Prohibited Acts, Misconduct & Liability
With broader power comes broader liability. Louisiana notaries can be held personally responsible for defective acts and face discipline for exceeding authority or acting with a conflict.
Conflicts and defective acts
A notary should not pass an act in which they have a personal interest that impairs impartiality, and must not execute an authentic act that fails a required formality (for example, missing witnesses). A defective authentic act may be reduced to an act under private signature or annulled, and the notary may be liable to the parties for resulting loss.
Acting within parish and commission limits
Historically Louisiana notaries were commissioned for a specific parish; a notary must act within the territorial jurisdiction of their commission. Exceeding jurisdiction, notarizing without the required witnesses, or preparing documents beyond their authority exposes the notary to discipline and civil liability.
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