Louisiana
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A Louisiana notary public is an individual appointed by the state of Louisiana to oversee the signing of important documents. Notaries act as an impartial witness to the signings of papers such as affidavits, deeds, powers of attorney and other business documents. Some individuals request the service of notaries to protect private documents from accusations of fraud. Louisiana notaries also have the authority to execute civil law documents, unlike notaries in other U.S. states.

Job Duties

The primary responsibility of a notary is to act as a witness in the execution of documents. Generally, a notary will ask an individual for picture identification such as a driver's license or passport before she can legally notarize a document. Notaries also sometimes take affidavits, protest bills of exchange, prepare protests in cases of damage, provide notarial copies and provide notice of foreign drafts.

Louisiana Notaries

Louisiana is the only state to appoint its notaries for life. Most notaries in the United States follow common law, but notaries in Louisiana follow civil law, which allows them to prepare and notarize those documents and acts that in most states are reserved for licensed lawyers. Although Louisiana notaries cannot represent clients in court, they can draw up civil law documents such as wills, marriage contracts, protests, partnership agreements and partitions of property.

Finding a Notary

Louisiana notaries can be found in several places, including public banks, courthouses, public schools and city halls. Some law offices, insurance companies and private businesses will also offer notary services. There are a few drug stores and pharmacies that keep notaries public as employees to provide a convenience to their customers. The Louisiana Notary Association offers a search page for state residents looking for the most convenient location to have documents notarized.

Becoming a Notary

Any citizen who is at least 18 years old and is registered to vote in the state of Louisiana is eligible to become a Louisiana notary. Interested individuals must submit a notary application to a local parish committee for approval and then forward it on to the secretary of state along with a $75 fee. The next step is to pass a notary examination, which is offered twice a year in Louisiana.

Notary Training

Various organizations, such as the National Notary Association, offer online training sessions for individuals who wish to become notaries or for current notaries who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills. Individuals can register for courses to learn how to avoid common notary mistakes, how to understand complex notary law or how to handle difficult documents. Some schools, such as Louisiana State University at Shreveport, also offer courses to prepare individuals to sit for the notary public examination.

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