Notarial Certificates, Journals, and Records
Certificate elements
Every notarial certificate should identify the venue (State of Nebraska, County of ______), the date, the signer, the act performed, and the notary's name, signature, and seal. The seal must be legible and should show the notary's name, 'Notary Public,' 'State of Nebraska,' and the commission expiration date as required by Nebraska law. Use the certificate form the document provides if it is legally sufficient; if not, attach or complete a correct certificate.
Journals and records
Nebraska does not make a journal universally mandatory for every notary, but a journal is strong best practice and may be required by an employer or by the terms of a particular commissioning process. A good journal records the date, signer's name and address, identification presented, type of act, and signature. Keep records secure and retain them for the period your employer or counsel recommends.
Traps
Incomplete certificates are a favorite test item: missing venue, missing date, missing act, or a seal that does not match the commission. A jurat certificate must say the signer subscribed and swore; an acknowledgment must say the signer acknowledged. Do not use a seal as a substitute for a signature, and do not write a certificate after the fact.
Worked example: A document has a signed acknowledgment certificate but no county in the venue. Add the correct county where the act occurred and complete the date. If you cannot determine the venue, do not guess.