CHAPTER 4. APPOINTMENT, QUALIFICATIONS,

AND BONDS OF NOTARIES

§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            (3)(a) A valid notarial commission shall be one that has not been revoked or resigned, and that was issued to a person who, at the time of issuance in accordance with the provisions of this Section, possessed the qualifications for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 insurance, 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. Repealed by Acts 2019, No. 9, §2, eff. May 24, 2019.

            W. Repealed by Acts 2019, No. 9, §2, eff. May 24, 2019.

            Amended by Acts 1992, No. 396, §1; Acts 1992, No. 996, §1; Acts 1995, No. 333, §1; Acts 1995, No. 439, §1; Acts 1995, No. 1028, §§1, 2; Acts 1997, No. 1320, §1; Acts 2003, No. 926, §1; Acts 2003, No. 1142, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2004; Acts 2004, No. 562, §1; Acts 2004, No. 754, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2005; Acts 2005, No. 84, §1; Acts 2006, No. 423, §1, eff. June 15, 2006; Acts 2006, No. 793, §1; Acts 2006, No. 796, §1; Acts 2007, No. 157, §1; Acts 2008, No. 856, §1; Acts 2008, No. 904, §1, eff. July 10, 2008; Acts 2012, No. 279, §1; Acts 2012, No. 492, §1; Acts 2012, No. 829, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013; Acts 2014, No. 610, §1, eff. June 12, 2014; Acts 2015, No. 181, §1; Acts 2018, No. 145, §1, eff. May 15, 2018; Acts 2019, No. 9, §§1, 2, eff. May 24, 2019.