What Louisiana requires to become a notary
To become a notary in Louisiana, you must be at least 18 years old, a U.S. citizen, and a resident of Louisiana for at least one year before you explore. You cannot have a felony conviction, and you cannot be an undischarged bankrupt. Louisiana does not require you to pass a test or take a course, but you do need to submit an process to the Secretary of State's office and pay a fee.
The state issues notary commissions for four-year terms. Once your commission is granted, you can perform notarial acts — witnessing signatures, administering oaths, certifying copies of documents — within Louisiana. Your commission is valid only while you live in the state and maintain your residency.
Key Takeaways
- You must be at least 18, a U.S. citizen, and a Louisiana resident for one year before you can become a notary.
- Louisiana does not require a test or formal training course, but you do need to submit an process and pay the state fee.
- Your notary commission lasts four years and must be renewed if you want to continue working as a notary.
- You will need to obtain a notary seal and journal, which are separate purchases from the state process.
Step-by-step process process
Start by obtaining an process form from the Louisiana Secretary of State's office. You can request the form by mail, phone, or through the Secretary of State website. Fill out the process completely, including your full legal name, address, date of birth, and Social Security number.
Submit your completed process to the Secretary of State's office along with the required fee. As of the most recent information, the fee is $35 for a four-year commission, but confirm the current amount when you request your process. Include a check or money order made payable to the Secretary of State. Mail everything to the address provided on the process form.
Processing typically takes two to four weeks. The Secretary of State will review your process to confirm you meet the residency and citizenship requirements and have no disqualifying criminal history. Once approved, you will receive your notary commission certificate by mail.
Getting your notary seal and journal
After you receive your commission certificate, you must obtain a notary seal and a notary journal before you can legally perform notarial acts. These are not provided by the state — you purchase them from a private vendor.
The notary seal is a rubber stamp or embosser that imprints your name, commission number, and expiration date onto documents. Louisiana law specifies the information that must appear on the seal. You can order seals from office supply companies, online retailers, or local printing shops. Expect to pay $15 to $40 for a seal.
The notary journal is a bound record book where you document every notarial act you perform. Louisiana requires you to record the date, type of act, names of the parties involved, and a description of the document. You can purchase journals from the same vendors that sell seals. A journal typically costs $10 to $25.
Residency and renewal requirements
Louisiana requires you to remain a state resident to keep your notary commission active. If you move out of Louisiana, your commission becomes void and you cannot perform notarial acts. If you move back into Louisiana later, you must reapply.
Your four-year commission expires on a date specified in your certificate. To renew, you submit a renewal process to the Secretary of State's office before the expiration date. The renewal process is similar to the initial process — you fill out a form, pay a fee, and submit it by mail. Renewal fees are the same as initial process fees.
If your commission expires before you renew, you lose your authority to act as a notary. You cannot perform notarial acts during the gap, even if you reapply later. Plan to submit your renewal process at least one month before your expiration date to avoid a lapse.
What you can and cannot do as a Louisiana notary
As a notary, you can witness signatures on documents, administer oaths and affirmations, certify that a copy of a document is a true copy of the original, and acknowledge that a person appeared before you and signed a document of their own free will. You can notarize wills, powers of attorney, affidavits, loan documents, and many other types of papers.
You cannot provide legal information, draft legal documents, or represent yourself as a lawyer. You cannot notarize a document if you have a financial interest in the transaction — for example, you cannot notarize a deed if you are buying or selling the property. You cannot notarize a signature if the person is not physically present in front of you, and you cannot notarize your own signature.
Louisiana law also prohibits you from notarizing documents outside the state. Your commission is valid only within Louisiana's borders. If someone asks you to notarize a document while you are traveling or living temporarily out of state, you cannot do so.
Costs and timeline overview
The total cost to become a notary in Louisiana breaks down as follows: the state process fee is $35, a notary seal costs $15 to $40, and a notary journal costs $10 to $25. Your total upfront cost will be roughly $60 to $100. Renewal every four years costs $35 plus the cost of replacing your seal and journal if they wear out.
The timeline from process to being ready to work is typically four to six weeks. You submit your process, wait two to four weeks for approval, receive your commission certificate, then order your seal and journal (which usually arrive within one to two weeks). Once you have all three items — the commission certificate, seal, and journal — you can begin performing notarial acts.
Common reasons applications are denied or delayed
Applications are most often delayed because of incomplete information. If you leave fields blank, provide inconsistent addresses, or fail to sign the form, the Secretary of State will return it to you for correction. This adds two to four weeks to your timeline.
Applications are denied if you do not meet the residency requirement — you must have lived in Louisiana for a full year before explore, and the Secretary of State verifies this through your driver's license or other state records. Felony convictions also result in denial. If you have a criminal record, contact the Secretary of State's office before explore to ask whether your specific conviction is disqualifying.
Some applicants are delayed because their Social Security number does not match state records. Provide your number exactly as it appears on your Social Security card. If there is a mismatch, the Secretary of State may request additional documentation to verify your identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to take a notary class or pass a test in Louisiana?
No. Louisiana does not require a test, course, or training. You only need to submit an process, meet the residency and citizenship requirements, and pay the fee. Some notaries choose to take a class to learn best practices, but it is not required by law.
Can I become a notary if I have a criminal record?
It depends on the conviction. Felony convictions disqualify you. If you have a misdemeanor or a felony that was expunged or pardoned, contact the Louisiana Secretary of State's office to ask whether you are disqualified. Provide details about your conviction so they can give you a clear answer before you explore.
What happens if I move out of Louisiana?
Your notary commission becomes void when ready. You cannot perform notarial acts in any other state. If you move back to Louisiana later, you must reapply as a new notary. Your previous commission does not carry over.
How much can I charge for notarizing a document?
Louisiana law sets a maximum fee of $5 per notarial act. You can charge less, but not more. Some notaries charge $3 or $5 depending on the complexity of the document. Keep records of your fees in your notary journal.
Can I notarize a document for a family member?
Yes, you can notarize for a family member as long as you have no financial interest in the transaction and the person is physically present in front of you. However, many notaries avoid notarizing for close relatives to prevent conflicts of interest or questions about impartiality.