Posted by Mary Pierce/PA on 6/11/05 5:45pm
Msg #43991

what would you do?

I did a signing today where the borrower's last name spelled correctly is VandenBerg. On the docs where there names were printed it was either printed Vandenberg or VANDENBERG. The deed had their names all in caps so it was VANDENBERG. I had them sign Vandenberg because that is what most of the docs had on it. On the aka affidavits I had them write their name VandenBerg as the aka. On the mortgage they signed Vandenberg and did their initials __VB (_ is their first name initial) They said they always do the intial for their last name VB. Did I do that correctly? I could not get a hold of anyone today because the title company was closed. Even their ID had their last name all in caps as VANDENBERG.

Reply by Jenni/CA on 6/11/05 6:55pm
Msg #44000

I'm in CA and mine are all in caps. It doesn't mater. Spells the same.

Reply by Ernest_CT on 6/11/05 10:55pm
Msg #44022

You did OK.

VandenBerg (properly "van den Berg") means "of (or from) the city". German nouns are capitalized, whereas articles, et cetera are not. The capital "V" is an Englishism.

No matter whether it is printed as all uppercase or in lumpy case, the spelling is the same. No worries!

Reply by Mary Pierce/PA on 6/12/05 5:15pm
Msg #44104

Re: You did OK.

I was curious because they usually sign their name VandenBerg but I had them sign Vandenberg.

Reply by PAW_Fl on 6/13/05 6:01pm
Msg #44393

Re: You did OK.

If they were comfortable with signing all lowercase (first letter excluded), then no problem. However, I would never tell someone what their name is. It's THEIR name, and if the write it VandenBerg, then so be it. Same as your name is Mary, I would tell you to write it MaRy.

This is a common American problem with European names, like de Villa -- DeVilla. von Ryan -- Von Ryan, etc.