Free Louisiana Bill of Sale Forms and Templates

Does Louisiana Require a Bill of Sale?

A Louisiana Bill of Sale is a document filled out to record the fact of change of ownership. It contains important information about the transfer itself, transferred item, and both parties of the transfer. If filled out properly, this document is legal proof accepted by all government agencies within the state. It can be used to sell and buy all kinds of items both new and used.

All Louisiana Bills of Sale are usually divided into four main categories:

1. Louisiana Generic Bill of Sale. This document is used to substantiate the sale of all kinds of items (e.g., electronics, jewelry, furniture, and others). The State of Louisiana does not require you to fill it out when selling personal property and does not have any government-released form you can use for this purpose;
2. Louisiana Vehicle Bill of Sale. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety & Corrections issued the official Bill of Sale of a Movable. This is a required document you must fill out every time you sell or buy a vehicle within the state;
3. Louisiana Boat Bill of Sale. The official state Bill of Sale of Boat/Motor was issued by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The document must be filled out during the watercraft transfer;
4. Louisiana Firearm Bill of Sale. This document is used to document the transfer of different firearms from the seller to the buyer. The State of Louisiana does not offer any government-issued form you can fill out to record the details of your transfer.

According to Louisiana laws, you are required to fill out a bill of sale in two cases only: to document the transfer of a motor vehicle and to record the sale of a watercraft. In all other situations, this document is optional. In most cases, both the seller and the buyer prefer to record the item transfer on this document since it provides them with legal protection against any fraudulent claims that may arise. The buyers can use it as proof of purchase and payment, as well as a payment receipt. The sellers keep this document as written evidence they are released from any responsibility for the described item and its usage since the date indicated on the document. The information it contains may come in handy for both parties when it is time to fill out the annual tax forms.

Louisiana Bill of Sale Requirements

In order to be considered valid, a bill of sale in Louisiana must contain the following information:

• Name of the parish where the deal is made;
• Full names of the seller and the buyer;
• Description of the sold item that allows to identify it unmistakably;
• Date of sale;
• Sales price.

The document must be signed by both parties of the deal in front of a notary public. Without the notary public’s certification, the bill of sale will not be accepted as a valid document.