Should a signature be my full name? Answer: No
Most people ask this question: "Should I sign using my full legal name?", and the answer is simple.
By definition, a signature is something that legally represents you, and it can literally be whatever you want it to be.
You'll se most of the popular figures signing their names on documents, but that doesn't mean that your signature is mandatory to be your full name.
Let's answer the question once and for all:
Does your signature have to be your name?
No, your signature can be whatever you want it to be. People often use their full legal names because it is easier to identify themselves that way.
Though, your signature can be anything. Here are a few common signatures:
- Initials;
- Names (full or not);
- Symbols;
- Names & numbers.
Not sure how to design a signature? Visit out online signature maker and generate yours in just a couple of clicks.
Do signatures have to match legal names?
No, your signature isn't mandatory to match your full legal name. Although, it's good to sign documents using your full name to properly confirm your identity.
This goes especially to the most important documents, such as when opening a bank account or creating your passport.
It's best to stick with just one signature.
Can I just write my name for an electronic signature?
Yes, your name is a valid electronic signature, and it's also legally binding.
Even if you don't want to use your full legal name as your electronic signature, be informed that, unlike the wet-ink signature, tracking eSignatures to the actual signer is way easier if the depiction of your signature doesn't ring a bell of your name.
FAQs
Can a signature be your initials?
Yes, it absolutely could be! Why: your electronic signature is not defined by how it looks. It could even be a glyph.
Your signature's validity is given by other aspects, as explained in this article of ours:
- As per the eSignature (2000) and UETA (2000) Acts passed by the US Government, alongside other requirements (explained in-depth by us here), one of them is this: “Attribution. The signature has to be uniquely identified to the signee and only linked to them”
- Using an electronic signature software such as SignHouse automatically handles that, as such apps easily attribute signatures with identifiable details (e.g. account information, location, IP, etc)
- Another requirement for a digital signature to be valid: “Retention. The documents must be stored for future reference, available to be viewed, reviewed, edited, etc. by both parties”
- SignHouse takes care of this aspect as well.
So yes, your signature can be your initials!
Can I sign with a signature that's not cursive?
Signing with a non-cursive signature is ok! If we're talking about digital documents, the signature will be validated by identifiable details that are separate from how it looks — that is taken care of by an eSignature software such as SignHouse.
If we're talking about physical documents:
- You could sign with a signature that's not in cursive
- You'll likely not want to do that, as it could be replicated.
- Our advice, however, is to stick to digital signatures!
How can I create a signature?
You can use SignHouse's signature generator, which is 100% free. You can choose between:
- Hand-drawing your signature.
(This works better with a touchpad, tablet, smartphone or even a drawing tablet.)
- Choose from one of our carefully-curated fonts that mimic handwriting.
At the end, our Signature generator will put out a transparent-background signature that is ready to be uploaded.
A transparent-background signature works best, as that probably means you can use it in one of those rare situations where you either have a non-white background, or, on a white-background document, you still want the elements under the signature to be visible (e.g. a dotted line).
SignHouse's signature generator puts out transparent-background signatures!
Are your electronic signatures legal?
Our signatures are 100% legally binding, as SignHouse is built around US and International Laws concerning digital signatures. SignHouse eSignatures are on par with paper signatures, from a legal point of view!
Signing papers digitally started being equal to physical, handwritten signatures in the U.S. eSignature Act of 2000 (U.S. Federal Act) + the Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (UETA). As a consequence, laws in other countries have followed suit. SignHouse is built around these laws.
Can a signature be typed?
Your signature 100% works and is 100% legal if it's typed, if you're using an electronic signature software!
Why? It's validity is given by other factors:
- As per the eSignature (2000) and UETA (2000) Acts passed by the US Government, alongside other requirements (explained in-depth by us here), one of them is this: “Attribution. The signature has to be uniquely identified to the signee and only linked to them”
- Using an electronic signature software such as SignHouse automatically handles that, as such apps easily attribute signatures with identifiable details (e.g. account information, location, IP, etc)
- Another requirement for a digital signature to be valid: “Retention. The documents must be stored for future reference, available to be viewed, reviewed, edited, etc. by both parties”
- SignHouse takes care of this aspect as well.
Therefore, typing your signature makes it valid, due to the aspects that an eSignature software handles for you.
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About the author
Ch David is the co-founder of SignHouse. David is here to help the product development team expand the capabilities of ultimate eSignature maker for all your needs. Join David and the SignHouse team in stepping up electronic signatures!
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