The Louisiana Civil Law Notary Journal Signed & Sealed

Home , Civil law notary, Legal advice

VOLUME XXIV ISSUE I Louisiana Notary Association January 2016

XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 1

Signed & Sealed ABOUT THIS ISSUE The Louisiana Civil Law Notary Journal

Our new full color issue contains a recap of the 2016

convention highlights and a new series entitled Karen Dunn and Lisa McCoy Notary2Notary.. Editors

Published by the Louisiana Notary Association

TABLE OF CONTENTS www.lna.org

Divorce Pleadings-To Do or Not to Do ...... 4 Louisiana Notary Association is a 501(c)(3) Non-profit Educational A look at the consequences of preparing Corporation organized for the public divorce pleadings. benefit exclusively for educational and historical purposes to provide information and educational A Treasure Chest of Knowledge opportunities regarding the public 2015 Convention Recap ...... 8 office of the commissioned Louisiana Highlights of the 2015 Annual Meeting and Convention. Civil Law Notary and the official duties of the office, and to preserve the traditions and cultural heritage Louisiana Notaries Public ...... 9 afforded by the unique and superior Reprinted from Around the Bar, November 2015 principles of law as set forth in the with permission of the author. Louisiana Civil Code.

Address written correspondence to: Notary Nest ...... 14 Fourth in a series of brain teasers; this one features Editor: Signed & Sealed Louisiana Notary Association terms specific to mandates. 8550 United Plaza Blvd., Suite 1001 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809 FEATURES or email to [email protected] Photos from the 2015 Annual Meeting and Convention ...... 6-7 Submissions for publication are welcome, and are accepted subject Notary2Notary………………………………………..12 to editorial control of publisher. This publication and the material

contained herein is protected by 2016 Board of Directors …………………………...13 copyright and may not be reproduced without permission of the DEPARTMENTS publisher. Please do not make unauthorized copies of this publication. If you want additional copies, contact us at 225-927-7001. PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE ...... 2 For advertising rates, call 225-927- 7001. LEGISLATIVE NEWS ...... 3 Scott Kirkpatrick gives us a preview of the 2016 The Louisiana Notary Association is the Premier Provider of Legislative session Education and Information for and about Notaries in the State of Louisiana. XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 2

PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE

NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES

I, like many, see the New Year as a new beginning; a chance to renew my efforts to grow personally and professionally, and improve my relationships with others.

As I begin my third term as President of the Louisiana Notary Association, I see many opportunities to build upon the association’s successes of the past few years. We have several great assets at our disposal – an experienced Board of Directors, a loyal membership, an outstanding lobbying group – all dedicated to taking our association to the next level. This year, my primary goal will be to focus on the “big picture” and work to better leverage these assets so that the LNA can move forward and expand its reputation as the premier professional organization of Louisiana Notaries Public.

As part of this push to maximize the LNA’s resources, I am excited to announce the following changes to LNA’s committee assignments for 2016:

Membership – Sharon Toups and Amanda Vaussine, Co-Chairs Publications – Karen Dunn and Lisa McCoy, Co-Chairs Education– Lisa McCoy and Luke Morris, Co-Chairs Legal Research – Theresa Martin and Pam Alonso, Co-Chairs Convention – Lisa McCoy and Pam Alonso, Co-Chairs

These members are strongly committed to our organization and are very excited to serve in their new roles. This year I chose to appoint co-chairpersons for each committee because I believe it will promote a sense of teamwork and provide an opportunity to share responsibilities and not put so much work on one individual. Further, I have tasked each committee to reach out into our organization and recruit at least one volunteer who is currently not serving in any capacity. I am strongly committed to expanding our base of volunteers; committees are the perfect opportunity for members to lend their talents and get a chance to work with the LNA’s leadership.

In addition to the new committee assignments, I have decided to spin off management of our Shop Talks into its own committee. I am pleased to announce that Lisa Nassour, Shop Talk Coordinator in Lafayette, has agreed to chair this committee. Lisa, along with the Shop Talk coordinators around the state (who will be members of this committee), will be tasked with improving Shop Talk attendance and developing plans to expand the LNA’s reach into areas of the state currently underserved. We have a strong group of Shop Talk coordinators, and, by structuring a committee around them, I feel we can best utilize their talents and create a sense of community that is all important in maintaining our member base.

The LNA has many other plans on tap for 2016, including our Biennial Customary Fee Survey (launching this spring), another overhaul of our website (late summer, early fall), our Annual Meeting and Convention (fall) and an improved Notary2Notary messaging platform (late summer, early fall). In the meantime look for more online surveys, more Members Only benefits, more educational offerings and more opportunities to volunteer. Stay tuned to LNA.org and your monthly Association News for more information.

I am very excited about serving as your President in 2016, and I am looking forward to the support from our members to make our plans a reality. Best of luck in the New Year, and hope to see you soon!

Darryl P. LeJeune LNA President

XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 3

Legislative News Louisiana Notary Issues for 2016 By Scott Kirkpatrick

2016 is expected to be a busy year for notary the recording. The report from the Law Insti- issues in Louisiana. In addition to the begin- tute is not due until February 2017. ning of new, four-year terms for legislators and statewide elected officials, notaries have a number of issues to consider. The Louisi- The LNA has agreed to hold a Notary Day at ana Bar Association has established a notary the Legislature during the 2016 legislative committee charged to “review current notarial session. This will be an excellent opportuni- law and legislation to ensure they provide ty for notaries to educate lawmakers about adequate protection to the public.” Possible their work in communities throughout the items to be addressed include an increase in state. The LNA will provide additional de- notary fees to support access to justice initia- tails on this event as they are available. tives, and the administrative committee rec- ommends ways attorneys can effectively compete against notaries. The LSBA committee is due to release its findings in the first part of 2016.

Discussions continue about a possible continuing education requirement for non- attorney notaries. How many hours would be required, the likely cost of continuing educa- FIND US ON tion, and the administrative framework around any continuing education requirement are all items that would need to be resolved before a requirement is put into place.

Pursuant to Concurrent House Resolution 218, the Louisiana Law Institute has been tasked to study the need for electronic notary law. This resolution cites the enactment of a Virginia law on this matter that required real time signal transmission and maintenance of

XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 4

DIVORCE PLEADINGS, TO DO OR NOT TO DO? By Lisa McCoy

We all know that notaries are not authorized problem with notarizing the form after filling to practice law. La. R.S. 27:212 (B) specifi- in the information. This notary strongly disa- cally removes the prohibitions for notaries grees. It is my opinion that once we begin from “performing any act necessary or inci- filing in the blanks, we open ourselves up to dental to the exercise of power and func- giving legal advice. Some of these plead- tions of the office of notary public…” There- ings have complicated wording and once fore, notaries need to be familiar with the the customer asks “what does this mean” laws surrounding the functions we perform. and we respond, we have given legal ad- But in no way does this statute extend the vice. I also believe that even filling in the power of giving legal advice or opinions as a blanks constitutes preparation of legal notary. We should not give legal advice at pleadings. While we did not complete the any time. When asked a question that entire pleading, we did prepare part of the would appear to require legal advice, it is pleading. And let’s not lose sight of the fact our obligation to advise our customer that that these fill in the blank forms are legal we are prohibited from giving legal advice. pleadings. They will be filed in a court of As notaries, we should also refrain from pre- law for the purpose of obtaining a divorce. paring documents that would give the slight- One notary’s opinion was that these are not est appearance of practicing law. real pleadings since they are fill in the blank forms. Black’s Law Dictionary defines a

pleading as “A formal document in which a Over the past years, more and more individ- party to a legal proceeding sets forth or re- uals have called upon this notary to “help” sponds to allegations, claims, denials or de- write their uncontested divorce “papers.” fenses” and “a system of defining and nar- Other notaries have also asked advice rowing the issues in a lawsuit whereby the about “filling in” and notarizing these forms parties file formal documents alleging their for their clients. As notaries, we want to respective positions.” If it is a document, fill help our clients as much as possible, but we in the blank or not, filed with the Court in a do not want to jeopardize our notary com- legal proceeding, i.e. divorce proceedings, it mission by the unauthorized practice of law. is a legal pleading.

La. R.S. 35:2 lists the general powers of the As for the sample documents distributed by notary and included in this statute is the the Clerk’s offices, a notary suggested that wording “To receive wills, make protests, we are just providing typing services for the matrimonial contracts, conveyances, and client if we prepare the document with the generally, all contracts and instruments of client’s information. Again, I disagree. writing.” La. R.S. 37:212 defines the prac- These sample forms give suggestions for tice of law which includes the preparation of completing the information, not verbatim in- pleadings. Therefore, notaries are NOT giv- structions. In order for us to type the docu- en the power to prepare legal pleadings. ment, we must gather information from the client and again will be placed in the posi-

tion of answering legal questions or giving This seems to be clear cut, but with any- opinions. Typing a document is one way of thing, there is some gray area. Around the preparing a document. Notaries are not to state, some Clerk of Court’s offices have fill prepare legal pleadings. in the blank divorce pleadings or sample

documents, for the individual to draft their pleadings from should they wish to file for There are also liabilities to think about when divorce in proper person. filling in the blanks or providing a typing ser- vice. You are a professional notary. The

general public expects you to have It was one notary’s opinion that filling in the knowledge of the content of the documents blanks does not constitute preparing a you notarize. They rely on you to steer pleading and felt this was a general power them in the right direction. What is going to

of the notary and that there would be no (Continued on page 11) Louisiana Notary Association

2015 Annual Meeting & Convention

XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 7

A Treasure Chest of Knowledge 2015 Convention ReCap

treasure chest of knowledge was presented to the attendees at the Louisiana No- tary Association’s 2015 Annual Meeting and Convention, held on October 16 and 17, 2015 at the Airport-Hilton in Kenner, Louisiana. A The convention featured a full weekend of education and opportunities for notaries from across the state to network and share their knowledge and experience. Pre-convention classes were offered on Mortgage Closings and Successful Vehicle Transfers. Classes during convention included Mandates, General Notarial Law, Small Successions, Updates to Mortgage Closings, Successful Vehicle Transfers II, LLC and Operating Agreements, Testa- mentary Clauses, Notary2Notary, Forms, Tools of the Trade, and Trusts, as well as Contrac- tual Agreements. The convention also featured a Friday night poolside party for notaries to network with other notaries from across the state. This was a great opportunity to meet fellow notaries and get to know their area of expertise. Networking with other notaries is one of the great benefits of the LNA. The Awards Dinner, a Saturday night convention tradition, featured an evening of saluting our members for the contributions they made this year to the Louisiana Notary Association. Before and after the dinner, we had networking opportunities for all who attended. Guest speakers for the weekend luncheons included Secretary of State Tom Schedler, Cyn- thia Cotten, Secretary of State Notary Division, LNA Lobbyist Scott Kirkpatrick, and Jennifer Washington from CNA Insurance. Carla Bonaventure, Commercial Division Administrator from the Secretary of State’s office also attended convention to learn more about our organization and educational opportunities. The Louisiana Notary Association would like to thank all of the instructors and volunteers who made this convention such a success. Special thanks to our guest speakers for taking the time out of their busy schedules to speak at our event—you always come through for us! We express our gratitude to all of our corporate sponsors who donated items for our door prizes. These sponsors are very valuable to our organization. We would also like to thank all of the notaries and their guests who attended our convention—we do it all for you. Look for upcoming information on our 2016 Convention. We hope to see you there!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Would you like to use your skills to help the LNA with its vari- ous projects? Go to LNA.org and complete a member in- volvement form! XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 8

NOTARY2NOTARY That Old Fashioned Party Line A Series Featuring Notary2Notary Questions

We are adding a new series to Signed and Sealed, called “Notary2Notary.” Each edition of Signed and Sealed will cover some of the questions asked on the Notary2Notary Forum. The questions will be listed and an explanation will follow. If you have not already done so, sign up for Notary2Notary now. You can email the LNA office at [email protected] and request to be added. You will receive an email invitation to join and there you will fill in your user information.

QUESTION Are there any mobile notaries in the Prairieville area interested in picking up a new client? Message me and I will give you the contact information. Thanks

COMMENT As you can see from this post, Notary2Notary is a great way to enhance your business. This is not the only request for notaries needed in a specific area. Sometimes the request is for a one time job and other times it is like this one. If you get in a bind, post your need for help. Someone will usually get right back with you. This is a great networking tool offered by LNA.

QUESTION There were several posts pertaining to price gouging.

COMMENT: It is possible that some may construe the discussion of pricing as collusion and price fixing, therefore it is prohibited on this forum. The LNA will be sending a survey to members to complete. Once the surveys are completed and returned, an average price in the different geographic areas will be published. Remember, we set our own prices. A notary should charge what is reasonable and customary for the area in which he works and the time expended. Please respond to the survey regarding pricing. The more input we have, the better results we can produce.

At one time in Texas, a notary could only charge $5.00 per customer, per visit, regardless of the number of documents the notary witnessed. I don’t know about you, but I could not keep my doors open at that rate. It would not be in our best interest to have someone, say the State, set our pricing. So let’s not post pricing on this forum. If you get in a bind and just don’t know what to charge, contact a notary in your area and see what they think would be reasonable and customary.

XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 9

LOUISIANA NOTARIES PUBLIC By Gail S. Stevenson

(reprinted from Around the Bar, November 2015 with permission of the author)

very Louisiana lawyer knows that our pleadings, and to certify true copies.9 Despite legal system is different from the oth- this great authority, only a high school educa- er 49 states. One distinctly different tion or its equivalent is required for non- E aspect of our legal system is the attorney notaries, and the consumer is pro- power afforded to notaries public. tected by only a $10,000 bond or an errors- and-omissions policy with $10,000 limits.10 The Louisiana Supreme Court described the significance of our notaries in 1877: A Louisiana notary is required to a be a resident citizen or alien; be at least 18; read, High and important functions are write, speak, and be “sufficiently knowledgea- [e]ntrusted to notaries; they are invested with ble of the English language”; be mentally grave and extensive duties; they are charged sound; have no unpardoned felony on his rec- with the solemn preparation of the authentic ord; and be of “good moral character, integri- evidence of our transactions, of last wills, of ty, and sober habits.” If a citizen, he must also those titles which pass from one generation to be a registered voter in the parish where he another. Their responsibility is as high as their resides.11 If not an attorney, the notary appli- trust . . . .1 cant must pass a rigorous examination ad- A notary was present when LaSalle ministered statewide by the Louisiana Secre- claimed Louisiana for France in 1682.2 In tary of State.12 The majority of the applicants 1712, Sieur Madefisse was appointed the first fail the exam on the first try. Since 2005, the notary in Louisiana.3 Madefisse was not an passage rate has ranged from 2 percent to 24 attorney but a “simple soldier.”4 In fact, at that percent.13 time most of the judges were non-lawyers, Non-attorney notaries commissioned including those on the Superior Council, their before 2005 may not have taken such a rigor- highest court,5 as lawyers were few and far ous exam. Written exams have been required between. When Louisiana became part of the since 1964. From 1964 to June 2005, exams United States in 1803, “swarms” of common - were administered by a three-member exam- law attorneys appeared. But the civil-law tra- ining committee on a parish-by-parish basis. ditions of France and Spain were so en- Although some parishes, including East Ba- trenched in Louisiana by then that Thomas ton Rouge, Orleans and Caddo, were known Jefferson’s attempts to convert Louisiana to for the rigor of their exams, others were much the common-law system failed.6 One of those more lax.14 The jurisdiction of a non-attorney civil law traditions was non-attorney notaries notary commissioned before the statewide public with the authority to perform acts that exam took effect is generally limited to the would be considered practicing law in the rest parish where he resides and any adjacent of the United States.7 parishes with statutory reciprocity,15 though As of July 15, 2015, 57 percent of Louisi- he may also seek a commission in one other ana’s notaries were attorneys and 43 percent parish where he has an office.16 Any notary were not.8 All Louisiana notaries, including with limited jurisdiction can obtain statewide those with no law degree, have the power to jurisdiction by passing the statewide exam.17 prepare and execute wills, trusts, donations, Although attorneys are exempt from the matrimonial and prenuptial agreements, acts exam and bond requirements, one does not of sale, mortgages, acts of adoption, affidavits automatically become a notary when admitted of small succession, provisional custody to the Louisiana bar. The application form is agreements, contracts, partitions and many available online on the Louisiana Secretary of other important documents. They are also State’s website.18 Even though attorneys and authorized to administer oaths, to swear in non-attorney notaries who have passed the deponents, to verify interrogatories and other XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 10

statewide exam have statewide jurisdiction, ry law, attorneys can “draw” documents and every notary is commissioned in his or her notaries can “make” them, but nothing in the parish of residence. Notaries, including attor- jurisprudence distinguishes these two verbs. neys, who move to a different parish, must The definition of practicing law in Re- recommission in the new parish to retain their vised Statutes 37:212 also includes “advising commissions.19 The notary has a 60-day or counseling of another as to secular law.” grace period after moving to apply for the “Making” legal documents is difficult without new commission.20 The notary must also re- exercising legal judgment, and having discus- tain registered voter status; the commission sions with the constituent could be consid- becomes invalid if the notary is purged from ered giving legal advice. The official Louisi- the voting rolls.21 ana notary study guide gives this bit of ad- Professor John Henry Merryman listed vice: the three principal functions of a civil-law no- [T]he [non-attorney] notary should tary as (1) drafting important legal docu- refrain from offering opinions or ad- ments; (2) authenticating instruments; and (3) vice on the meaning or interpretation acting “as a kind of public record office.”22 As of the law, even if asked. In every discussed above, Louisiana notaries are em- case, the notary should advise the powered to draft many important legal docu- constituent that a notary is neither ments. The second function, authenticating able nor authorized to offer legal ad- instruments, is a hallmark of the civil-law no- vice and that no legal documents tary’s power. An authentic act is full proof of should be prepared or executed by the act’s contents.23 Merryman more fully de- the notary or anyone else where scribes the evidentiary effect of an authentic there is the slightest question of in- act, as follows: “[I]t conclusively establishes terpretation of the legal consequenc- that the instrument itself is genuine and that es of the act.27 what it recites accurately represents what the parties said and what the notary saw and Louisiana attorneys who are notaries heard.24 This stands in stark contrast to the should ensure that they and any non-attorney effect of a common-law notary’s signature, notaries under their supervision are comply- which merely evidences that the signature is ing with all statutory requirements, including genuine.25 being commissioned in the proper parish and maintaining a record book or journal for acts The third function of archivist has largely involving immovable property. Attorney nota- been assumed by the clerks of court. Howev- ries should also make certain that any non- er, Louisiana notaries are still required to attorney notaries they supervise are not make “a careful record . . .in record books to crossing the line into unauthorized legal prac- be kept for that purpose” of “all acts of sale, tice. exchange, donation, and mortgage of immovable property passed before them, together Louisiana’s unique grant of expansive with all resolutions, powers of attorney, and powers to notaries has served us well for other documents annexed to or made part of over three centuries. The authority granted to the acts.”26 Although notaries have expansive non-attorney notaries has given the average powers, non attorney notaries must be care- citizen the ability “to control his own business ful not to cross the line from notarial practice and to settle his own affairs, without the ex- to legal practice. Louisiana Revised Statutes pense of an attorney—when he understands 37:212 defines the practice of law to include the law and knows what he wants to do but the “drawing or . . . assisting in the drawing . . doesn’t know how to put it into proper form.”28 . of a paper, document, or instrument affect- However, more education and a higher bond ing or relating to secular rights.” Louisiana or insurance limits for non-attorney notaries Revised Statutes 35:2(b) empowers notaries should be required in today’s more complex to “make . . . matrimonial contracts, convey- society. ances, and generally, all contracts and instruments of writing.” So under Louisiana statuto- (Continued on page 11) XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 11

1Rochereau v. Jones, 29 La. Ann. 82, 86 (1877). noted, “Not everyone is qualified and capable of being archi- 2After the ceremony claiming the territory, the notary prepared tects or veterinarians. Similarly, not everyone should be al- a record of the entire adventure as a proces verbal, witnessed lowed to be notaries and to affect important financial andother and signed by all present. Henry Plauché Dart, The Legal transactions.” Michael L. Closen & R. Jason Richards, Nota- Institutions of Louisiana, 3 So. L. Quarterly 247, 259 (1918) ries Public—Lost in Cyberspace, or Key Business Profession- [hereinafter Institutions}]. als of the Future?, 15 J. Marshall Computer & Info. L. 703, 757 3Henry Plauché Dart, The Place of the Civil Law in Louisiana, (1997). 4 Tul. L.Rev. 163, 163 (1930). 14Anecdotally, the exam in one rural parish consisted of two 4Institutions, supra note 1, at 252. questions: 1) Can you read and write? and 2) Do you promise 5Id. at 266. never to write a will? 6George Dargo, Jefferson’s Louisiana 32 (Lawbook Exchange 15See La. R.S. 35:191(D)-(O). ed. 2009). 16La. R.S. 35:191(A)(1). 7Notaries in other civil-law jurisdictions are now required to 17La. R.S. 35:191(P)(1)(b). have law degrees. John Henry Merryman & Rogelio Pérez- 18http://www.sos.la.gov/NotaryAndCertifications/ Perdomo, The Civil Law Tradition 107 (3d ed. 2007). Spain BecomeALouisianaNotary/Pages/default.aspx. began requiring formal legal education for notaries in 1862. 19La. R.S. 191(A)(3). Pedro A. Malavet, Counsel for the Situation: The Latin Notary, 20La. R.S. 191(E)(2). A Historical and Comparative Model, 19 Hastings Int’l & 21La. R.S. 191(A)(3)(a). Comp. L. Rev. 389, 423-24 (1996). 22Merryman & Pérez-Perdomo, supra note 7. 8Louisiana had 38,905 active notaries on that date. Of that 23See La. C.C. art. 1835. total, 22,203were attorneys and 16,702 were not. Email from 24Merryman & Pérez-Perdomo, supra note 7. Cynthia Cotton, Notary Supervisor, La. Sec. of State, to author 25For example, Wyoming makes it clear that its common-law (July 15, 2015, 9:58 a.m. CDT) (on file with author). notaries are not certifying the truth of what is said in the docu- 9La. R.S. 35:2. ment with this statutory language: “In his capacity as a notarial 10La. R.S. 35:71. officer, a notarial officer has neither the duty nor the authority 11La. R.S. 191. Until 2008, Louisiana notary applicants had to to investigate, ascertain or attest the lawfulness, propriety, provide affidavits from two “reputable citizens” to attest to their accuracy or truthfulness of a document or transaction involv- “good moral character, integrity, competency, and sober hab- ing a notarial act.” Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 34-26-202. its.” However, La. R.S. 35:191 was amended in 2008 so that 26La. R.S. 35:199(A). the prospective notary need only attest to his own “good moral 27C. Alan Jennings, Richard P. Bullock & Susan L. Johnson, character, integrity, and sober habits” in his application. Fundamentals of Louisiana Notarial Law and Practice 75 12La. R.S. 191.1. (2014) (quoting Gregory R.Olivier deKeyzer, Louisiana Notary 13Louisiana Secretary of State, http://www.sos.la.gov/ (Mar. 1995). NotaryAndCertifications/Pages/default.aspx, click on view 28Richard P. Bullock, The Role of the Notary in Louisiana, La. statistics. The secretary of state’s office has endured com- Notary 3 (May 2012). plaints about the low passage rate, but as one commentator

(Continued from page 4) happen when they are no longer amicable? They will bring the other party back to court declaring that the notary told me to do this, but this is not how it was suppose to be. What happens when the parties return to court for increased child support? Will you, as the notary be called upon to explain how you determined the amount of child support to fill in the blank? I would bet that your client is going to say you told them what to fill out. What’s your liability then? Do you want to pay to raise the kids? Do you want your commission revoked?

The Baton Rouge Shop Talk is now conducting their monthly meetings at Zea Rotisserie Grill in Towne Center. Their monthly meetings have always been filled with information for fellow notaries and will now further support the LNA with a donation.

Zea Rotisserie offers “Dine for a Purpose” give back nights, donating 10% of the qualifying receipts to non-profit organiza- tions and they have now partnered with the Baton Rouge Area Shop Talk. On the night of the LNA monthly meeting, from 5 -9, anyone dining at the restaurant or ordering carryout just has to mention they are supporting LNA and their order is added to the donation receipts.

The first LNA give back night, held in January, went well with total sales of $1002.84, generating a donation of $100.28 to LNA. If you are unable to attend the meeting, you can still support LNA by ordering carryout. This offer is not limited toLNA members only. Please share with your friends and neighbors as well. XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 12

Darryl LeJeune President Pamela Alonso Vice President Luke Morris Treasurer Theresa Martin Secretary Angie Corvers Board Member Lisa McCoy Board Member Dajuana Moore Board Member Nancy Riffe Board Member Sharon Toups Board Member

Would you like to serve as a committee member? Just email [email protected] Positions open on the following committees: Education Finance Printing & Procurement Convention Membership Legislation Publications & Media Legal Research Shop Talk XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 13

NOTARY NEST

AUTHORITATIVE DOCUMENT TERMINOLOGY by Nan Riffe

ACROSS 15 CUSTODY GRANTED BY MANDATE

3 MANDATE REQUIRED TO DONATE AN IMMOVABLE

FOR ANOTHER DOWN

5 CONFERS AUTHORITY TO A PERSON 1 AUTHORITY OF ONE PERSON TO REPRESENT ANOTHER IN LEGAL RELATIONS 8 COMMONLY ACCEPTED FEMALE VERSION OF TUTOR 2 MANDATE GRANTING POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION 9 CAN BE GRANTED BY THE COURT; APPOINTED 4 PERSON OF MAJORITY DECLARED INCAPABLE GUARDIAN OVER CHILDREN 6 CERTIFICATE OF ______10 COURT APPOINTED GUARDIAN OF A MAJOR 7 USED BY THE CORPORATION 13 AUTHORITY DOCUMENT USED BY LLC 11 UNILATERAL JURIDICAL ACT 14 GIVES AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT TO MINOR

Answer key on page 14 XXIV, ISSUE I SIGNED & SEALED PAGE 14

SHOP TALK Don’t forget to check your Association News or LNA.org for the latest information on Shop Talks in your area. We would also like to thank Luke Morris for starting an online Shop Talk. We currently have shop talks in Baton Rouge, Houma, New Orleans, Lafayette, and Lake Charles. LNA members are invited to join the regional Shop Talk meetings to discuss hot topics, hear from topic experts, and network with your peers. Let us know what topics you would like to have at your local shop talk. Contact us at edi- [email protected]. We look forward to your input. REMEMBER, Shop Talks are for you. Louisiana Notary Association 8550 United Plaza Blvd., Suite 1001 Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70809 FIND US ON

Information and Education Facebook Twitter LinkedIn in the Public Interest

Phone: 225-927-7001 Email: [email protected] Visit our web site at WWW.LNA.ORG