WELCOME to all of our members...We also extend a helping hand to our “students” and new members.

WHERE HAVE WE BEEN?
In 1999 this organization began as a vision of our founder, Tim Estes, who became a notary in 1995 and soon found that more education was needed to know how the practice worked in the real world. To do this, it was realized that Civil Law Notaries are public officials (not public servants), appointed by the Governor for life, and that the oversight rests with the Secretary of State and the District Judges. In the hierarchy of Notaries Tim saw little effort to bring about a higher degree of purity to the notary practice. She, with the help of her husband, Jim Estes, also a notary, pulled together a group of notaries who shared her desire to become better by voluntary continuing education.. THUS PCLNA was born. There were many others who saw the need to educate past the passing of the Notary Exam.

WHERE ARE WE NOW?
We have fought and won good things for the practice of notary in our state as well as our group here in North Louisiana. We have rallied as an organization to support the legislators in Baton Rouge to pass some good laws and to kill some bad legislation which was presented .

WHERE ARE WE GOING?
Do we dare to glimpse forward? Because without a vision a people perish. We can never rest and think we have it made because of past achievements. We have ONE GOAL and ONE PURPOSE and that is to contact all area notaries and bring them together with a common bond to strengthen our profession. It was the intent to give these notaries contact with other notaries who can share, give strength to the body, to engage teachers and speakers at the local levels with information about changes and to enhance knowledge both in form and substance related to our duties..all for the good of the membership. This has been done and will continue as we grow. There are many notaries coming in after each new class, and many who have been around for a while…to review and to learn more about the laws and the changes in the law. WE MEET MONTHLY to further this endeavor….

WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
The Notary shall, as a government official, serve all of the public in an honest, fair and unbiased manner. The Notary shall act as an impartial witness. La. Law requires 2 witnesses on most documents , such as Bill of Sale, car titles, authentic acts, acts of donation, wills , POAs and other legal documents....Neither can be the Notary. The Notary shall require the presence of each signer and oath-taker in order to carefully screen each for identity and willingness, and to observe that each appears aware of the significance of the transaction requiring a notarial act. Louisiana does not require a seal ,but the document may go across state lines which do require a seal therefore it is prudent to afix a seal. The Notary shall seek instruction on notarization, and keep current on the laws, practices and requirements of the notary office., and to develop and promote notarial procedures that deter impropriety, injustice and fraud.

AND TO PRESERVE AND CULTIVATE APPRECIATION FOR THE RICH

HERITAGE AND TRADITION OF THE CIVIL LAW NOTARY PUBLIC