Louisiana’s civil law notaries have broader powers than notaries in any other state — and a unique set of obligations. No traditional journal is required by statute, but the notary’s signature serves as their seal, commissions are parish-specific, and the rigorous exam reflects the office’s significance. RON is authorized since February 2022. NotaryAct supports Louisiana notaries with best-practice journal tools and RON documentation.
| ⚖️ Louisiana Notary Journal Law — Quick Reference | |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | RS Title 35 (Notaries Public) · RS 35:621 et seq. (RON) |
| Traditional Journal | Not required by statute for most acts · Strongly recommended as best practice |
| Real Estate Recording Obligation | Notary must record acts of sale, mortgages, donations with parish recorder within 15 days — separate from journal ✓ |
| RON Electronic Journal | Created by RON platform · Retained per platform and SOS requirements |
| RON Authorized Since | February 1, 2022 · $100 registration fee · SOS-approved platform required |
| Thumbprint in Journal | Not required in journal · RON biometric identity proofing is platform-side (not a journal entry) |
| Seal | No rubber stamp or embosser — the notary’s signature IS the seal ✓ |
| Commission Scope | Parish-specific — limited to parish(es) of commission ✓ |
| Bond (Non-Attorneys) | $50,000 surety bond — renewed every 5 years ✓ |
| Exam | Required (non-attorneys) · Offered twice yearly · Closed-book · Scored by LSU |
| Commission Term | Lifetime (non-attorneys who pass exam) · Bonds renewed every 5 years |
Louisiana is the only U.S. state operating under the civil law tradition — a legal system derived from French and Spanish law that preceded American common law. This gives Louisiana notaries powers and functions that notaries in the other 49 states simply do not have.
Authentic acts. A Louisiana notary can execute an “authentic act” — a document signed in the presence of the notary and two witnesses — that carries the presumption of authenticity and has the force of a judgment. These are used for real estate transfers, wills, successions, marriage contracts, and other significant legal instruments.
Wills. A Louisiana notary can receive, execute, and certify statutory wills and other testamentary instruments. In most states, notaries cannot notarize their own signature or notarize documents in which they have a direct interest.
The signature IS the seal. Louisiana notaries do not use a rubber stamp or embosser. The notary’s handwritten signature, written exactly as it appears on their commission, is their seal. Every document notarized in Louisiana must bear the notary’s identification number alongside their typed, printed, or stamped name (RS 35:12).
Parish-specific commission. Louisiana notaries are commissioned by parish. A commission in East Baton Rouge Parish does not authorize notarization in Orleans Parish and vice versa. Some flexibility exists: notaries with 5 or more years of experience who change residence may obtain a commission in their new parish without retaking the exam.
Louisiana does not require a traditional journal for most notarial acts performed in-person. However, the lack of a statutory requirement does not diminish the value of keeping one. Louisiana’s expanded notarial powers mean the stakes of any disputed notarization are higher than in most states — a contemporaneous record of identity verification, the parties present, and the act performed is an essential liability protection.
Real estate recording obligation (RS 35:199): This is separate from a journal but equally important for Louisiana notaries doing real estate work. Notaries must record acts of sale, exchanges, donations, and mortgages of immovable property with the appropriate parish recorder within 15 days of execution. Failure to record within 15 days carries a $200 fine per infraction. This filing requirement gives Louisiana notaries a distinct compliance clock that notaries in other states don’t face.
RON electronic journals: For remote online notarizations performed under RS 35:621 et seq., the RON platform creates and maintains the electronic journal as part of the session. Louisiana’s RON identity proofing framework permits biometric methods including facial recognition, voiceprint analysis, and fingerprint analysis — but these are platform-side identity verification tools used during the session, not signer-journal entry requirements like California’s thumbprint rule.
✔ NotaryAct supports Louisiana notaries: Best-practice journal for all traditional notarizations with all recommended fields. RON session documentation fields capture the platform used, identity verification method, and session details. Fingerprint capture is available as an optional voluntary feature, clearly distinct from the RON platform biometric identity proofing requirement. The Louisiana-specific document type field includes authentic acts and other civil law instruments.
| 1 | Date and Time — Auto-timestamped by NotaryAct at submission. |
| 2 | Type of Act — Acknowledgment, oath/affirmation, authentic act, act of sale, mortgage, donation, etc. NotaryAct’s LA configuration includes Louisiana civil law document types. |
| 3 | Full Names of All Parties — Louisiana law requires parties’ Christian names and surnames in full (RS 35:12). NotaryAct captures full names per this requirement. |
| 4 | Permanent Mailing Addresses — RS 35:12 requires permanent mailing addresses of all parties. NotaryAct’s barcode scanner auto-fills from any Louisiana driver’s license. |
| 5 | Identity Verification — Personal knowledge, government-issued ID type and details, or credible witness. NotaryAct supports all three scenarios. |
| + | Notary ID Number — Every document must bear the notary’s identification number (RS 35:12). NotaryAct includes the notary’s ID number in the configuration. |
Other state guides: Mississippi · Texas · Florida · Georgia · All 50 States →
NotaryAct supports Louisiana notaries with civil-law-aware document type fields, full name and address capture per RS 35:12, best-practice journal entries for all traditional acts, and RON session documentation. The power of Louisiana notarial practice deserves the protection of thorough records.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects Louisiana Revised Statutes Title 35 and the Louisiana Administrative Code Title 46 as in effect June 2026. Consult the Louisiana Secretary of State Notary and Certifications Division at sos.la.gov or qualified legal counsel for guidance specific to your situation.
