Does a Louisiana power of attorney need witnesses?

Two witnesses plus the notary for an authentic act, which is the form every institution expects. The mandatary (agent); Anyone who is a party to the act may not witness.

Power of attorney guide

Power of Attorney in Louisiana

Louisiana law presumes a notarized signature is genuine rather than requiring a notary outright, but every bank and recorder treats notarization as required. Louisiana publishes a statutory form (La. Civ. Code art. 2993 (form), art. 2996–2997 (express authority)). An online notarization performed under another state's law is recognized in Louisiana.

Online notarization for Louisiana signers

Louisiana power of attorney at a glance

Notary

Recommended (required to record)

Witnesses

2 witnesses

Online notarization

Accepted

Statutory form

La. Civ. Code art. 2993 (form), art. 2996–2997 (express authority)

Financial (property) power of attorney under La. Civ. Code art. 2989–3034. Health-care documents follow their own rule: see below. Checked 2026-10-17.

The Louisiana statutory form

No statutory form : La. Civ. Code art. 2993 (form), art. 2996–2997 (express authority). Louisiana calls the document a mandate or procuration; the agent is the mandatary.

The statutory form is the one banks and recorders in Louisiana see most often, and the one the statute requires third parties to accept when it is properly signed. A lawyer-drafted power of attorney is equally valid if it is executed the same way.

How to sign a power of attorney in Louisiana

A mandate may be in any form (art. 2993), but a mandate to do an act that must be in authentic form, selling or mortgaging immovable property, donating, must itself be an authentic act, signed before a notary and two witnesses. Banks and the recorder expect an authentic act for every power of attorney.

Two witnesses plus the notary for an authentic act, which is the form every institution expects.

Who may not witness

The mandatary (agent)
Anyone who is a party to the act

Online notarization in Louisiana

Louisiana recognizes acknowledgments taken before a notary of another state (La. R.S. 35:5) and has run its own remote online notarization since 2022.

Rush Notary’s notaries are commissioned online notaries public in Florida and notarize for Louisiana signers over live video under Florida’s remote online notarization law. The certificate they complete is a Florida certificate; Louisiana honors it under the recognition rule above. Your witnesses can join the same session from anywhere in the United States. Details for this state are on the Louisiana online notarization requirements page.

Using it for real estate

A mandate used to convey or mortgage immovable property must be in authentic form and filed with the parish clerk of court (La. Civ. Code art. 2993, La. R.S. 35:11).

Title companies also ask the agent to sign an affidavit at closing that the principal is alive and the power has not been revoked, and lenders review the document before closing. See the real estate power of attorney page.

Medical power of attorney in Louisiana

A Louisiana medical power of attorney or declaration (La. R.S. 40:1151.4) must be signed before two adult witnesses; a notary is not required.

What a health-care agent can decide, and how the document differs from a living will, is on the medical power of attorney page.

Revoking a Louisiana power of attorney

Revoke by a writing delivered to the mandatary and record it where the original was filed; third parties are protected until they learn of the revocation (art. 3028–3029).

Louisiana power of attorney forms we index

Government forms in Louisiana that are powers of attorney: limited powers for permits, zoning and tax matters, and state-agency forms, each with the issuing office, the notary requirement and the PDF.

City and county forms

Tax Power of Attorney (1 place)

Every Louisiana form that needs a notary, A–Z →

Louisiana power of attorney questions

Does a power of attorney need to be notarized in Louisiana?: A mandate may be in any form (art. 2993), but a mandate to do an act that must be in authentic form, selling or mortgaging immovable property, donating, must itself be an authentic act, signed before a notary and two witnesses. Banks and the recorder expect an authentic act for every power of attorney.
Does a Louisiana power of attorney need witnesses?: Two witnesses plus the notary for an authentic act, which is the form every institution expects. The mandatary (agent); Anyone who is a party to the act may not witness.
Can a Louisiana power of attorney be notarized online?: Louisiana recognizes acknowledgments taken before a notary of another state (La. R.S. 35:5) and has run its own remote online notarization since 2022.
Is there an official Louisiana power of attorney form?: Yes, the No statutory form (La. Civ. Code art. 2993 (form), art. 2996–2997 (express authority)). Louisiana calls the document a mandate or procuration; the agent is the mandatary.
Does a power of attorney have to be recorded in Louisiana?: Only when it is used to sign a deed, mortgage or other recorded instrument. A mandate used to convey or mortgage immovable property must be in authentic form and filed with the parish clerk of court (La. Civ. Code art. 2993, La. R.S. 35:11).
How is a medical power of attorney signed in Louisiana?: A Louisiana medical power of attorney or declaration (La. R.S. 40:1151.4) must be signed before two adult witnesses; a notary is not required.

Notarize a power of attorney online

Louisiana signers can notarize a power of attorney online from home. Upload the document, verify your ID, and sign on video with a commissioned online notary in about 15 minutes. Witnesses, where your state requires them, can join the same session.

Types of power of attorney

Durable power of attorney

Stays in force if you later lose capacity. The standard choice for long-term planning.

Medical power of attorney

Names someone to make health care decisions when you cannot. Witness rules vary by state.

Limited power of attorney

Authority for one task or one period: a closing, a permit, a vehicle sale, a trip abroad.

Financial power of attorney

Banking, bills, investments, taxes and property. Usually durable; usually on the state's statutory form.

Springing power of attorney

Takes effect only when a stated event happens: usually a doctor's finding of incapacity.

Vehicle power of attorney

Lets someone title, register or sell a car for you. Most DMVs publish their own notarized form.

Real estate power of attorney

To buy, sell, mortgage or manage property. Must be notarized and is recorded with the deed.

Power of attorney for a minor child

Lets a grandparent, relative or friend care for your child and deal with schools and doctors while you are away.

Power of attorney for vital records

Lets an agent request a birth, death or marriage certificate for you where the state allows it.

Sources

La. Civ. Code art. 2989 et seq. (Representation and Mandate)

General information about how powers of attorney are signed, not legal advice. Execution rules are set by each state’s statute and change; the sources on each state page link to the current text. Whether a particular bank, recorder, agency or title company accepts a document is its own decision. Confirm with the receiving party before signing. Rush Notary’s notaries are commissioned online notaries public in Florida who notarize for signers in every state under Florida’s remote online notarization law; see the online notarization requirements for your state.

Notarize a Louisiana power of attorney online

Upload the document, verify your ID, and sign with a commissioned online notary in about 15 minutes, witnesses can join the same session.