How to Become a Notary in Louisiana

Louisiana notaries hold more legal authority than notaries in any other state. A commissioned Louisiana notary can draft wills, execute real estate transfers, and prepare authentic acts that carry the evidentiary weight of a court judgment — powers that would require an attorney in the other 49 states. That authority comes with a correspondingly demanding commissioning process, centered on a state exam with a historical pass rate between 10% and 25%.

Here is the complete sequence from first application to active commission.

Eligibility Requirements

Before you start any paperwork, confirm you meet every statutory requirement under Louisiana Revised Statute 35:191:

• At least 18 years old
• Louisiana resident (citizen or legal permanent resident)
• Registered voter in the parish where you're applying
• High school graduate or GED holder
• Able to read, write, and speak English
• No unpardoned felony convictions

The voter registration requirement catches people off guard. You must be registered in the specific parish where you want your commission — not just anywhere in the state. If you recently moved parishes, update your voter registration before submitting anything.

Step 1: Submit the Application to Qualify

File the Application to Qualify for Appointment as Notary Public through the Secretary of State's CORA portal. The non-refundable qualifying fee is $35, plus a $5 convenience fee if paying by credit card.

The Secretary of State's office reviews your application for eligibility and runs a background check. If questions arise about your moral character or fitness, they refer your file to the district court of the parish where you're seeking your commission. Processing typically takes 3–7 business days.

Step 2: Complete the LSU Pre-Assessment

Once your application is approved, you register for the mandatory Notary Exam Pre-Assessment administered by LSU's Office of Testing and Evaluation Services. The fee is $30.

This is an online evaluation required for all non-attorney applicants under Act 610 of 2014. There is no minimum passing score — you simply must complete it. However, timing matters: LSU takes up to 7 business days to grade and transmit your score to the Secretary of State, and your score must be on file at least 37 days before your intended exam date. Register early.

Step 3: Register for and Sit the State Exam

With your pre-assessment score transmitted, register for the state notary exam through the Secretary of State and pay the $100 registration fee. Registration must be received at least 30 days before the exam date.

The exam is administered exclusively at LSU Baton Rouge. It runs up to four hours and is computer-administered. You can bring the current edition of Fundamentals of Louisiana Notarial Law and Practice (the official "Yellow Book," $100 from the Secretary of State). Highlighting, handwritten notes, and clear permanent self-adhesive tabs under two inches are allowed. Post-it notes, removable tabs, and electronic devices are grounds for immediate dismissal.

You need a scaled score of 70 to pass.

Step 4: Secure Your $50,000 Surety Bond

After passing the exam, your first post-exam task is purchasing a five-year, $50,000 surety bond from an authorized corporate surety. This bond amount was raised from $10,000 under Act 258 of 2025 (effective February 1, 2026), and the old option of filing errors and omissions insurance instead of a bond was eliminated entirely.

Bond premiums typically run $110–$250 for five years, depending on your credit. Corporate surety bonds file directly with the Secretary of State — no parish clerk approval needed.

Step 5: Execute Oaths and File Your Commission

You must execute two separate Oath of Office forms and an Official Signature Page before an authorized official, then submit to the Secretary of State's Notary Division:

• One original Oath of Office
• The Official Signature Page
• The original or certified copy of your $50,000 surety bond
• A $35 commission filing fee (plus $5 card fee)

Within one month of taking the oath, file the duplicate Oath of Office with the Clerk of Court in your parish. In Orleans Parish, this goes to the Clerk of the Civil District Court.

Once processed, the Secretary of State issues your commission under the Governor's hand. Your status goes to "Active" in the state database, and you can begin practicing.

Step 6: Get Your Supplies

Louisiana law is unusual here — your signature legally serves as your seal under Louisiana Administrative Code Title 46, Part XLVI, Section 131. A physical stamp is not strictly required to validate traditional acts. In practice, though, recording offices expect a rubber stamp showing your name, ID number, and "State of Louisiana."

Journal requirements depend on your parish. Notaries in 63 of Louisiana's 64 parishes have no journal mandate. Orleans Parish notaries must maintain a physical, bound record journal with numbered pages.

What You'll Spend

The mandatory state fees add up to roughly $345–$370 before bond premiums:

Bond premiums ($110–$250) and optional prep courses ($150–$400) are additional.

After You're Commissioned

Your Louisiana notary commission is valid for life, provided you stay compliant. That means filing your annual report on geauxBIZ by your commission anniversary date and renewing your $50,000 surety bond every five years with a $20 state filing fee. Missing the annual report by 60 days triggers automatic suspension. Two consecutive missed years and the Secretary of State petitions for revocation.

If you want to expand into remote online notarization, you can apply for RON authority after your traditional commission is active — a separate training course, approved vendor selection, and $100 registration fee.

The Louisiana Notary Commission Guide walks through every filing deadline, cost, and parish-specific requirement in the sequence you need them, so nothing falls through the cracks between passing the exam and receiving your commission.

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