§191. Appointment; qualifications; examination
A.(1) Any person may be appointed a notary public in and for the parish in which
he resides and in and for any one other parish in which he maintains an office, provided that
he:
(a) Is a resident citizen or alien of this state.
(b) Is eighteen years of age or older.
(c) Reads, writes, speaks, and is sufficiently knowledgeable of the English language.
(d) Has received a high school diploma, has received a diploma for completion of
a home study program approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education,
or has been issued a high school equivalency diploma after successfully completing a high
school equivalency test approved by the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical
Colleges.
(e) Is not under interdiction or incapable of serving as a notary because of mental
infirmity.
(f) Has not been convicted of a felony, or if convicted of a felony, has been pardoned.
(g) Meets the requirements established by law for each commission sought.
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (A)(1) or Subsection C of this
Section, a person validly appointed notary public in the parish of his residence may exercise
any and all of the functions of a notary public in all adjacent parishes that have a population
of less than forty thousand and in which he or his employer maintains an office, without
additional bonding or further application or examination.
(3)(a) A valid notarial commission shall be one that has not been revoked or
resigned, and that was issued to a person who, at the time of issuance in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, possessed the qualifications for office set forth in Paragraph
(A)(1) and Subsection B of this Section, and who is currently possessed of those
qualifications.
(b) A validly appointed notary public is a person who currently holds a valid notarial
commission.
(c) A notarial commission that has been or is currently suspended by a court of
competent jurisdiction as provided by R.S. 35:71(C), or otherwise by operation of law
pursuant to R.S. 35:14 or for the failure of the notary to maintain the required bond, or for
failure to timely file the annual report as provided by law, shall not, solely for the reason that
it is a suspended commission, be deemed an invalid notarial commission.
B. A resident citizen seeking to be appointed notary public in the parish of his
residence or possessing a valid notarial commission in and for a parish based on his residence
must be a registered voter of that parish.
C. Each applicant, otherwise qualified, may be appointed a notary public in and for
a parish upon meeting all of the following conditions:
(1)(a) Submitting an application to the office of the secretary of state together with
a certificate establishing his age, residence, location of his office when the applicant seeks
to be appointed a notary based on such office, and location of the office which was the basis
for a current appointment as a notary in any other parish, if any.
(b) The application and qualifying process shall be administered by the office of the
secretary of state.
(i) The application provided by the office of the secretary of state shall require the
applicant to attest to his good moral character, integrity, and sober habits.
(ii) In the event that any of the applicant's answers or responses call into question the
applicant's good moral character, integrity, or sober habits, the secretary of state shall submit
such application to the district court in the parish for which the appointment is sought for
judicial review and approval. If found competent as to character and fitness to serve as a
notary public, the court shall issue to the secretary of state an appropriate certificate for the
applicant signed by a judge of the court.
(iii) The application shall include the sworn statement of the applicant declaring the
information provided therein is true and correct.
(c) The office of the secretary of state shall charge a fee of thirty-five dollars for
filing and processing any application to be appointed a notary public provided for in
Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.
(d) The deadline for the application provided for in Subparagraph (a) of this
Paragraph and the application fee provided for in Subparagraph (c) of this Paragraph or to
register to take the exam as provided for in R.S. 35:191.1 shall be no later than thirty days
prior to the date of the examination.
(2)(a) Taking a pre-assessment test, with no minimum score required, administered
by the secretary of state to assess the probability of the applicant passing the examination as
provided in R.S. 35:191.1.
(b) To qualify to take the pre-assessment test, the applicant shall have satisfied all
requirements to be commissioned as a notary public in the parish, except for passing the
examination as provided in R.S. 35:191.1.
(c) The pre-assessment test provided by this Paragraph shall be dispensed with if the
applicant has been duly admitted to practice law in this state or holds a valid notarial
commission in this state.
(3)(a) Taking and passing a written examination, as provided in R.S. 35:191.1,
administered by the secretary of state.
(b)(i) The notary examination shall be given not less than twice per year on the days
as determined by the secretary of state.
(ii) To qualify to be examined, the candidate shall have satisfied all requirements to
be commissioned as a notary public in the parish, except for passing the examination.
(iii) The qualified candidate shall be permitted to register for any notary public
examinations administered by the secretary of state within one year after the date the
secretary of state notifies the candidate of his approval to take the examination. No further
application fee shall be required during this period. The required examination fee, however,
shall be paid for each examination.
(c) The examination provided for in this Paragraph shall be dispensed with if the
applicant has been duly admitted to practice law in this state or holds a valid notarial
commission in this state.
D. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is
validly appointed notary public in and for the parish of Orleans, the parish of St. Bernard, the
parish of Plaquemines, or the parish of Jefferson is hereby authorized and deemed eligible
and qualified to exercise any and all of the functions of a notary public in the parishes of
Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and Jefferson.
E.(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who
has held a valid notarial commission in or for any parish either for a period of five years or
who has taken and passed the written examination, as provided in R.S. 35:191.1 on or after
June 13, 2005, and who changes his residence to another parish, and who complies with the
laws governing application and qualifying for appointment to the office of notary public in
the parish of his new residence, except taking and passing an examination, and who meets
the prerequisites for commission issuance specified in R.S. 35:201, shall be issued a notarial
commission for the parish of his new residence by the governor without advice and consent
of the Senate and may exercise the functions of notary public in that parish.
(2) A notary who is establishing a residence in a parish other than the parish of his
commission and who seeks a commission in the parish of the new residence shall be deemed
to be validly commissioned in the parish of his former residence for a period of sixty days,
during which time he shall meet all the qualifications for appointment in and for the parish
of the new residence. Should such notary desire to remain commissioned in the original
parish based on maintaining an office in that parish, he shall file an affidavit to that effect
with the secretary of state designating the location of the office and shall otherwise comply
with the requirements for maintaining a dual commission as provided for in this Section.
F. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is
validly appointed notary public in and for any of the parishes of Tangipahoa, Livingston, or
St. Helena is hereby authorized and deemed eligible and qualified to exercise any and all of
the functions a notary public in the parishes of Tangipahoa, Livingston, and St. Helena.
G. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is
validly appointed notary public in and for any of the parishes of Bienville, Caldwell, East
Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Union, or
West Carroll is hereby authorized and deemed eligible and qualified to exercise any and all
of the functions of a notary public in the parishes of Bienville, Caldwell, East Carroll,
Franklin, Jackson, Lincoln, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Union, or West
Carroll.
H. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is
validly appointed notary public in and for any of the parishes of Caddo, Bossier, Bienville,
DeSoto, Claiborne, or Webster is hereby authorized and deemed eligible and qualified to
exercise any and all of the functions of a notary public in the parishes of Caddo, Bossier,
Bienville, DeSoto, Claiborne, and Webster. No additional bonding or further application or
examination shall be required due to the expanded jurisdictional limits authorized by this
Subsection.
I. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is
validly appointed notary public in and for either of the parishes of Catahoula or Concordia
is hereby authorized and deemed eligible and qualified to exercise any and all of the
functions of a notary public in the parishes of Catahoula and Concordia.
J. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is a
validly appointed notary public in and for either of the parishes of Iberia or St. Mary is
hereby authorized and deemed eligible and qualified to exercise any and all of the functions
of a notary public in the parishes of Iberia and St. Mary.
K. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is
validly appointed notary public in and for any of the parishes of Allen, Beauregard,
Calcasieu, Cameron, Vernon, or Jefferson Davis is hereby authorized and deemed eligible
and qualified to exercise any and all functions of a notary public in the parishes of Allen,
Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Vernon, and Jefferson Davis. No additional bonding or
further application or examination shall be required due to the expanded jurisdictional limits
authorized by this Subsection.
L. Any notary public in and for the parish of Acadia, Lafayette, or Vermilion is
hereby authorized and qualified to exercise all of the functions of a notary public in and for
any of said parishes. No additional bonding or further application or examination shall be
required due to the expanded jurisdictional limits authorized by this Subsection.
M. Any notary public appointed in and for the parish of Iberia or Vermilion is hereby
authorized and qualified to exercise any and all functions of a notary public in both parishes.
No additional bonding or further application or examination shall be required due to the
expanded jurisdictional limits authorized by this Subsection.
N. Any notary public appointed in and for the parish of Ascension, East Baton
Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, West Baton Rouge, or West
Feliciana is hereby authorized and qualified to exercise all of the functions of a notary public
in and for any of said parishes. No additional bonding or further application or examination
shall be required due to the expanded jurisdictional limits authorized by this Subsection.
O. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is
validly appointed notary public in and for any of the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, or St.
Landry is hereby authorized and deemed eligible and qualified to exercise any and all of the
functions of a notary public in the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, and St. Landry. No
additional bonding or further application or examination shall be required due to the
expanded jurisdictional limits authorized by this Subsection.
P.(1)(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary including but not
limited to the provisions of Subsection E of this Section and the duties imposed in that
Subsection as a result of a change in residence, each person who is licensed to practice law
in this state who is a notary public in and for any parish in this state may exercise the
functions of a notary public in every parish in this state.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, each person who is
a validly appointed notary public in and for any parish in this state and who has taken and
passed the written examination, as provided in R.S. 35:191.1 on or after June 13, 2005, may
exercise the functions of a notary public in every parish in this state.
(c) The expanded jurisdictional limits authorized by this Subsection are additional
to other provisions of law. No additional bonding or further application or examination shall
be required due to the expanded jurisdictional limits authorized by this Subsection.
(2) In order to qualify for the expanded jurisdictional limits authorized by this
Subsection, any regularly commissioned notary public in and for any parish in this state who
is not licensed to practice law in this state and who has not taken and passed the written
examination as provided in R.S. 35:191.1 on or after June 13, 2005, may take the
examination provided that he register directly with the secretary of state on a form provided
for that purpose and pay the examination fee authorized by law no later than forty-five days
before the date of a scheduled examination. Failure of such notary to pass the examination
shall have no effect on the status of the commission of the notary.
Q. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is
validly appointed notary public in and for either of the parishes of Lafayette or St. Landry is
hereby authorized and qualified to exercise all of the functions of a notary public in and for
both parishes. No additional bonding or further application or examination shall be required
due to the expanded jurisdictional limits authorized by this Subsection.
R. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is a
validly appointed notary public in and for any of the parishes of Iberia, St. Martin, or St.
Mary is hereby authorized and deemed eligible and qualified to exercise any and all of the
functions of a notary public in the parishes of Iberia, St. Martin, and St. Mary. No additional
bonding or further application or examination shall be required due to the expanded
jurisdictional limits authorized by this Subsection.
S. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is a
validly appointed notary public in and for the parish of Sabine, Natchitoches, Red River,
Bienville, Winn, or Vernon is hereby authorized and deemed eligible and qualified to
exercise any and all of the functions of a notary public in the parish of Sabine, Natchitoches,
Red River, Bienville, Winn, or Vernon. No additional bonding or further application or
examination shall be required due to the expanded jurisdictional limits authorized by this
Subsection.
T. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is a
validly appointed notary public in and for any of the parishes of Avoyelles, Grant, or Rapides
is hereby authorized and deemed eligible and qualified to exercise any and all of the
functions of a notary public in the parishes of Avoyelles, Grant, and Rapides. No additional
bonding or further application or examination shall be required due to the expanded
jurisdictional limits authorized by this Subsection.
U. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is
validly appointed notary public in and for the parish of St. Mary, the parish of Assumption,
the parish of Lafourche, or the parish of Terrebonne is hereby authorized and deemed eligible
and qualified to exercise any and all of the functions of notary in the parishes of St. Mary,
Assumption, Lafourche, and Terrebonne.
V. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any person who is
validly appointed notary public in and for the parish of St. Martin or the parish of St. Landry
is hereby authorized and deemed eligible and qualified to exercise any and all of the
functions of a notary public in the parishes of St. Martin and St. Landry. No additional
bonding or further application or examination shall be required because of the expanded
jurisdictional limits authorized by this Subsection.
W. Repealed by Acts 2019, No. 9, §2, eff. May 24, 2019.