4.1 Acceptable Identification Documents

Satisfactory Evidence of Identity

Nebraska law requires a notary public to establish a signer's identity by satisfactory evidence before performing a notarial act. The statutory definition is exact: identification based on satisfactory evidence means at least one document issued by a government agency that is current and that bears the photographic image of the individual's face, the individual's signature, and a physical description of the individual. There is one carve-out: a properly stamped passport is satisfactory evidence even though it lacks a written physical description.

This matters because Nebraska notaries do not screen the truthfulness of a document. Their single identity job is to be reasonably certain the person signing is who they claim to be. Accepting a deficient ID is the most common way a commission is suspended or revoked.

The Three-Part Test

Every acceptable ID (other than a passport) must satisfy all three elements. Miss one and the ID fails.

Primary Acceptable IDs

IDs That Fail

How to Examine the Document

1. Check the expiration date first — an expired card ends the inquiry immediately.
2. Compare the photo to the person physically in front of you.
3. Match the physical description (height, eye color, DOB) to what you observe.
4. Inspect security features — holograms, microprint, UV elements, raised lettering.
5. Look for tampering — mismatched fonts, peeling lamination, altered numbers.

Worked Example

A signer hands you a driver's license that expired two weeks ago but whose photo clearly matches him. You must decline — "current" is a bright-line rule with no two-week grace period. Offer the signer an alternative path: return with an unexpired ID, or proceed using credible witnesses (covered in 4.2).

Why the Three Elements Exist

Each element defends against a different fraud. The photograph stops an impostor who happens to know the signer's data. The signature lets you compare the card signature against the document signature in front of you. The physical description (height, eye color, date of birth) catches a stolen card whose photo is grainy or dated — if the card says the holder is five feet tall with brown eyes and the person before you is six feet with blue eyes, the ID does not match the signer even if the name lines up.

This is why a Social Security card, which has none of these, can never identify anyone: it proves a number exists, not that the person holding it owns it.

Out-of-State and Tribal IDs

Nebraska does not require the government ID to be a Nebraska credential. A current driver's license from another state, a tribal photo ID, or a federal agency photo ID all qualify so long as they carry the photo, signature, and physical description. The issuing body must be a government agency — the test is the issuer, not the geography. A signer who recently moved to Omaha and still carries a valid Iowa or Kansas license can be identified normally.

Decision Walkthrough

Think of acceptance as a short gate sequence. First, is it government-issued? If no, stop. Second, is it current? If expired, stop. Third, does it bear photo, signature, and physical description (or is it a properly stamped passport)? If an element is missing, stop. Fourth, does the photo and description match the live person, with intact security features and no tampering? Only when every gate passes do you proceed; otherwise you turn to the alternative methods in Section 4.2.

Common Traps

• "It only just expired." Recency is irrelevant; expired equals unacceptable.
• A passport with a torn or removed stamp. It must be properly stamped to qualify under the passport exception.
• A photocopy or photo of an ID. You must inspect the physical credential in person.
• An ID for someone else. The name and signature must be the signer's own.
• A warehouse-club or gym card with a photo. A photo alone does not make it government-issued, and it lacks a physical description.