Louisiana notary exam practice questions

New to the process? Start with how to become a notary in Louisiana.

1. What score passes the Louisiana notary exam?

   1. 80% of items correct, averaged across both parts of the two-day exam
   2. 75% of items correct, subject to post-test statistical adjustment
   3. 70% of items correct, with no adjustment after the test
   4. 90% of items correct in each section of the exam
   Show the answer

   B. 75% of items correct, subject to post-test statistical adjustment

   Secretary of State exam page.

   Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, Get Exam Information page (sos.la.gov)

2. How long is the Louisiana notary exam?

   1. 90 minutes
   2. Three hours over two days
   3. Two hours
   4. One five-hour sitting
   Show the answer

   D. One five-hour sitting

   Secretary of State exam page.

   Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, Get Exam Information page (sos.la.gov)

3. Which reference may an examinee bring into the exam room?

   1. Only the 2025 edition of Fundamentals of Louisiana Notarial Law and Practice
   2. The Louisiana Civil Code and Title 35 of the Revised Statutes, as long as unmarked
   3. Any Louisiana notary handbook published within the last five years
   4. Personal study notes, as long as they are typed and fit on ten pages
   Show the answer

   A. Only the 2025 edition of Fundamentals of Louisiana Notarial Law and Practice

   Secretary of State exam page; any other reference counts as cheating.

   Source: Louisiana Secretary of State, Get Exam Information page (sos.la.gov)

4. Who appoints Louisiana notaries?

   1. The governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate
   2. The Secretary of State alone, without review
   3. The parish clerk of court in the parish where the notary lives
   4. The Louisiana Supreme Court, after the exam
   Show the answer

   A. The governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate

   La. R.S. 35:1.

   Source: La. R.S. 35:1 (legis.la.gov)

5. What is the minimum age to be appointed a Louisiana notary?

   1. 18
   2. 19
   3. 21
   4. 25
   Show the answer

   A. 18

   La. R.S. 35:191(A)(1)(b).

   Source: La. R.S. 35:191 (legis.la.gov)

6. Which residence status qualifies?

   1. A resident citizen or alien of Louisiana
   2. Ownership of real property in Louisiana
   3. A U.S. citizen only, living anywhere
   4. Five years of residence in the parish
   Show the answer

   A. A resident citizen or alien of Louisiana

   La. R.S. 35:191(A)(1)(a).

   Source: La. R.S. 35:191 (legis.la.gov)

7. Which notaries may act in every Louisiana parish?

   1. Only notaries with 20 years of continuous service, whether or not they passed the exam
   2. Louisiana-licensed attorneys and notaries who passed the exam on or after June 13, 2005
   3. Only notaries appointed in Orleans Parish, where the state notarial archives are kept
   4. All notaries, in every parish, from the date of their first appointment by the governor
   Show the answer

   B. Louisiana-licensed attorneys and notaries who passed the exam on or after June 13, 2005

   La. R.S. 35:191(P)(1).

   Source: La. R.S. 35:191 (legis.la.gov)

8. A notary appointed in Jefferson Parish may also act in which parish under R.S. 35:191(D)?

   1. Ouachita
   2. Natchitoches
   3. Lafayette
   4. Plaquemines
   Show the answer

   D. Plaquemines

   R.S. 35:191(D): Orleans, St. Bernard, Plaquemines and Jefferson.

   Source: La. R.S. 35:191 (legis.la.gov)

9. A notary appointed in Tangipahoa Parish may also act in:

   1. Iberia and St. Mary
   2. Caddo and Bossier
   3. Livingston and St. Helena
   4. Orleans and Jefferson
   Show the answer

   C. Livingston and St. Helena

   La. R.S. 35:191(F).

   Source: La. R.S. 35:191 (legis.la.gov)

10. Under R.S. 35:2(A)(1), which act may a notary do within the notary's parish?

    1. Make inventories, appraisements and partitions
    2. Probate wills and testaments for small estates
    3. Issue marriage licenses in the parish
    4. Grant uncontested divorces between consenting spouses
    Show the answer

    A. Make inventories, appraisements and partitions

    La. R.S. 35:2(A)(1)(a).

    Source: La. R.S. 35:2 (legis.la.gov)

11. Which meetings may a Louisiana notary hold within the parish?

    1. Jury deliberations in civil cases
    2. Shareholder elections and proxy votes
    3. City council and parish council sessions
    4. Family meetings and meetings of creditors
    Show the answer

    D. Family meetings and meetings of creditors

    La. R.S. 35:2(A)(1)(c).

    Source: La. R.S. 35:2 (legis.la.gov)

12. Which documents may a Louisiana notary receive?

    1. Birth certificates, death certificates and other vital records
    2. Driver's licenses and vehicle titles
    3. Court judgments and orders of dismissal
    4. Wills, protests, marriage contracts and conveyances
    Show the answer

    D. Wills, protests, marriage contracts and conveyances

    La. R.S. 35:2(A)(1)(b).

    Source: La. R.S. 35:2 (legis.la.gov)

13. An authentic act is a writing executed before a notary and how many witnesses?

    1. Three
    2. Two
    3. None
    4. One
    Show the answer

    B. Two

    La. Civil Code art. 1833(A).

    Source: La. Civil Code art. 1833 (legis.la.gov)

14. Who must sign an authentic act?

    1. Only the notary, after the parties agree
    2. Only the parties, not the witnesses
    3. Each party, each witness and each notary
    4. Only the witnesses and the notary
    Show the answer

    C. Each party, each witness and each notary

    La. Civil Code art. 1833(A).

    Source: La. Civil Code art. 1833 (legis.la.gov)

15. Must all parties to an authentic act sign at the same time and place?

    1. No; it need not be executed at one time or place
    2. Only in the notary's office, at one sitting
    3. Yes, always, in the notary's presence
    4. Only for real estate, which needs one signing session
    Show the answer

    A. No; it need not be executed at one time or place

    La. Civil Code art. 1833(B).

    Source: La. Civil Code art. 1833 (legis.la.gov)

16. What bond must a Louisiana notary keep, effective February 1, 2026?

    1. $50,000
    2. $25,000
    3. $5,000
    4. $10,000
    Show the answer

    A. $50,000

    La. R.S. 35:71(A), as amended by Acts 2025, No. 258.

    Source: La. R.S. 35:71 (legis.la.gov)

17. Before the 2025 amendment, the required notary bond was:

    1. $5,000
    2. $50,000
    3. $10,000
    4. $25,000
    Show the answer

    C. $10,000

    LSLI 2025 disposition sheet for R.S. 35:71(A).

    Source: Louisiana State Law Institute, 2025 Title 35 acts disposition sheet (lsli.org)

18. Which 2025 act raised the Louisiana notary bond?

    1. Act 610
    2. Act 258
    3. Act 40
    4. Act 145
    Show the answer

    B. Act 258

    LSLI 2025 disposition sheet; La. R.S. 35:71 history.

    Source: Louisiana State Law Institute, 2025 Title 35 acts disposition sheet (lsli.org)

19. Which instrument may NOT be executed by remote online notarization in Louisiana?

    1. A bill of sale for a car
    2. A residential lease
    3. A testament (will) or codicil
    4. An affidavit for an insurer
    Show the answer

    C. A testament (will) or codicil

    La. R.S. 35:623(B).

    Source: La. R.S. 35:623 (legis.la.gov)

20. Which is also excluded from remote online notarization?

    1. A residential lease
    2. A car title affidavit
    3. An employment affidavit
    4. An inter vivos donation
    Show the answer

    D. An inter vivos donation

    La. R.S. 35:623(B).

    Source: La. R.S. 35:623 (legis.la.gov)

Unofficial practice questions written from the public sources named under each answer. They are not the state's exam, are not affiliated with the State of Louisiana, and are not legal advice. Rules change, so check the commissioning office's current materials.