Louisiana Notary Public Exam Practice Test

Sample practice questions

A few real questions from this free bank, with full explanations. Use the practice tool above for the whole set.

1. 1. Acts

   What power distinguishes a Louisiana notary from a common-law-state notary?

   • a.Charging higher fees
   • b.Drafting and passing authentic acts and other legal instruments
   • c.Certifying vital records
   • d.Serving without a bond

   Answer: b

   Explanation: Louisiana is a civil-law state, so its notaries can draft and execute authentic acts and prepare contracts, sales, mortgages, and other legal instruments—work a common-law notary cannot do. Common-law notaries merely witness signatures and administer oaths. This drafting authority is the defining Louisiana difference.

2. 2. Acts

   Why does the Louisiana exam stress whether an authentic act or an act under private signature is required?

   • a.Because the notary may draft the document and the correct form affects its legal proof
   • b.Because the fee is different
   • c.Because only authentic acts need ID
   • d.Because private acts are illegal

   Answer: a

   Explanation: Since a Louisiana notary often drafts the instrument, choosing the correct form is a substantive legal decision: an authentic act has full proof value and specific formalities (notary + two witnesses), while an act under private signature duly acknowledged has different effect. The exam tests this judgment heavily.

3. 3. Id

   Before passing an authentic act, how should a Louisiana notary establish each party's identity?

   • a.Trust the witnesses only
   • b.Skip ID for parties the notary has met once
   • c.By personal knowledge or current government photo ID
   • d.By phone confirmation

   Answer: c

   Explanation: Because a Louisiana notary's acts have strong legal effect, the notary must identify each party by personal knowledge or satisfactory documentary evidence such as a current government photo ID. Proper identification protects the authenticity and proof value of the act.

4. 4. Id

   A party to a proposed act appears clearly confused and unable to understand it. The Louisiana notary should:

   • a.Decline to proceed because capacity is doubtful
   • b.Proceed if a witness vouches
   • c.Proceed and note the confusion
   • d.Charge extra to proceed

   Answer: a

   Explanation: The notary must be satisfied that each party has capacity and appears willingly. If a party cannot understand an act that may transfer property or create obligations, the notary should not proceed; doing so risks annulment of the act and personal liability.

5. 5. Journal

   Acts affecting immovable (real) property in Louisiana generally must be:

   • a.Kept secret
   • b.Destroyed after signing
   • c.Recorded in the parish records to affect third parties
   • d.Filed with the IRS

   Answer: c

   Explanation: To affect third parties, acts affecting immovable property are recorded in the parish conveyance or mortgage records. Recordation gives public notice. The notary's retained original remains the authoritative source for certified copies.

6. 6. Prohibited

   A Louisiana notary is commissioned in one parish. Acting outside that territorial jurisdiction:

   • a.Is encouraged
   • b.Has no effect on validity
   • c.Can expose the notary to discipline and liability
   • d.Doubles the fee

   Answer: c

   Explanation: Louisiana notaries must act within the territorial jurisdiction of their commission. Exceeding that jurisdiction, or acting without required formalities, can render acts defective and expose the notary to discipline and civil liability. Know your commission's scope.

7. 7. Commission

   Before beginning to act, a newly qualified Louisiana notary must:

   • a.Only pay a fee
   • b.File a bond or E&O coverage and take the oath of office, then register with the parish clerk of court
   • c.Wait one year
   • d.Notarize a practice document

   Answer: b

   Explanation: A new Louisiana notary must file the required bond or errors-and-omissions coverage (commonly $10,000), take the oath of office, and register the commission with the parish clerk of court before acting. These steps qualify the notary to serve.

8. 8. Fees

   How are Louisiana notary fees generally set, compared with common-law states?

   • a.Capped at $2 per act by statute
   • b.Often set by agreement for the professional work performed, disclosed in advance
   • c.Prohibited entirely
   • d.Set by the parish sheriff

   Answer: b

   Explanation: Because a Louisiana notary performs professional legal work (drafting and passing acts), fees are generally set by agreement for the service rather than fixed at a small per-act cap as in common-law states. Fees should be disclosed in advance and be reasonable; confirm any statutory limits for specific acts.

9. 9. Seal

   What must a Louisiana notary's seal or stamp include?

   • a.The signer's fingerprint
   • b.A photo of the notary
   • c.The notary's name, notary ID number, and parish
   • d.The client's address

   Answer: c

   Explanation: A Louisiana notary seal/stamp shows the notary's name, the notary identification number assigned by the Secretary of State, and the parish. The seal and signature give the act its authenticating character and tie it to the commissioned officer.

10. 10. Enotary

    When performing a remote authentic act in Louisiana, the notary must still:

    • a.Ignore witness rules
    • b.Satisfy the underlying act's formalities, such as witness requirements, plus identity-proofing and an A/V recording
    • c.Skip identity checks
    • d.Avoid keeping records

    Answer: b

    Explanation: Even when Louisiana authorizes remote/electronic notarization, the formalities of the underlying act—including witness requirements for authentic acts—still apply, along with approved identity-proofing, credential analysis, and a retained audio-video recording. This makes remote authentic acts more complex than a simple acknowledgment.