For Notaries · Louisiana
How to Become a Notary in Louisiana
To become a notary in Louisiana, you must be at least 18, a registered voter in your parish with a high school diploma, pass the statewide notary exam, post a $50,000 surety bond, and file your commissioning documents with the Secretary of State. State fees total roughly $200, and Louisiana commissions never expire.
Last updated: July 16, 2026 · By Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC — CEO & Founder, USA Notary
Louisiana runs the most demanding notary system in the country, rooted in its civil-law tradition. Notaries are appointed by the Secretary of State and commissioned in their home parish, with powers far broader than the ministerial notaries of other states. You qualify by application, pass a rigorous statewide exam, post a $50,000 surety bond, and file your commissioning documents with the Secretary of State. Uniquely, a Louisiana commission never expires, though your bond must be renewed every five years. Expect the process to take months of study and preparation. Once commissioned, you can also register to perform remote online notarizations for signers located anywhere.
Louisiana Notary Requirements at a Glance
| Eligibility | You must be at least 18 years old, of good moral character, and a resident citizen registered to vote in the parish of your residence (or a legal alien resident of Louisiana), with a high school diploma or equivalent. You must qualify through the Secretary of State and be commissioned in your parish of residence. |
|---|---|
| Surety bond | Non-attorney notaries must post a $50,000 surety bond, filed with the Secretary of State. This amount took effect February 1, 2026 (up from $10,000), and the bond must be renewed every 5 years. Errors and omissions insurance is no longer accepted in lieu of a bond. Licensed Louisiana attorneys are exempt from the bond requirement. |
| State filing fee | $35 Application to Qualify fee plus a $35 commission fee, in addition to a $30 exam pre-assessment fee and a $100 state exam registration fee — roughly $200 total in state fees for non-attorney applicants. |
| Commission term | Lifetime — Louisiana notary commissions do not expire; the surety bond must be renewed every 5 years. |
| Notary education | No state-mandated course hours, but the exam is rigorous and requires serious preparation. Applicants must complete a $30 pre-assessment before registering for the state exam; the Secretary of State publishes a study guide, and many candidates take a paid prep course. Licensed Louisiana attorneys are exempt from the exam. |
| Exam | Required. A proctored statewide notary exam administered by the Secretary of State, offered at least twice a year at designated sites. Passing is a scaled score of 70 out of 100. Licensed Louisiana attorneys are exempt. |
Louisiana non-attorney notaries pay a $35 Application to Qualify fee, a $100 state exam fee and a $35 commission fee, and must post a $50,000 surety bond filed with the Secretary of State. — Louisiana Secretary of State — Ways to File
How to Become a Notary in Louisiana: Step by Step
- 1
Confirm you're eligible
Be at least 18, of good moral character, and a resident citizen registered to vote in your parish (or a legal alien resident of Louisiana) with a high school diploma or equivalent.
- 2
Apply to qualify and prepare for the exam
File the Application to Qualify ($35) with the Secretary of State, register for the pre-assessment ($30), and study the SOS study guide. Licensed attorneys are exempt from the exam.
- 3
Pass the statewide notary exam
Register for the exam ($100) and pass the proctored statewide test with a scaled score of 70 or higher. The exam is offered at least twice a year.
- 4
Obtain your $50,000 surety bond
Purchase a $50,000 surety bond from a surety company authorized in Louisiana. Non-attorney notaries must file this bond; licensed attorneys are exempt.
- 5
File commissioning documents and pay the fee
Submit your two oaths of office, official signature page, $50,000 bond, and the $35 commission fee to the Secretary of State to be commissioned in your parish.
- 6
Receive your commission and start notarizing
Once commissioned, obtain your notary seal and journal and begin work. Optionally register for remote online notarization to serve signers anywhere.
How to Become an Online (Remote) Notary in Louisiana
Louisiana RON has been operative since February 1, 2022 under the Remote Online Notarization Act (R.S. 35:621 et seq.). A currently commissioned Louisiana notary, physically located in Louisiana, may register by completing an online instruction course and quiz, selecting an approved technology provider, and submitting the RON registration through their online notary account. Signers may be located anywhere.
Online / remote notary application fee: $100 one-time filing fee (separate from provider technology fees)
R.S. 35:621 et seq.; RON registration opened February 1, 2022
See how RON is authorized in Louisiana — and state by state →
The commission, the RON registration and the platform account are three separate things — which of them you can do entirely online sorts them out.
Walk through the Louisiana remote online notarization process →
Need a document notarized in Louisiana instead? Notarize online with a Louisiana commissioned notary.
Traditional Notary vs. Remote Online Notary in Louisiana
Louisiana allows remote online notarization, so once you hold a Louisiana commission you can register to notarize for signers who appear over live video — and take on assigned online signings.
| Traditional (in-person) notary | Remote online notary (RON) | |
|---|---|---|
| How the signer appears | In person, in the same room | Over a live, recorded audio-video call |
| Available in Louisiana? | Yes | Available now — register once commissioned |
| What you need | Seal and journal | An approved RON platform, identity-proofing, and a digital certificate |
| Where the work comes from | Local, walk-in and mobile appointments | Nationwide — e.g. assigned online signings through USA Notary |
What Does It Cost to Become a Notary in Louisiana?
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Application to Qualify fee | $35 |
| Pre-assessment + state exam fees | $130 ($30 + $100) |
| Commission filing fee | $35 |
| $50,000 surety bond | Varies by supplier |
| Notary seal & journal | Varies by supplier |
| RON registration (optional) | $100 one-time |
See costs and fees on USA Notary for platform-side details.
What a Louisiana Notary Can Charge
The costs above are what you pay to get commissioned — this is the other side of the ledger. Louisiana is one of the states that sets no statutory maximum on the in-person notarial fee, so the per-act price is whatever you and the signer agree to.
| Maximum in-person fee (per notarial act) | No cap |
|---|---|
| Maximum remote online notarization (RON) fee | No cap |
A statutory maximum is a ceiling, not a price list, and it covers the notarial act only — travel, printing and after-hours convenience are quoted as separate line items. See how Louisiana compares with every other state in the full 50-state breakdown of what a notary costs.
Verified July 2026 against the National Notary Association "Notary Fees by State" table and primary state statutes/Secretary of State rules. Several states (WA, VA, NC) raised caps in 2023–2024. Fees are per notarial act/signature; a notary may charge less, never more. Confirm your state before relying on a figure.
Renewing Your Notary Commission in Louisiana
Commission term in Louisiana
Lifetime — Louisiana notary commissions do not expire; the surety bond must be renewed every 5 years.
Louisiana's term works differently from the fixed cycles most states use — read it closely, because the supporting requirements it mentions still run on their own clocks.
For timelines, typical costs, and what to do if you've already let a commission lapse, see our step-by-step notary commission renewal guide.
Turn Your Louisiana Commission Into Income
USA Notary connects commissioned notaries with assigned, paid remote signings — so your commission actually earns. How Louisiana notaries earn · membership cost · platform requirements · other states
Join USA Notary as a notaryFrequently Asked Questions
How long does a Louisiana notary commission last?
Louisiana notary commissions do not expire — they are effectively lifetime appointments. However, your $50,000 surety bond must be renewed every five years to keep your commission active.
How much does it cost to become a notary in Louisiana?
State fees total roughly $200: a $35 Application to Qualify fee, a $30 pre-assessment fee, a $100 exam fee, and a $35 commission fee. On top of that you'll pay for your $50,000 surety bond and your seal and journal.
Is a class or exam required in Louisiana?
Yes. Non-attorney applicants must pass a rigorous proctored statewide notary exam administered by the Secretary of State, scoring a scaled 70 out of 100. There are no mandated course hours, but serious study is expected. Licensed Louisiana attorneys are exempt from the exam.
Who appoints notaries in Louisiana?
Notaries are appointed and commissioned by the Louisiana Secretary of State and commissioned in the parish of their residence. Louisiana notaries have broader civil-law authority than notaries in most other states.
Is remote online notarization available in Louisiana?
Yes. RON has been operative since February 1, 2022 under R.S. 35:621 et seq. A commissioned Louisiana notary can register by completing a course and quiz, choosing an approved provider, and paying a $100 one-time filing fee. The notary must be physically in Louisiana.
How much can a notary charge in Louisiana?
Louisiana sets no statutory maximum on the in-person notarial fee — it is whatever the notary and signer agree, disclosed before the appointment.
How much can a Louisiana notary charge for online notarization?
Louisiana sets no statutory cap on the fee for a remote online notarization.
Where to go from here
The rest of the questions are the same in every state, so they live in one place each:
- How long it takes to become a notary — application, processing queue, and the waiting you can't control.
- What it costs to become a notary — the same line items as the Louisiana cost table, priced across every state.
- Notary bond vs. E&O insurance — which one is a state requirement and which is your own call.
- What a loan signing agent does and earns — the highest-earning specialization once your commission arrives.
Becoming a Notary in Other States
Requirements differ by state — here are nearby West South Central guides and other popular states. See the full 50-state directory.
About the author
Andrew Ray Yon, MBA, ChFC
CEO & Founder, USA Notary Services LLC
Andrew Ray Yon is the founder and CEO of USA Notary Services LLC and the architect of the SharpNote remote online notarization platform. A Certified Notary Signing Agent since 2005, he has handled mortgage and title loan signings for two decades — personally completing more than 10,000 notarizations — and holds an MBA and the ChFC (Chartered Financial Consultant) designation. Based in Virginia’s Greater Richmond region, he leads the company’s strategy, compliance, and platform development.
Connect on LinkedInOfficial sources
- Louisiana Secretary of State — Ways to File (notary fees & filing)
- Louisiana Secretary of State — RON Requirements
- National Notary Association — Louisiana $50,000 bond (effective Feb 1, 2026)
This guide summarizes public requirements from Louisiana's notary authority and is for general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees can change — always confirm current details with your state before applying.