Form SS984N, Name Change Form, is the Louisiana Secretary of State Notary Division packet that a commissioned notary files to report a name change. It combines a transmittal page for payment and contact information, a short name change statement, an Oath of Office in the new name and an Official Notarial Signature Form. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the original is published by the Secretary of State at sos.la.gov.
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What is SS984N?
Form SS984N, Name Change Form, is the Louisiana Secretary of State Notary Division form on which a commissioned notary states that his or her name has changed, gives the reason, and files the paperwork that goes with it, including an Oath of Office.
The packet has four parts:
- A Transmittal Information page, headed "For All Notary Filings," which records how the filing fee is paid and who is filing.
- The Name Change Form itself: the notary's current name, the name he or she is currently commissioned as, the new name and the reason or reasons for the change, followed by a signature.
- An Oath of Office (form SS 408N, Oath of Office for Notary Public, prepared and furnished by the Secretary of State), sworn before an official authorized to administer oaths.
- An Official Notarial Signature Form with signature, date and typed or printed name. The form says you may use it or anything similar.
The Secretary of State lists Name Change on its Notary "Get Forms & Fee Schedule" page, next to separate entries such as Replacement Notary Certificate, Replacement ID Card, Commission Documents and Oath of Office. Those are different forms; SS984N is the one for a change of name.
Who needs to file SS984N?
The main group is Louisiana notaries whose name has changed and who need the Notary Division to have the new name on record. The name change statement is written by the notary: it gives the current name, the name he or she is currently commissioned as, the new name and the reason for the change.
The Oath of Office page in the packet covers three kinds of appointment, and you circle the one that applies to you: Notary Public, ExOfficio Notary or Deputy Clerk. A Notary Public enters the parish name; an ex-officio notary or deputy clerk enters the agency name.
The person filing enters his or her own name and contact details on the transmittal page. The form does not describe any representative signing for the notary: the name change statement, the oath and the notarial signature form are all signed by the notary, and the oath is sworn before an official authorized to administer oaths (Governor, Secretary of State, Clerks of Court, Notaries Public, Judges or Justices of the Peace).
The agency lists the Replacement Notary Certificate and the Replacement ID Card as separate forms with their own entries on its forms and fee schedule page.
When to file SS984N
File the packet when your name has changed, because the name change statement says the notary's name "has changed" to the new name. The form prints no deadline for filing the name change itself.
The Oath of Office page does set a timing rule. After the oath is administered, you must file a duplicate Oath of Office with the parish Clerk of Court within one month (in Orleans Parish, with the Clerk of Civil District Court), citing R.S. 42:162. The original oath is filed with the Secretary of State at P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125.
The form gives no processing time. For questions about a pending filing, the transmittal page lists the Notary Division at (225) 922-0507.
Documents you need
- Transmittal Information page (first page of the packet), completed with your payment choice and contact details.
- Check or money order for the filing fee, only if you mark Check or Money Order Enclosed on the transmittal page.
- Last 4 digits of the card on file and your email address, only if you mark Use credit card on file; do not write the full card number on the form.
- Completed Oath of Office, signed by you and sworn before an official authorized to administer oaths, with your residence and office mailing addresses and telephone numbers.
- Official Notarial Signature Form, or anything similar, showing your signature, the date and your name typed or printed.
- Duplicate Oath of Office for the parish Clerk of Court (Clerk of Civil District Court in Orleans Parish), filed within one month after the oath is administered.
How to fill out SS984N
Choose how you will pay
On the Transmittal Information page, mark Check or Money Order Enclosed or Use credit card on file. If you use a card on file, enter only its last 4 digits and do not write the card number on the form.
Enter filer contact details
Fill in Name of Person Filing Document, Address, City, State, Zip Code, Daytime Phone Number, Fax Number and Email Address. The email address helps the office retrieve a stored card.
Complete the name change statement
On the Name Change Form, enter the current name of the notary, the name the notary is currently commissioned as, the new name and the reason or reasons for the change.
Sign the name change statement
Sign on the Signature line beneath the statement.
Fill in the Oath of Office
Enter the parish, then print or type your name. Circle Notary Public, ExOfficio Notary or Deputy Clerk, and enter the parish name (Notary Public) or agency name (ex-officio or deputy clerk). Circle Mr., Ms., Mrs. or Miss.
Sign the oath before an official
Sign the oath in the presence of an official authorized to administer oaths. The official completes the date, signs and prints his or her name, with an I.D. number if applicable.
Provide public-record addresses
Enter your Residence Mailing Address and Telephone and your Office Mailing Address and Telephone. The form says an address and telephone number must be provided for public record.
Complete the notarial signature form
On the Official Notarial Signature Form, sign, enter the date and type or print your name. You may use this form or anything similar.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check names and spelling against your commission, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Assemble the package and submit it through the channels described under How to submit.
How to submit SS984N
The form names the Secretary of State's Notary Division in Baton Rouge as the place to file, and the instructions on the Oath of Office page direct the original to the mailing address.
- By mail: Secretary of State, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125. The Oath of Office page says to file the Oath of Office at this address.
- Physical address: the transmittal page also lists 8585 Archives Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809.
- Duplicate oath, with the parish: file a duplicate Oath of Office with the parish Clerk of Court within one month after the oath is administered. In Orleans Parish, file with the Clerk of Civil District Court.
A filing fee applies. On the transmittal page, mark Check or Money Order Enclosed or Use credit card on file. If you use a card on file, write only its last 4 digits and your email address; never write the card number on the form. To store a card, go to sos.la.gov/notarysignin, create an account if necessary, sign in, click Update Master Account, then Manage Saved Payments. The agency's fee page says credit card payments carry an additional statutory convenience fee. For current amounts see https://www.sos.la.gov/notary/forms-fee-schedule or call (225) 922-0507.
FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Writing the full credit card number on the transmittal page; the form says not to include card information and to give only the last 4 digits of a stored card.
- Marking Use credit card on file without having stored a card in your account at sos.la.gov/notarysignin.
- Filing the Oath of Office only with the Secretary of State and skipping the duplicate for the parish Clerk of Court, due within one month after the oath is administered.
- Sending the duplicate oath in Orleans Parish to the wrong office; it goes to the Clerk of Civil District Court.
- Leaving out the address and telephone number on the oath page; the form states they must be provided for public record.
- Not circling Notary Public, ExOfficio Notary or Deputy Clerk, or not entering the parish name or agency name on the oath.
- Not circling Mr., Ms., Mrs. or Miss next to the oath signature.
- Signing the oath without an authorized official present to administer it and sign beneath "Sworn to and subscribed before me."
Frequently asked questions
How do I do a name change as a Louisiana notary?
Complete Form SS984N: the transmittal page, the Name Change Form, the Oath of Office and the Official Notarial Signature Form. File the original Oath of Office with the Secretary of State at P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125, and pay the fee as the transmittal page directs.
Is there a fee for a notary name change in Louisiana?
Yes. The Secretary of State's forms and fee schedule lists a fee for Name Change, and credit card payments carry an additional statutory convenience fee. Check the amounts at https://www.sos.la.gov/notary/forms-fee-schedule or call the Notary Division at (225) 922-0507.
Can I pay the name change fee by credit card?
Yes, by using a card already stored in your account. Mark Use credit card on file, enter the last 4 digits and your email address, and never write the full number on the form. Store the card at sos.la.gov/notarysignin under Update Master Account, then Manage Saved Payments.
Where do I mail Form SS984N?
The Oath of Office page directs the original to the Secretary of State, P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125. The transmittal page also lists a physical address, 8585 Archives Ave., Baton Rouge, LA 70809, and the Notary Division phone, (225) 922-0507.
Do I also file the oath with the parish Clerk of Court?
Yes. File a duplicate Oath of Office with the parish Clerk of Court within one month after the oath is administered. In Orleans Parish, file it with the Clerk of Civil District Court (see R.S. 42:162).
Who can administer the Oath of Office on the name change packet?
An official authorized to administer oaths: the Governor, Secretary of State, Clerks of Court, Notaries Public, Judges or Justices of the Peace, as listed on the form. The official signs and prints his or her name, with an I.D. number if applicable.
Can I fill out the Louisiana notary name change form online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the form or take payment; you send it to the Secretary of State by the channels the form lists.
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