This magisterial new work brings fresh insight into the essential functions of early modern Roman society and the development of the modern state.

A fast-growing legal system and economy in medieval and early modern Rome saw a rapid increase in the need for written documents. Brokers of Public Trust examines the emergence of the modern notarial profession—free market scribes responsible for producing original legal documents and their copies. Notarial acts often go unnoticed, but they are essential to understanding the history of writing practices and attitudes toward official documentation. Based on new archival research, Brokers of Public Trust focuses on the government officials, notaries, and consumers who regulated, wrote, and purchased notarial documents in Rome between the 14th and 18th centuries. Historian Laurie Nussdorfer chronicles the training of professional notaries and the construction of public archives, explaining why notarial documents exist, who made them, and how they came to be regarded as authoritative evidence. In doing so, Nussdorfer describes a profession of crucial importance to the people and government of the time, as well as to scholars who turn to notarial documents as invaluable and irreplaceable historical sources. This magisterial new work brings fresh insight into the essential functions of early modern Roman society and the development of the modern state.

The independent real estate appraiser is being driven out of the business by the same forces that borrowed billions from the taxpayer in the form of a bailout, speculated in an over-leveraged derivatives market, and swallowed each other up after years of mismanagement. Why should anybody care? Because the housing recovery is dependent on transparency that we have not seen in more than a decade. Public Trust Betrayed: The Truth Behind the Real Estate Appraisal Industry emphasizes that there must be transparency and objectivity in the mortgage and evaluation process if we are to solve the current credit crisis and what we must change in the financial industry to prevent another economic meltdown. As a result of fraud, conflicts of interest, over-valuations, and lax underwriting standards, the entire lending industry must be examined and changed if any meaningful housing recovery is to be accomplished. 'Appraisal issues played a major role in the housing boom and bust. To get an insider's view of that historic and horrendous cycle -- and the troubling reality of where we are now -- read this book.' --Ken Harney, Syndicated Columnist, Washington Post Writers Group 'This is one man's story about the deceptions he saw in the home appraisal market, deceiving homeowners and lenders alike. It will open your eyes.' --Jane Bryant Quinn, author of Making the Most of Your Money NOW Author James Manning gives the reader rare insights into the pressures being placed on today's real estate appraiser in an easy-to-read format, a folksy delivery, and with real-life experiences sprinkled throughout.

The role of the Court of Protection is to protect and to manage the financial affairs of people without the necessary mental capacity to do so themselves. The Public Guardianship Office, an executive agency of the Department for Constitutional Affairs, is the administrative office of the Court of Protection and is responsible for implementing the Court's decisions. The Public Guardianship Office provides protection in two ways: by registering enduring powers of attorney; and overseeing the work of receivers appointed to look after the financial affairs of people once they have lost mental capacity. This NAO report examines the Office's targeting of risk; the steps it is taking to improve service quality; and its activities to raise the public's awareness of its role and the options available to them in the event of losing mental capacity.