Journal & Record-Keeping
Louisiana notaries must retain and, in many parishes, record their acts; retention and recordation rules are a tested duty because authentic acts affect title and obligations.
Retention of acts
A Louisiana notary must retain original authentic acts (or file them where required) and maintain an index of the instruments they pass. Certain acts affecting immovable property must be recorded in the parish conveyance or mortgage records to affect third parties. The notary's retained originals are the authoritative record and may be used to issue certified copies.
Certified copies from the notary's records
Because the notary keeps the original authentic act, a Louisiana notary can issue certified copies of acts they have passed and retained. This is a broader records role than a common-law notary, who keeps only a journal of acts witnessed. Accurate recordkeeping protects the parties and the notary.
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