This is especially true if the person who signed it had something called “apparent authority,” meaning they appeared to be an appropriate signatory. A receptionist, for example, probably doesn`t have obvious authority, but a higher-level manager might. While corporate legal signatures require both an appropriate block of signatures and the required authority of articles of association or a board resolution, in some cases, illegal signatures bind a company to protect the interests of innocent third parties. If a person has the obvious authority to sign – for example, if they hold an executive title and work for the Company – the Company is bound by all agreements that the person signs on behalf of the Company with innocent third parties. Apparent authority may also exist when two officers of the same company, such as the secretary and the president, support an instrument. Whether it`s hiring a new employee or a new client, signing a contract is an exciting time for you and your business. However, before committing to signing a contract, it is important to understand the legal requirements of who can sign an agreement and how a signed document for the valid performance of the contract was signed. This article explains who can sign legal documents, depending on the type of contract you sign and the context in which you are signing. Answer #1: I see that there are two problems – signing a contract can cause you to become a factual witness to the content or intent of the contract in a later controversy. This could be a conflict under the professional rules of most states (you are generally not allowed to give advice on a point of law in which you are also a factual witness). If you are entering into a contract and have doubts about whether the person signing for the other party has full authority to do so – or whether it is a large or important contract and you don`t want to take any risks – ask for proof that the signatory has the appropriate authority. Keep a copy of the authorization for your records. A corporation may appoint certain officers as officers who are authorized to sign on behalf of the corporation.
This is a good idea because it makes it clear that anyone who is not on the list does not have the approval to sign on behalf of the company. Signing a contract properly may seem like a simple procedure, but there are some details an authorized agent should know, such as: In general, managers who frequently sign for their company have been given explicit power of attorney, while others who sign have acted under implied authority, and disputes over the appropriate signing authority often arise from the latter. An agent may reasonably believe, on the basis of various affirmative statements or actions of his company, that he was given the authority to sign a contract when in fact this was not the intention. In this case, the company may or may not be bound by the contract, depending on the circumstances. Directors of a corporation have the authority to sign legal documents on behalf of the corporation. A company secretary and employees in a specific position within the company may also have the express or implied authority to sign certain types of documents, such as simple contracts, on behalf of the company. For example, hiring managers can usually sign employment contracts on behalf of the company to streamline the hiring process. If employees have implied authority to sign, the Company may require additional evidence to support the performance of the contract, such as a witness or the supporting signature of a director or other person of the Company with obvious authority (for example, corporate counsel). Depending on the type of written contract, a company may also require two signing officers for valid execution of this document. When you start a business, the business becomes a separate legal entity. This means that you can no longer conclude contracts on a personal basis.
Instead, signing contracts on behalf of a company requires an authorized representative – someone who has the authority to legally bind the company into an agreement. Who is eligible as a person authorized to sign on behalf of a company? This scenario is not uncommon, as suppliers and invoice collectors often hear that an employee was not authorized to sign an agreement. And how could a salesperson who comes in for emergency care on a Saturday afternoon know (and confirm) that a doctor has the authority to sign for the company? Discuss. The parties who can sign a contract for a company are those who have been given the authority to represent their company in contract negotiations. 3 min read Emergency care owners and managers can avoid these conflicts by writing clear company policies regarding signing authority.11,12 If an employee is only authorized to sign on behalf of their company in certain circumstances, this may be included in the policy. The signing authority policy should include a list of definitions. where a person is authorized to perform contracts on behalf of emergency care; details of purchase limits; the procedure for approving expenditure; and whether delegation of signing authority is authorized. A code of ethics is also a sensible addition. Centre staff may retain the services of an emergency contractor, particularly for minor purchases, even if they are not authorized by a company`s purchasing policy. When this happens, a company can`t step back and say the service “wasn`t authorized.” Sellers take advantage of this by stopping and asking a receptionist or front desk employee to “sign” and then pretend that the purchase is “authorized.” Once a company is incorporated, the corporation is considered a separate legal entity, meaning that the owner can no longer sign their name on behalf of the company on commercial contracts.
Rather, this task falls to authorized representatives such as managers, although there are also instances where other employees may act as representatives of their company. When a business such as an emergency centre is established, it is considered a separate legal entity. Therefore, the owner cannot simply sign his name on commercial contracts on behalf of the company. Instead, it is governed by the company`s articles of association, which specify who is an authorized representative and can bind the company by signing an agreement.1 In the case of an electronic signature, it is important that the person signing on behalf of the company do so in an official capacity. This technological advance tends to muddy the waters, but in general, an electronic signature should contain the same information as any other signature block and should only be used with permission. Is your CFO reluctant to sign contracts because he or she has not been authorized to do so? We have already had the situation and resolved it by a delegation of proxy from a signatory (if the signatory would be unavailable for an extended period of time) or by email from a signatory (usually reserved for urgent matters) to a delegate.3 Parties who can sign a contract for a company, are those who have been given the authority to represent their company in contract negotiations.
