Posted by Roadie_MD on 12/11/12 10:57am
Msg #446151

Adding M.D. after a signature

Have you ever done a signing for a doctor who puts the initials "M.D." after their name? Had this happen last nght and was wondering if it was going to be a problem. She did it inconsistently and I think it was a case of her trying not to, it is just habit for her that is very hard to break.

Only one other time did I have a gentleman pu t "DVM" after his signature. Never heard a word about it afterwards.

Reply by ME/NJ on 12/11/12 11:01am
Msg #446152

That is for the legal Dept @ TC

If it was Provident you would be back having the pages signed again.

Reply by droman_IL on 12/11/12 11:03am
Msg #446155

It's going to depend on the lender/title companies. I did a closing where their attorney was present and initially the customer was adding MD. The attorney made him re-sign the documents were he added it, and he continued signing without it. In another case, the lender said it was acceptable, the title company didn't, they had to re-sign. A third time, the title company asked if it was their legal signature, and if that was the way they signed their driver's license. It wasn't, and he had to re-sign. At the very least, she should have signed consistently throughout the package- either all pages have it, or all pages don't.

Reply by JustANotary on 12/11/12 11:14am
Msg #446158

In general, I find adding more to a signature is OK, but leaving something out is often not accepted. So including a middle initial that is not needed is fine, but if they took title with a middle initial and they leave it out, that can be a problem. But it depends on the lender, and in the case of Provident, they will usually find some reason for you to make a second trip...

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 12/11/12 12:28pm
Msg #446186

<<So including a middle initial that is not needed is fine>>

Until the docs are rejected because you didn't follow instructions to have the borrower sign their name exactly as printed. Which will, believe it or not, happen.

Reply by Roadie_MD on 12/11/12 3:54pm
Msg #446212

just to follow up--

contacted TC and they looked into into it and told me it would be acceptable as is. Wouldn't have been a big deal to go back, but thankfully I won't have to. I agree that it is better not to have anything extra (nor anything less) other than what they are asking for--even if it is the 'way the borrower normally signs'. Thanks for your input--I have to be a little more vigilant.

Reply by BrendaTx on 12/11/12 6:29pm
Msg #446230

LOL...sounds like they have had issues with doctors before.

They sign like they sign, baby.

Reply by JustANotary on 12/11/12 10:37pm
Msg #446256

Interesting, I have never had a problem with someone adding more to a signature. I have only had problems when someone misses a middle initial or something like that. Also, I have complaints about signatures, but never about how they initial.

Reply by HisHughness on 12/12/12 1:50am
Msg #446266

This is a prime instance of someone being anal just because they are placed in a position where they can be anal. Some people get their feeling of self-worth that way.

Some additions to a signature, such as "President," can indicate capacity, and that can affect the ramifications of a document. Others, such as "PhD" or "MD," are merely descriptive, and actually are an aid in nailing down the identify of a signer.

I would be inclined to ask any Anal Annie who objected to "MD" if she would object if the doctor's wife used "Ms." in front of her name.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 12/12/12 7:25am
Msg #446278

In the case of personal real estate documents, I'd agree that M.D. is just extra information that won't hurt anything. I wouldn't put it in my notarial certificate, because it hasn't been proven to me and is not required to indicate who is signing the document. But the person who we speculate might be anal would be someone at the title company or lender, and as signing agents, we want to help people avoid snags, even if there is no good reason for the snag.

If it were a medical document, the M.D. is close to a capacity; the doctor is exercising authority he/she wouldn't have if he/she didn't have the state physician's license that is implied by the suffix. Also, doctors are often acting on behalf of their practice group or their professional corporation, so capacity may very well be involved.

Reply by HisHughness on 12/12/12 7:42am
Msg #446280

*** doctors are often acting on behalf of their practice group or their professional corporation, so capacity may very well be involved.***

The "MD" would relfect eligibility (for membership in the group), not capacity, as in "President," "Secretary," etc., and thus the "MD," as noted, is descriptive.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 12/12/12 7:50am
Msg #446281

"The "MD" would relfect eligibility (for membership in the group), not capacity, as in 'President,' 'Secretary,' etc., and thus the 'MD,' as noted, is descriptive." Quite true. Signing as "Donald Quack, MD, PC" would be a different story.

Reply by BossLadyMD on 12/12/12 1:17pm
Msg #446317

Sounds like a re-sign to me......

I had a doctor who did not put his credentials on the loan. I just told him to sign as 'John Smith', like it was typed on all the papers.