Book excerpt: New edition in 2023-2024: a fully updated version of this much-read introduction to the office of Notary Public. Louisiana civil law notaries enjoy functions, responsibilities, and earning potential unmatched in any other state — and reserved there to attorneys. Louisiana notaries wield the power not just to verify signatures but also to create the legal papers they notarize, including affidavits, donations, powers of attorney, and even wills and trusts. And so much more, with no educational requirement beyond high school ... but a state exam that is famously challenging. The entire process to become a notary is difficult, and wrapped in some mystery. This book is helpful if you’re in the beginning stages of becoming a notary public. Or just thinking about joining the profession. It’s about the process of registering to be a notary, and why you’d want to. It’s about the classes, books, resources, and options available to prep for the exam. It’s not a study guide to the test’s content itself. Other books do that, including the best-selling Sidepiece guide also by Prof. Childress of Tulane. But it does explain the format of the exam and the structure of questions so that a candidate knows how to start studying. Previously, no one had offered a guide to the preliminary but confusing steps you take to be eligible for the exam — or rules and tips you’d want to know right away about the exam process and its “open book.” Website information can be unclear and incomplete, without disclosing the realities. This book is about “what I wish someone told me from Day One when I was considering becoming a notary in Louisiana.” An affordable addition to the Self-Study Sherpa Series from Quid Pro Books.