CHAPTER 2. BONDS OF NOTARIES PUBLIC GENERALLY

§71. Requirement of bond or insurance; suspension of notarial commissions; renewal of bonds or insurance; penalty

A.(1) Unless otherwise provided by law, the authority of a notary public to exercise any of the functions of a notary public within his jurisdictional limits shall remain in effect, provided that the notary posts and maintains bond, with good and solvent security, in the amount of ten thousand dollars conditioned on the faithful performance of all duties required by law toward all persons who may employ him in his official capacity as notary public, or that the notary maintains a minimum of ten thousand dollars in errors and omissions insurance coverage.

(2) The provisions of this Section shall not be applicable to notarial bonds which are currently valid and enforceable until such bonds expire and are required to be renewed.

B. All notaries required to post bond, or required to maintain insurance coverage in lieu of posting bond in accordance with this Section, shall file their bond or evidence of current insurance coverage with the secretary of state, and shall maintain on file with the secretary of state their bond or evidence of current insurance coverage at all times.

C. Any court of competent jurisdiction may suspend the commission of any notary for failure to pay over money entrusted to him in his official capacity as a notary public, for failure to satisfy any final judgment rendered against him in such capacity, or for other just cause.

D.(1) All notaries shall renew their bonds every five years except those notaries who are bonded with a personal surety, as provided in R.S. 35:75. Notaries with a personal surety bond shall renew their bonds upon the death of the personal surety in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter.

(2) All notaries required to renew their bonds shall file the new or renewed bond or evidence of current insurance coverage with the secretary of state as provided in Subsection B of this Section.

E. The commission of any qualified notary, other than a licensed attorney at law, who fails to renew his notarial bond timely or who fails to timely file his new or renewed bond or evidence of insurance coverage, as provided in Paragraph (D)(2) of this Section, shall be automatically suspended, and the notary shall have no authority to exercise any of the functions of a notary public until the required bond or insurance is in force and effect, and the bond or evidence of insurance has been filed with the secretary of state.

F. The secretary of state shall be authorized to promulgate rules and regulations, where necessary, for implementation of this Section, in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act.1

Acts 1989, No. 769, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 1990; Acts 2004, No. 562, §1; Acts 2006, No. 796, §1.

1R.S. 49:950 et seq.