How to Become a Remote Online Notary in Louisiana (2026)

Overview

Louisiana notary commissions are permanent for life once granted – not 4-year or 6-year terms like other states. But getting the commission requires passing one of the most difficult notary exams in the country. Once commissioned, adding RON authorization involves completing approved training, submitting a registration application to the Secretary of State, and contracting with an approved technology platform. The $25 application fee is standard, and processing takes 3-4 weeks.

Louisiana’s Civil Law Notary System: What Makes It Different

Louisiana’s notary public system differs from every other state in the country:

• Civil law jurisdiction – Louisiana law derives from the Napoleonic Code (French and Spanish civil law), not English common law like the other 49 states
• Broader notarial powers – Louisiana notaries can draft and authenticate authentic acts (the equivalent of notarized contracts that have full evidentiary weight without further proof), not just witness signatures
• Permanent commission – a Louisiana notary commission is for life once granted; there are no 4-year renewal cycles
• Difficult exam – passing the Louisiana notary exam is a significant undertaking; it covers property law, successions, donations, contracts, and other substantive civil law topics at a level comparable to a bar exam component
• Parish-level notarial district – notary commissions are issued for a specific parish, though most commissioned notaries can operate statewide

Louisiana RON Act 253 of 2020: What the Law Requires

Louisiana’s RON requirements under Act 253:

• Active Louisiana notary commission as a prerequisite
• Completion of an approved RON training course
• Registration application submitted to the Louisiana Secretary of State
• Contract with a Secretary of State-approved RON technology platform
• Two-way real-time audio-visual communication for every remote session
• Identity verification using credential analysis and/or KBA
• Electronic journal entry required per notarial act
• Audio-visual recording of sessions retained per state requirements
• Fee schedule compliance – Louisiana sets maximum fees for notarial acts including remote notarizations

Louisiana RON Fees: The State Fee Schedule

Louisiana is one of the few states that regulates the maximum fees notaries can charge for notarial acts. When performing remote notarizations, you must comply with the Louisiana Secretary of State’s fee schedule. This means you cannot simply charge what the market will bear – there are state-imposed maximums. Before setting your rates for RON services, review the current fee schedule at sos.la.gov/NotaryAndCertifications. This is a compliance requirement specific to Louisiana not found in most other RON states.

Approved Louisiana RON Technology Platforms

Louisiana maintains a list of approved RON technology platforms. You must contract with a platform from this list. Platforms that have been approved for Louisiana RON include:

• Notarize (Proof) – high consumer session volume
• NotaryLive – strong notary scheduling and UX
• DocVerify – enterprise and financial document workflows
• SIGNiX – mortgage and title integrations
• Pavaso – real estate and mortgage document focus

Verify the current Louisiana-approved platform list at sos.la.gov before contracting. Include your chosen platform in the registration application.

Louisiana’s Permanent Commission: What It Means for RON

A Louisiana notary commission does not expire. Once granted, it is yours for life unless revoked. For RON purposes, this means:

• No concern about commission renewal affecting RON authorization
• However, RON registration itself may have renewal or update requirements separate from the commission
• If your commission is ever suspended or revoked, RON authorization is also terminated
• Verify with the Secretary of State whether the RON registration has its own renewal cycle separate from the lifetime commission

What Louisiana RON Notaries Can Notarize

Louisiana RON covers acknowledgments, oaths and affirmations, jurats, and signature witnessing performed remotely. Louisiana’s broader civil law notarial framework means some authentic act types may have additional requirements for remote performance. High-volume remote areas:

• Real estate and mortgage documents – Louisiana’s residential and commercial property markets
• Legal documents – powers of attorney, affidavits, succession documents
• Business and corporate documents – Louisiana’s energy, maritime, and healthcare sectors
• Out-of-state signers – Louisiana RON notaries can serve signers anywhere nationally

Common Mistakes Louisiana RON Notaries Make

• Charging fees above Louisiana’s state-mandated maximum fee schedule
• Using a platform not on Louisiana’s current approved list
• Performing remote sessions before receiving SoS registration confirmation
• Assuming all authentic act types available in person can be performed remotely without additional review
• Not retaining audio-visual recordings per Louisiana’s requirements

Before You Start

Louisiana RON requires SoS registration before any remote session. Complete approved training, submit the complete registration with platform information and training proof, pay the $25 fee, and wait for written confirmation. Review the Louisiana fee schedule before setting rates. Official reference: Louisiana Secretary of State – Notary and Certifications.

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