Posted by CarolF/NC on 10/28/13 6:00pm
Msg #490098

DO NOT PRINT WRITE YOUR NAME LEGIBILY....

This is on a govt form I'm filling in. I think this is what should be on loan docs. NOT signature. This would take care of the signing for those people who sign their first middle and last name with a circle and line through the circle.

Reply by Notarysigner on 10/28/13 6:04pm
Msg #490100

How you gonna declare yourself important? Besides, it gives forgers a headache!

Reply by MW/VA on 10/28/13 7:37pm
Msg #490126

PAW had posted about "signatures" a couple of years ago. It

amazes me how many notaries think a signature has to be legible. I've actually heard of one notary who argued with the borrower about it. Yes, they're supposed to sign exactly how the docs are drawn--first name, middle initial, last name, for example. I always ask them if their "squiggle" represents all that. They answer yes, and we're good to go. I've never had one kicked back, either.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 10/28/13 7:56pm
Msg #490130

"Signature", and some closely related words like "execute" and "subscribe" are magic words. If you use or imply one of these words, you are entering into an agreement, or verifying the truth of some statements. If you just "write your name" you are not entering into anything, and not verifying anything is true. For example, if I were a buyer, and I wrote my name at the top of a pile of copies that are for me to take home, I'm not agreeing to anything, I'm just identifying that the papers belong to me.

Reply by Laurie Manzanares on 10/28/13 8:16pm
Msg #490134

I love it when a signature is a squiggly mess that matches their ID. No one can argue with it. That is their signature.

Reply by HisHughness on 10/28/13 8:55pm
Msg #490138

If I understand what you're saying, I disagree

My signature can be anything I say it is: A full name in cursive, a squiggle, a printed name. The intent, not the format, governs. If I place any of those on a signature line, I have signed, and I am bound.

In this area, we frequently encounter Mexican nationals, or people who have been educated in Mexican schools. They typically do not teach cursive, so the signers will sign with a printed signature.

Expect to see that more as the years roll by, because U.S. schools are now dropping cursive as a subject. Even now, you will see youthful Americans who not only can't write cursive, they can't read it.

Reply by CarolF/NC on 10/28/13 8:57pm
Msg #490141

True Hugh. I've had many people that do n/m

Reply by CarolF/NC on 10/28/13 8:59pm
Msg #490142

Do not know cursive. They print. Many military

Forms require you to print not cursive on the signature line.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 10/28/13 9:45pm
Msg #490149

Re: If I understand what you're saying, I disagree

I agree that it is the intent that determines whether writing one's name binds one to an agreement, and the intent should be clearly stated or implied in the finished written document. Writing one's name at the end of a document on a line that has one's name computer-printed below it clearly implies to execute the document. It is even more evident if the document is acknowledged or sworn to and the reason for the person writing his/her name is specified in the certificate with words such as "SUBSCRIBED and sworn" or "EXECUTED". If an unnotarized document had a blank that said "write your name here legibly" with no further instructions, it wouldn't be clear if the document were executed, or merely mentioned the person's name.

I agree a scrawl can be just as binding as a legible signature.

I also agree with others who mention that the teaching of cursive writing is declining (and was never prevalent in many parts of the world where English is widely understood, such as China) so it is unreasonable to require that signatures be in cursive.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 10/28/13 10:05pm
Msg #490153

Carol, I live in a large military area and I don't think I

have ever seen a document that requires then to print instead of their signature. Print and sign, I've seen, but never just print.

Reply by BobbiCT on 10/29/13 6:58am
Msg #490172

Signatures

Agree, Hugh.

I DO NOT CARE what your signature looks like, as long as it reasonably matches the signature on the two forms of identification a CT notary public is reviewed to see!

Signatures are personal and, as stated, many are different than "standard lender-issue required names." For example, if both your ID documents have cute little hearts dotting the "i" in your signature, I expect to see the same on the documents I am notarizing. That cutesy variation is specific to YOU personally and YOUR signature. If a doctor signs with a squiggle and both his forms of ID have that same squiggle, then that's his signature to me.

Who wants to explain to a Plaintiff's attorney and State Commissioning Official that s/he has a notarization block on a document with a signature that DOES not match the original loan application, the borrowers identification documents and tax returns ... because "I called Susan at the title company and she told me to have the person sign that way, even though the signature didn't match the signatures on the identification presented."

Reply by VT_Syrup on 10/29/13 10:43am
Msg #490226

Re: Signatures

People with a scrawl for a signature may have a problem writing a different version of their name in the same scrawl. I wouldn't be surprised to see "John P. Jones" on a drivers license with a scrawl for the signature, the same scrawl on a few documents that are to be signed "John P. Jones", but neat cursive writing when the document is to be signed "John Patrick Jones".

Reply by CarolF/NC on 10/28/13 8:55pm
Msg #490139

Ha. I've had name affidavits come back as the

they could not tell the difference in the AKA Signature

Reply by TinaCA on 10/29/13 9:09am
Msg #490192

Re: Ha. I've had name affidavits come back as the

I agree with Hugh. thanks