Notary Agent’s Duties
Louisiana Mobile Notaries
A notary’s primary duty is to help prevent fraud on critical legal documents, many of which carry financial implications for the parties involved. Without a notary present, these documents may not be recognized. And in many cases, it can create problematic legal situations.
In general, a Louisiana notary has extensive powers typically seen only by attorneys in other states. Public notaries can prepare and execute acknowledgments, affidavits, and authentic acts. Â
That’s why it’s better to avoid the courts and simply have your document notarized. To do that, you’ll need to find a notary that’s passed the following qualifications:
- A notary must be at least 18
- They must live in Louisiana
- They must be of good character, not having been convicted of a felony
- Louisiana notaries must be a high school graduate
- Finally, they must pass the state notary exam, with no exception to the rule, even for those who were a notary in another state
Once this is in order, the Louisiana Secretary of State will appoint them as a notary for life — which isn’t the case in all states.
Once appointed, a Louisiana notary can administer oaths, take acknowledgments, and notarize documents — as long as they don’t have a conflict of interest. They’re also able to set their own fees, which is another unique element about Louisiana.
Most states require an embossing seal or ink stamp for documents to officially be deemed notarized in the United States. Louisiana is one of the states that does not require the seal and considers a notary’s signature as the official seal.
That being said, having a seal and a signature is still highly recommended.
Remote Online Notarizations (RONs)
Louisiana also allows remote online notarization (RON) for notaries in good public standing who meet the additional educational and state-set requirements. The types of notarizations permitted cover oaths, taking acknowledgments, and executing a jurat.Â
And it is the responsibility of the Louisiana notary to verify the qualifications, fees, technology, and use of any services provided for RON. Other states also recognize any document that is notarized online in Louisiana.
