Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts signed an executive order last week allowing online notary services to be provided in the state immediately, instead of this summer when a new state statute was scheduled to take effect.

The order was issued at the request of Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen following inquiries from real estate industry. The Nebraska Online Notary Public Act was enacted last year and would have allowed online notary services beginning July 1.

“Notaries can download applications from my website right now, complete the application, take the required test, and send the test and application to my office along with the $50 fee,” Evnen said in a statement last Wednesday. “Through technology, secure online notarizations are already present in 22 states and they are gaining in popularity.”

Specific technology is required for remote notarizations. An online notary public will select from approved online notary solution providers when submitting an application.

For additional information, or to submit an application to become an online notary public, visit the Secretary of State’s Office website at sos.nebraska.gov/business-services/notary-public.