Notarial Acts & Their Differences
Louisiana is a civil-law state, so its notaries are quasi-judicial officers with powers no common-law notary has: they draft and execute 'authentic acts,' pass contracts, and prepare a wide range of legal instruments.
Authentic acts and broad civil-law powers
A Louisiana notary may draft and pass authentic acts—instruments executed before the notary and two witnesses that carry full proof of their contents (Civil Code art. 1833). Louisiana notaries can prepare and execute contracts, powers of attorney, sales, mortgages, donations, matrimonial agreements, and affidavits. This drafting authority is the defining difference from common-law states, where notaries merely witness and cannot prepare legal documents.
Acknowledgments, affidavits, and acts under private signature
Beyond authentic acts, a Louisiana notary takes acknowledgments, administers oaths, executes affidavits, and can acknowledge acts under private signature. Because a Louisiana notary may draft the very documents they notarize, the exam heavily tests when an authentic act (notary + two witnesses) is required versus an act under private signature duly acknowledged.
State-specific details
State exam facts
- State regulator
- Louisiana Secretary of State (Notary Division)
- Passing score
- A scaled score of 70 (out of 100)
- Time limit
- 240 minutes
Does Louisiana require a notary exam?
Yes — and it is widely regarded as the hardest notary exam in the United States. Non-attorney applicants sit a computer-based, open-book exam given in a single sitting of up to four hours; you may bring the official study guide. Before registering, non-attorneys must complete the Notary Exam Pre-Assessment (a diagnostic, not pass/fail). Louisiana-licensed attorneys are exempt from the exam.
What score do I need to pass the Louisiana notary exam?
You must earn a scaled score of at least 70 out of 100 to pass the state notary examination.
Why is the Louisiana notary exam so much harder than other states'?
Louisiana is the only civil-law jurisdiction in the country, so its notaries have far broader powers than common-law notaries — they can draft and execute authentic acts such as conveyances, mortgages, wills, and successions, functions closer to a European-style notaire. The exam tests that drafting ability, not just witnessing signatures.
How much can a Louisiana notary charge per act?
Louisiana sets no statutory cap on notarial fees. Notaries set their own fees but must disclose them to the client in advance.
Sources: https://www.sos.la.gov/notary, https://www.sos.la.gov/notary/get-exam-information