Louisiana Notary Commission Lookup — How to Verify a Notary's Status

Where to Search

The Secretary of State maintains a public Notary Search portal at coraweb.sos.la.gov/Notary/NotarySearch.aspx. It's part of the Commercial Online Registration Application (CORA) system — the same platform that handles notary applications, exam registration, and annual report filing.

The search is free and requires no account. You can look up any commissioned Louisiana notary by name, parish, or notary ID number.

What the Search Returns

A successful lookup shows several pieces of information:

Commission status. The portal displays whether a notary's commission is Active, Suspended, or Revoked. This is the most critical field for anyone verifying a notary before a transaction — an act executed by a suspended or revoked notary is legally defective under R.S. 35:601.

Notary ID number. Every commissioned Louisiana notary receives a unique identification number from the Secretary of State. This number appears on the notary's physical stamp (if they use one) and is the primary identifier in state records. If you're verifying a notary who provided their ID, searching by number is the fastest and most accurate method.

Parish of commission. For notaries with parish-specific jurisdiction (those commissioned before June 13, 2005, who haven't taken the modern state exam), this field shows which parish they're authorized to practice in. Notaries who passed the state exam on or after that date hold statewide jurisdiction under Act 793 of 2006, but the portal still lists their parish of registration.

Commission date. The date the notary's commission was officially issued by the Governor. This also determines the annual report filing deadline — the report is due on or before the commission anniversary each year.

When to Run a Lookup

Before a real estate closing. Title companies and lenders routinely verify notary status before closings. An act of sale executed by a notary whose commission was suspended — even unknowingly — produces a defective title. One lookup takes thirty seconds and prevents a title defect that could cost months to cure.

Before hiring a notary for document preparation. If you're retaining a notary to draft a will, act of donation, or succession documents, verifying their active status protects your documents from future challenge.

After your own commission is issued. New notaries should confirm their status shows as "Active" in the search portal after receiving their commission. If your oath filing or bond paperwork hit a processing delay, the portal is the fastest way to check whether the state has finalized your commission.

After filing a bond renewal or annual report. Confirm the portal reflects your continued active status, especially around bond expiration dates when the Secretary of State is actively suspending non-compliant commissions under the post-2026 $50,000 bond requirement.

The CORA Portal Beyond Search

The CORA portal handles more than lookups. If you're a commissioned notary, it's also where you:

• Register for the state exam and mandatory pre-assessment
• File your annual report through the linked geauxBIZ portal
• Update your address and contact information
• Submit your RON registration if you're adding remote online notarization authority

The Secretary of State's Notary Division in Baton Rouge is the only office authorized to process applications, answer questions about exam eligibility, and issue commissions. Local parish clerks handle duplicate oath filings but cannot answer questions about application status or commission processing.

Keeping Your Commission Active

A clean lookup result depends on staying current with two maintenance obligations: the annual report (due on your commission anniversary) and the $50,000 surety bond (renewed every five years). Missing either triggers automatic suspension.

The Louisiana Notary Commission Guide covers the complete maintenance timeline and tracks every filing deadline from initial application through lifetime commission upkeep.

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