Deed Recording Requirements in Louisiana
In Louisiana a transfer of immovable property is made by authentic act (signed before a notary and two witnesses) or by an act under private signature, which is normally acknowledged before a notary in the presence of two witnesses, and it affects third persons only once filed in the parish conveyance records.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
Louisiana at a glance
- Notary acknowledgment
- Required to record
- Witnesses
- 2 witnesses
The rules in Louisiana
Does a deed need to be notarized in Louisiana?
Louisiana requires a deed to be acknowledged (or, where the statute allows, proved) before it can be recorded.
How many witnesses does a deed need in Louisiana?
Louisiana requires two witnesses on a deed.
Where do the Louisiana rules for deeds come from?
They come from La. Civil Code art. 1839, Transfer of immovable property, La. Civil Code art. 1833, Authentic act and La. Civil Code art. 1836, Act under private signature duly acknowledged. We last checked them in October 2026. Laws change, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
What this means in practice
Record the signed deed with the county recorder, register of deeds or land records office where the property is located. Recording puts the world on notice of the transfer and generally protects the new owner against later claims.
Recording offices often have formatting rules (margins, paper size, a return address, a parcel number) and charge a fee. Check the county's requirements before you sign.
A deed does not pay off a mortgage. If the property is mortgaged, the loan usually stays in place after the transfer.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.