Louisiana Notary Acknowledgment: Free Fillable Form & 2026 Wording

This content is educational and informational, not legal advice. The wording reflects Louisiana Revised Statutes 35:511 and Civil Code articles 1833 and 1836, but the law can change. Confirm the current form with the Louisiana Secretary of State or a Louisiana notary before relying on it.

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Fillable Louisiana acknowledgment form

Enter the details and the form updates live with the RS 35:511 wording for a natural person. Copy the text or print it, then attach it to your document. This is the acknowledgment of an act under private signature; if your document needs an authentic act, see the two-witness rule below.

What is the exact Louisiana acknowledgment wording?

Louisiana's acknowledgment for a natural person under RS 35:511 uses the traditional "free act and deed" language, opening with a caption that names the state and the parish.

What is the difference between an authentic act and an acknowledgment in Louisiana?

An authentic act is signed before a notary and two witnesses, while an acknowledgment simply confirms a signature already made on an act under private signature. Under Civil Code article 1833, an authentic act requires the notary, two witnesses, and each party to sign, and it constitutes full proof of the agreement. An act under private signature can be acknowledged later under article 1836, before the notary and two witnesses, by recognizing the signature as one's own. This distinction is the heart of Louisiana practice and trips up people from common-law states.

Does a Louisiana acknowledgment use a county?

No, Louisiana uses parishes rather than counties, so the venue reads "State of Louisiana, Parish of ______." Louisiana is the only state that divides itself into parishes, a holdover from its French and Spanish colonial past, and a certificate that says "County of" instead of "Parish of" marks the drafter as an out-of-state hand. The parish named is where the notarial act takes place. Clerks of court record acts in the parish conveyance or mortgage records, so the correct parish matters for recording.

Who commissions notaries in Louisiana?

Louisiana notaries are appointed for life, and their commission does not expire, which is unique among the states. A Louisiana notary is far closer to a civil-law notary than a common-law one: after passing a rigorous exam, a notary can draft and pass authentic acts, contracts, and conveyances, powers that elsewhere belong to attorneys. The notary's signature itself serves as the official seal. Identification must be current or, if expired, issued within the last five years. Some older commissions are limited to a single parish rather than statewide.

When do you need an authentic act instead of an acknowledgment?

You need an authentic act when the law prescribes that form, most notably for transfers of immovable property and certain powers of attorney. Civil Code article 1839 requires a transfer of immovable property to be by authentic act or by act under private signature duly acknowledged, and article 2993 requires a mandate to be in authentic form when it involves immovable property. An act that fails to be authentic, for a defect of form, may still be valid as an act under private signature, but it cannot substitute for an authentic act when the law demands one.

Published June 13, 2026 by the Trámites Notariales US editorial team. Sources: Louisiana Revised Statutes 35:511 and 35:12; Louisiana Civil Code articles 1833, 1836, 1839 and 2993; the Louisiana Secretary of State notary resources. Confirm current wording before relying on it.