Louisiana notaries. Different from any other state's.
Louisiana is the only state whose notaries carry the powers of a civil-law notary. In the rest of the country, a notary is a signature-witness. In Louisiana, a notary can draft wills, execute authentic acts of sale and donation, prepare matrimonial agreements, and perform other functions that in every other state require a lawyer. For most pro se filings on BayouJustice, you need the simpler notary services: a jurat on a verification or an acknowledgment on a signature. This page explains the difference and where to find a notary.
Three jobs, nothing more.
A notary has exactly three jobs when you walk in with a document to be notarized:
- Confirm who you are. You hand the notary a current, government-issued photo ID. Louisiana driver license, state ID, passport, military ID, tribal ID. The notary compares the photo to your face.
- Watch you sign. You sign the document in front of the notary. If you sign before you walk in, the notary cannot complete the notarial act.
- Sign and seal the notarial certificate. The notary adds the jurat or acknowledgment block, signs with their name and notary ID number, and (in most Louisiana parishes) stamps a seal. That certifies that you appeared before the notary, were identified, and signed in their presence.
The notary does not read your document, confirm the facts in it, give you legal advice about it, or guarantee that it will do what you think it will do. The notary witnesses the signing. Anything beyond that is on you (or your lawyer, if you have one).
Two different notarial acts. The form tells you which.
| Act | Used for | What the notary writes |
|---|---|---|
| Jurat | Sworn statements: verifications, affidavits, interrogatory answers, pleadings sworn under penalty of perjury. | "SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED before me, Notary Public, on this ___ day of ______, 20__." |
| Acknowledgment | Signed documents that are not sworn under oath: powers of attorney, acts of sale, donations, waivers of service, authentic acts. | "BEFORE ME, Notary Public, personally came and appeared [name], who acknowledged that he/she signed the foregoing instrument of his/her own free will." |
| Authentic act civil law |
Formal Louisiana civil-law instruments: acts of sale of immovables, donations of immovables, authentic wills, matrimonial agreements. | The notary drafts a specific preamble, has two witnesses sign, and the notary signs last. Governed by La. C.C. art. 1833. |
If the form you are notarizing says "SWORN TO AND SUBSCRIBED," it is a jurat. If it says "ACKNOWLEDGED," it is an acknowledgment. If it is an act of sale or donation of immovable property, or an authentic will, it is an authentic act and the notary must also arrange two witnesses.
Free, low-cost, and paid options in Louisiana.
Free or very low cost
- Your parish Clerk of Court. Many clerks' offices will notarize for free or for a nominal fee ($5 to $10) if the document is being filed in that court. Call ahead; ask if a deputy clerk can notarize while you file. In many parishes the deputy clerks are commissioned notaries.
- Your bank or credit union. Most banks and credit unions provide free notary service to account holders. Call ahead, bring your ID, and tell them what you need notarized.
- Public libraries. Some parish libraries (especially larger branches) employ a notary for public use at no charge. Call the specific branch.
- Your employer's HR office. Larger employers often have a staff notary who will do a few documents for employees at no cost.
- Senior centers, community centers, and veterans affairs offices. Many serve the public with notary service as part of their mission.
Convenient but modest cost
- UPS Stores and FedEx Office locations. Most carry a notary during business hours. Typical fee: $10 to $25 per signature.
- AAA offices. AAA members receive free notarization; non-members pay a small fee.
- Pharmacies and shipping centers. CVS, Walgreens, and some truck-stop shipping centers along I-10 and I-20 offer notary service.
- Mobile notaries. If you cannot leave the house, a mobile notary will travel to you. Expect $25 to $100 per visit, higher in rural parishes.
- Online remote notarization. Louisiana permits remote notarization through authorized platforms. The signer appears via video, shows ID, and signs electronically. Useful if the signer is out of state or cannot travel. The notary must be commissioned and the platform authorized; fees vary.
If you cannot afford any of these
Several Louisiana legal aid organizations (SLLS, ALSC, the Pro Bono Project in New Orleans) have in-house notaries and will notarize for eligible clients. See the Pro Bono page for intake numbers. If you are in a courthouse, ask any lawyer in the hallway if they are a notary; many are, and most will notarize a form for you at no charge if the task is simple.
Six things that go wrong at the notary, and how to fix them.
- Signing before you get there. If you sign at home, the notary cannot notarize because the notary did not watch you sign. Bring the unsigned document and sign in front of the notary.
- No photo ID. The notary will refuse. If your ID is expired or lost, bring two credible witnesses who can swear to your identity (not every notary accepts this; call ahead).
- Document in a foreign language the notary cannot read. The notary may still notarize the signature if they can confirm identity and witness signing, but the acceptability of the resulting document may be questioned in court. Have a translation attached.
- Form has notary blocks for multiple states. Louisiana notaries can only use Louisiana notarial language. Cross out the other state's language and have the notary use the Louisiana block.
- Multiple pages, unclear which gets signed. Louisiana practice: sign the last page where the signature line sits. Many notaries will also initial every intermediate page to prevent page-swapping.
- The notary wants to charge $50 for a jurat. Louisiana does not cap notary fees for ordinary acts, but typical charges are $10 to $25 per signature. Shop around; a bank or clerk's office will usually do it for free or almost free.
Louisiana's civil-law notary is a quiet civic institution, descended from Rome through Napoleon through the Code Noir. In parts of France and Spain, a notary is roughly equivalent to a solicitor. In Louisiana, a notary can execute an act of sale on a house, draft a will, or formalize a matrimonial agreement, acts that in forty-nine other states require a lawyer. For most forms on this site, you need the simpler notary services. But for an act of sale, a donation, or an authentic will, consider using a Louisiana civil-law notary, not a signature-witness.
Ready to notarize?
If your form is on BayouJustice, you have the notarial block already. Review the verification mechanics, bring your ID, and sign in front of a notary. Need help finding one? The Pro Bono page lists Louisiana legal aid offices with in-house notary service for eligible clients.