Law Stack Exchange
Law Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [signature]

Legal effects and validity of signatures.

A signature is a handwritten mark written as a sign of identity and intent.

Most commonly, it is used in contracts and agreements to signify that the signatory has read, and agrees to the terms contained therein.

A signature can take many forms; particularly with the advent of digital signatures, in some jurisdictions, merely typing one's name is sufficient to bind.

Canonical answers:

91 questions
30
votes
5 answers

Why are ink signatures considered trustworthy?

Inspired by the other currently trending signature question. The world over signatures are used to tie identities and consent to documents. Signing something means you accept it and it becomes legally binding. However if signatures are to have more…
Vilx-
  • 1,005
  • 10
  • 14
8
votes
2 answers

Can I write my signature in my conlang's script?

Can I write my signature in my conlang's (constructed language) script, which consists entirely of straight lines? If not, why?
Help
  • 81
  • 2
5
votes
3 answers

What is the point of signatures?

Signing a document to show your agreement is very common, but signatures seem very easy to forge. Nowadays, with electronic signatures it is trivial - some software doesn't even include your actual signature but pastes in your name in a cursive…
Consis
  • 1,357
  • 2
  • 10
  • 16
3
votes
1 answer

Is a document signed using software considered legally binding?

To clarify, I am asking if the following two scenarios are essentially equivalent from the legal perspective of signing an employment contract. I suspect I may be splitting hairs, but am curious nonetheless. Usual scenario: I print the contract on…
copper.hat
  • 133
  • 4
2
votes
1 answer

If a landlord signs my name on a lease that I never got is that forgery?

I rented a room from a lady. She moved out. I contacted the landlord. He said I could rent the place. He said he was out of town and that he needed to get with me to sign a lease. 7 months later still no lease or rental agreement, nothing. After him…
Mark
  • 21
  • 1
2
votes
1 answer

How to "sign anywhere"

For a volunteer position at a local public institution, I have been given a list of policies to which I must agree. I have no issues with the specific policies. My question is because I was asked to sign "anywhere" on the page and return the copy.…
Mooseman
  • 123
  • 5
2
votes
1 answer

How can HelloSign claim unauthenticated electronic signature process is legally valid? (US)

HelloTech has a series of documents they want potential technicians to sign. These are delivered by an email containing a link to their documents in the HelloSign document-signing service. Clicking this link sends the potential technician to a…
Bill_Stewart
  • 121
  • 3
1
vote
1 answer

Rubber stamp seal is crossed by a line, still legal ?

If a document with a round company seal placed bottom of the document and if, it's been crossed with one line, it seems like the line is a part of the signature, but sometimes if it seems like it's a separate line made on purpose, is this kind of…
Pretty_Girl3
  • 11
  • 2
1
vote
1 answer

Why is s-signature valid?

S-signature is a signature in this form: (assuming the person is named Alice): /s/Alice of /Alice/ Since anyone can reproduce it, why is it valid?
user5560302
  • 11
  • 2
0
votes
2 answers

Are Digital Signatures legally valid? Do keys need to be published?

GnuPG (GPG) has the ability to both digitally sign and encrypt things (things being messages, documents, files, etc.). Is a public-key signature legally valid? If so, do the public keys need to be published on all key servers to remain legally…
Kris Matrix
  • 27
  • 4
0
votes
2 answers

Is it legal to use the same signature to sign multiple digital documents, in Europe?

When not using e-signatures we have to sign by "pen" even digital documents, then scan and sending them. If I scan only my signature and then I add it to various documents - via for example a pdf editor - as-is without re-scanning it (so no subtle…
dragonmnl
  • 177
  • 1
  • 11
0
votes
1 answer

Would it be feasbile to sign a document with your weaker hand and claim it wasn't your signature?

For example, say I was starting a new job and needed to sign multiple documents to start. I agree to the majority of the documents but there is one document I don't want to sign, so instead I sign that document with my weaker hand. The idea being…
falkon13
  • 11
0
votes
1 answer

Fraud.signature

A simliar question was asked about frauding over a signature. My question is what if they copy and pasted your signature to a contract.of course the person has proof that this signature was done fraudlent.would it be a criminal case or other.I…
Renee Thorpe
  • 29
  • 3
-1
votes
2 answers

What Law Instructs How to Change A Signature

I am trying to find the legal process of changing my signature. I am in USA. Here is what I found so…
Marium
  • 174
  • 1
  • 7