Notary Services

Gretna Public Library provides Notary Public services free of charge to community members. To ensure you receive assistance, we strongly recommend making an appointment due to availability constraints. Scheduling ahead is advised.

It is important to note that walk-in requests might not be accommodated, and submitting an appointment request does not guarantee availability. A staff member will reach out to you between one to three business days after receiving your request, as inquiries are only addressed during library business hours.

Notary Services will not be available one hour before the library closes. Please see hours posted at the top of the page for questions regarding those times.

Call 402-332-4480

OR

Schedule an appointment online

FAQ

  • Your completed, unsigned document(s) to be notarized
  • A valid and unexpired physical ID
  • Witnesses if the document requires witnesses. Witnesses must also bring a valid and unexpired physical ID as specified below

A current valid photo ID is required for Notary services. Acceptable forms of ID are:

  • Driver’s licenses issued by the Motor Vehicle Commission
  • Non-driver ID issued by the Motor Vehicle Commission
  • US or foreign passports (must be stamped)
  • US military ID
  • Native American tribal ID
  • Green Card

Notary service is not available for vital documents such as birth certificates, death certificates, or marriage licenses. Copies of vital documents cannot be notarized or certified because General Notary Public cannot verify that the document is a true, complete, and correct copy of the original. They are only able to verify that the signature on a document is valid.

The Library does not provide witnesses. Witnesses must have proper identification with them. You may not approach strangers in the library to serve as witnesses. Witnesses must be personally known to you and be willing to stand up in court on your behalf, should that become necessary in the future. 

Examples of documents a General Notary Public would be able to notarize include but are not limited to:

  • Affidavits
  • Acknowledgements
  • Automotive title (must include the buyer’s name and address)
  • Identification verification
  • Travel consent forms
  • Buy-sell agreements
  • Deeds
  • Mortgages, and other real estate-related documents
  • Wills
  • Living wills
  • Living trusts
  • Codicils
  • Depositions
  • Gun sales
  • Divorce papers
  • Powers of attorney

Notary services will be declined if the document, the identification, the circumstances or the capacity of the signer to understand the proceeding raise any questions of authenticity, or if the General Notary Public does not understand the language of the document. The General Notary Public reserves the right to only notarize documents of those over the legal age of the majority, in Nebraska, nineteen years of age (19). General Notary Public reserves the right to decline services for any reason. 

The General Notary Public at Gretna Public Library will not prepare or complete documents for you, are not attorneys licensed to practice law, and may not give any legal advice about immigration or any other legal matter or accept fees for legal advice. A General Notary Public will explain the difference between taking an oath or affirmation, and an acknowledgement so that the best choice of notarization can be made. 

General Notary Public can only notarize in a language in which they are fluent. If a signer(s) is unable to communicate with the Notary, then they are unable to perform notary services. General Notary Public are not permitted to make use of a translator to communicate with a Notary service customer.  Library staff may be able to help direct you to a Notary Public that would be able to help you.

View Full Notary Public Policy