An acknowledgment involves the notary verifying that the person signing the document is indeed who they claim to be and that they are signing the document willingly and with the intent to be bound by it. The notary does not need to witness the actual signing but must confirm the signer’s identity and intent.
A Nebraska notary public is responsible for certifying signatures, administering oaths, and maintaining a notarial journal. They are not responsible for determining the legality of the document, which is outside the scope of their duties.
If a Nebraska notary suspects fraud, they should refuse to notarize the document and document the situation in their notarial journal. Reporting to law enforcement is not required at the moment of notarization, but proper documentation and refusal to act protect the notary from legal issues.
