Often a notary public has a separate section on the signing page to certify their acknowledgment of the contract.Īdditionally, an Affidavit of Execution may require a notary or witness’s signature to make a sworn statement of a contract’s content, as well as each party’s age, identity, and signature. On a signing page, you may also need to print your name, fill in your contact information, or provide the date that you signed. While each document varies, signing pages generally contain solid lines with each signatory (or company) name underneath, indicating where to sign. The last page of most legal documents is the signing page. Generally, when a notary public verifies the execution of a document, it becomes a “self-authenticating” document, meaning it is not necessary to prove the validity of the signatures in court. Whether or not a document requires notarization (the process of getting your document signed by a notary public) depends on state legislation and financial institution regulations. A notary also administers oaths, certifies copies of documents, and provides acknowledgements. For example, a beneficiary of a Last Will and Testament cannot witness its execution.Ī notary public is a state-licensed official who authorizes the identity of each signatory and witnesses the execution of a document. Their signatures simply prove a contract’s validity and authenticity in a court of law.Ī witness cannot be related to any of the signatories and cannot benefit from the contract. They do not have to be familiar with the terms of the agreement. Witnesses are neutral third parties who verify each signatory’s signature. For example, having a Power of Attorney is helpful if you suddenly cannot handle your own affairs due to health complications.Įach legal contract, state, and banking institution has its own requirements regarding whether a witness or notary public must sign to authenticate a document. As this is an important duty, you should plan ahead and assign someone this responsibility in advance. You can create a Power of Attorney and appoint a representative to sign real estate, financial, business, or other legal documents on your behalf. A company signatory can be specified through a Directors’ Resolution, stating that the director or officer is able to sign documents for the corporation. If a company is involved in a contract, such as a Purchase of Business Agreement, an individual who has legal authority would sign the document on the company’s behalf. For instance, if you and your partner create and sign a Prenuptial Agreement, you are both signatories. Signatories must be the age of majority and involved in the execution of a document. If an organization is a signatory, a representative signs their name on behalf of the organization. Who Signs a Contract?Ī signatory is a person (or sometimes an organization), who signs an agreement or contract. By signing a document, you confirm your intention of executing the terms in the contract. Most contracts do not become legally binding until they have the signatures of every party involved. Since a signature is meant to verify a person’s identity for authorizing documents and agreements, it should remain consistent from contract to contract. Unless legally expressed, a signature can use loops, ascenders, descenders, special characters. It commonly spells out a person’s name in a visually distinctive way. Read more: What Do I Need to Sign a Contract What is a Signature?Ī signature identifies the individual who created it. Since so many types of documents ( not only legally binding contracts ) require your signature, it’s important to protect yourself with proper signing habits.
Whether you’re agreeing to an Employment Contract, finalizing mortgage details for your home, or witnessing a document, you will likely sign your name many times throughout your life. Your signature is your official stamp-your seal of approval.
0 kommentar(er)
