How To Signal on Somebody Else’s Behalf Legally [2023 Update]

Have you ever ever discovered your self in a state of affairs the place you had been anticipated to signal on another person’s behalf, however weren’t certain if it was authorized or not? It could be in an workplace set-up while you had been anticipated to signal for a senior colleague or boss, or in a private state of affairs while you had been anticipated to signal for a member of the family or pal.
For the uninitiated, this may occasionally look unlawful, however do you know that you would be able to signal on another person’s behalf as as long as you might be authorised to signal for them? 

Though handwritten signatures aren’t used practically as usually as they was, in situations the place they’re required, authenticity is taken very critically. 

On this article, we shed extra gentle on the correct method to signal for another person in addition to share the ins and outs of when this isn’t acceptable. 

Learn alongside. 

When does signing for another person grow to be unlawful?

Signing a doc as another person with out that individual’s permission falls beneath this class as a forgery. That is primarily based on having the ‘intention to defraud’ somebody. This is applicable even for those who thought you had permission to signal one thing.

Section 253 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) states that falsifying a doc is against the law. Additional, it’s punishable by 10 years imprisonment. There are related provisions within the felony laws of different states. If the opposite individual is unaware that you simply’re signing one thing for them and also you’re gaining one thing, then you definately’re committing forgery. It’s essential to at all times have the permission of the individual earlier than you signal on their behalf.

Methods to legally signal for another person in Australia?

Completely different paperwork are handled with various levels of seriousness for those who signal for another person. 

As an example, when signing for a parcel from any e-commerce vendor corresponding to eBay, Iconic or Australia Publish, the seller usually permits you to signal for another person for those who inform them that you’ve got permission to take action. 

They could ask you to current identification nevertheless to show your id. 

In different circumstances, corresponding to making use of for a financial institution mortgage or mortgage, the signature must be that of the meant signee. Extra formal paperwork corresponding to a contract for the sale of land require an unique signature beneath the Statute of Frauds. Nonetheless, these may be signed by another person with permission.

In essence, you may signal legally utilizing two strategies. 

1. Utilizing a ‘p.p’
2. Utilizing a Energy of Lawyer

What’s ‘p.p’ and when ought to I take advantage of it?

In firm paperwork or extra formal correspondence, the prefix ‘p.p’ is written earlier than the signature of the one who is to signal on another person’s behalf. This signifies that the doc is being signed beneath ‘procurement’, with ‘p.p’ standing for ‘procurationem’. 

Per procurationem is Latin for ‘by means of the company of’, signifying an acknowledgement that one other individual is signing the doc, however that they’re doing so with authorisation. 

Under your signature will often be the identify and place of the meant signee. In case you are signing one thing formal with the specific authority of the meant signee, put ‘p.p’ earlier than your signature, as it is going to advise the reader that you’re signing on another person’s behalf.

Instance

You’re employed for a lawyer who’s at the moment in Court docket. They should ship an pressing letter to a solicitor which must be hand-delivered to make sure receipt. The lawyer has requested you to signal for them, above their identify and place title on the finish of the letter. You write ‘p.p’ within the signature house and signal your identify after it. This validates the letter, in informing the reader the letter has been signed on behalf of the lawyer with authorisation.

Methods to use a Energy of Lawyer to Signal a Doc 

A Energy of Lawyer is a authorized doc that enables an assigned individual to signal on behalf of an individual who’s incapacitated, medically unfit or deceased. It could additionally turn out to be useful when the unique signee is travelling or has entrusted the POA holder to signal on their behalf. 

In Australia, the Energy of Lawyer can differ from one state to a different and may be held by a member of the family or a chosen lawyer/employees in case of firms. 

Can Digital Signatures (eSignatures) be used to signal on behalf of somebody? 

Digital signatures (eSignatures) are frequent nowadays, with many platforms providing eSignature instruments on-line without cost. Whether or not this be by the use of a picture of an individual’s signature, merely typing an individual’s identify, or utilizing an eSignature platform, in some ways, eSignatures have eliminated the necessity for somebody to signal on one other’s behalf. 

This has additionally, in flip, gone a great distance in decreasing incidences of fraud. Nonetheless, you probably have entry to somebody’s eSignature, you have to nonetheless solely use it the place you’ve got that individual’s permission. As long as you’ve got the authority given to you in writing, you’ll be capable of exhibit that you simply used the eSignature of one other personally and legally.

By no means signal your identify to something with out studying it first

When including your signature to one thing, it’s essential to grasp the authorized significance it carries. That is particularly the case the place you’re signing for another person or for those who’re their energy of legal professional. 

It’s because you’re making choices for that individual, and your judgment must replicate what’s in the most effective pursuits of that individual. Even for those who’re merely utilizing ‘p.p’ within the absence of the meant signee, it’s nonetheless clever to grasp what you’re attaching your identify to. 

Be sure you learn the doc in entrance of you, and ask the meant signee if there’s something that you simply’re not sure about. While signing for another person has grow to be much less frequent, you may nonetheless should on occasion. So long as you’re signing with the permission of the meant signee, then it’s authorized to signal for them aside from some paperwork which carry a higher authorized significance (corresponding to Wills). 

In case you are not sure whether or not you’ve got the authorized proper to signal one thing, examine with the individual you might be signing for or seek the advice of a lawyer.