Yes, online notarization is legal in Louisiana. The Remote Online Notarization Act, in effect since February 1, 2022, lets commissioned Louisiana notaries who register with the Secretary of State notarize by video while physically in Louisiana, for signers in or outside the state. Louisiana sets no fee schedule, so online notary prices vary.
Is online notarization legal in Louisiana?
Yes. Louisiana’s Remote Online Notarization Act, found at R.S. 35:621 and following, authorizes notaries to perform remote online notarial acts. The Secretary of State began allowing notaries to register for it on February 1, 2022. A compliant remote act satisfies the requirement that a party appear before a notary when an instrument is executed.
The Secretary of State’s RON page says that, because of the Act, Louisiana began allowing notaries to register for remote online notarization on February 1, 2022 (Louisiana Secretary of State). The bill provides for the legal effect of remote online notarization in R.S. 35:623 (Louisiana Legislature, HB 274), and a notary’s page quoting the statute says a remote online notarial act meeting the requirements of R.S. 35:625 through 627 satisfies any requirement that a party appears before a notary at the time of execution, while in other respects the act must still comply with the other laws governing how it is executed (Notary Public NOLA). A summary of the bill says R.S. 35:626 provides for the locations of the notary, parties and witnesses, and R.S. 35:627 sets how the notary verifies identity (Louisiana Legislature digest).
Where you can be matters. The statute lets a notary physically located in a parish where the notary may act perform a remote online notarization for a party who is not in the notary’s physical presence and who may be in or outside Louisiana (NNA U.S. Notary Reference). A Louisiana attorney’s summary adds that a witness to the remote act must be physically present with the party (Stephen Babcock).
How does a remote online notary work in Louisiana?
You upload an unsigned document, verify your identity, meet a Louisiana-commissioned notary on live video, sign while the notary watches, and receive the sealed file. The notary must be in Louisiana and registered for remote notarization, and the notarial act must state that it is a remote online notarial act.
1. Prepare the document as a PDF, complete and unsigned.
2. Confirm that the person or office receiving it accepts online notarization.
3. Upload the document, choose Notarize Now or schedule, and verify your identity.
4. Join the live video session and show your ID to the notary.
5. Sign while the notary watches; the notary completes the act, signs it electronically, and applies the seal.
6. Download the sealed copy and send it as delivered.
The Louisiana Legislature’s digest says the notary must include a statement that the act is a remote online notarial act and must electronically and digitally sign it, and that the notary must keep electronic copies and records, with the option to designate a custodian (Louisiana Legislature digest). A law firm summary adds that the digital signature must make later changes evident (Stephen Babcock).
On BlueNotary, the steps follow its signer instructions, last updated July 14, 2026, and its identity guide lists a driver’s license, REAL ID or state ID, passport card, passport book, and permanent resident card as accepted options, with KBA or a biometric scan and a passport book plus biometrics for non-U.S. citizens. For a full walkthrough, see BlueNotary’s guide to how online notarization works.
How much does an online notary in Louisiana cost?
Louisiana does not set a fee schedule for notaries, so the online notary price depends on the notary or platform. The National Notary Association lists no set fee in Louisiana for acknowledgments, jurats, oaths, or remote acts. That makes comparing quotes important, since nothing in state law limits the amount.
| Option | Fee rule in Louisiana | What to expect |
| In-person notary | No statutory fee schedule | Set by the notary; ask for the fee before the act |
| Remote online notary | No set fee for remote acts | Set by the notary or platform; compare quotes |
| Mobile notary | Notaries set their own travel fees | Ask for an itemized quote |
| BlueNotary, one signer, one stamp | $25 | Published rate, checked October 2026 |
| BlueNotary extras | $8 per extra stamp, $5 per extra signer | Witness free if you bring one, $10 if BlueNotary provides one |
The NNA’s state fee chart shows Louisiana as having no set fee across all categories, including remote, and lists Louisiana among states where notaries set their own travel fees (National Notary Association). BlueNotary’s rates are on its fee schedule.
A two-signer document with one stamp would be $30. Businesses that notarize often can see plans on the pricing page. Because there is no cap, ask any provider what its online notary price includes before you pay.
What must a Louisiana notary do to offer remote notarization?
A Louisiana notary must hold a current commission, live in Louisiana, complete the Secretary of State’s instruction course and quiz, choose a remote notarization technology provider, register with the Secretary of State, and pay a one-time $100 filing fee. These duties belong to the notary, not to you as the signer.
| Step | What the Secretary of State requires |
| Eligibility | A duly commissioned notary residing in Louisiana with a current commission |
| Course | Complete an online instruction course and pass a quiz; keep the certificate |
| Technology | Choose a remote notary technology provider, optionally from the Secretary of State’s list of providers |
| Registration | Complete RON registration through the notary’s online account and upload the certificate |
| Fee | A one-time $100 filing fee, unrelated to the provider’s own charges |
| Approval | The notary’s record is updated to show authorization once approved |
These steps come from the Secretary of State’s RON requirements. The authority lasts as long as the notary is validly commissioned and the Secretary of State has not revoked it (Louisiana Legislature, HB 274). When you choose an online notary public, ask whether the notary is RON-authorized and which provider is used, and ask how you can confirm the authorization.
What can be notarized online in Louisiana, and what needs extra care?
Most documents in PDF form can be notarized online, subject to what the receiving party accepts. Louisiana’s civil-law notaries have broader powers than notaries elsewhere, and some documents, such as wills, have special formalities and need an attorney. Witness requirements also matter, because a witness must be physically with the party.
Louisiana’s Civil Code requires a notarial testament to be executed in the presence of a notary and two competent witnesses (La. C.C. art. 1577), so do not assume a will can be completed remotely. BlueNotary’s help center says it can accept most documents, excluding those submitted to a foreign embassy, codicils and testamentary trusts, and Form I-9, and that acceptance is up to the receiving party.
• Good fits: business agreements, personal agreements, affidavits, and many powers of attorney.
• Check first: real estate documents, court filings, and anything needing witnesses.
• Ask an attorney: wills, estate planning documents, and any authentic act.
When is an in-person notary better in Louisiana?
In-person is often better when witnesses must be in the room, when the notary will draft or advise as part of the transaction, or when a recipient requires wet ink. Because Louisiana notaries can charge what they choose, local rates can also be lower, so compare.
| Your situation in Louisiana | Better first choice |
| After hours, a weekend, or you cannot travel | Online notary by video |
| Signers in different cities or states | Online notary; each signer joins from their own device |
| Documents that need witnesses present | In-person, or a remote act with witnesses physically with you |
| Will or other authentic act | In-person with an attorney |
| Recipient requires wet ink or a stamped paper original | In-person notary |
If you only need a signature and no notary, BlueNotary’s eSign may be enough. See the remote online notarization page for how BlueNotary’s service works.
Document ready to sign? Notarize Online in Louisiana with BlueNotary after you confirm the receiving party accepts it.
FAQs
1. Is a remote online notary the same as an online notary?
In practice, yes. Louisiana’s law uses the term remote online notarization for a notarial act performed through communication technology that allows simultaneous sight and sound.
2. Does the notary have to be in Louisiana?
Yes. The notary must be physically located in a parish where the notary is authorized to act. The signer may be in or outside the state.
3. What is the most an online notary can charge in Louisiana?
Louisiana has no statutory fee schedule, and the National Notary Association lists no set fee, including for remote acts. Ask for the fee before the session.
4. When did remote online notarization start in Louisiana?
Notaries could register for it beginning February 1, 2022, under the Remote Online Notarization Act, R.S. 35:621 and following.
5. Can my witness join by video?
According to a Louisiana attorney’s summary, a witness to a remote online act must be physically present with the party. Confirm the rule for your document.
6. Will the other party accept an online notarization?
Often, but not always. Courts, lenders, agencies, and some recipients set their own rules, so confirm before you book.
