assume the bond protects the notary.
Bonding
The bond protects the public: persons harmed by a notary's official misconduct may claim against it, up to the bond amount. It is not professional liability insurance and does not pay the notary's defense or cover the notary's own losses. Keep the bond continuous; a lapse can interrupt or invalidate the commission.
Renewal and changes
Renew before expiration using the Secretary of State's process. A lapsed commission generally requires a new application rather than a simple renewal. Report a name change and update the seal so the name matches the commission. A notary may not transfer a commission or let another person use the seal.
Traps
Watch for questions that say the bond 'insures' the notary or that a commission can be used anywhere without regard to jurisdiction. Also watch for expiration math: count from the effective date on the commission, not the date the application was mailed.
Worked example: A notary's four-year commission expires June 30. A document is notarized July 1. The notary's commission has lapsed, so the notarial act is defective even if renewal paperwork was mailed in June.