What Is Considered a Legal Signature?

Generally, a legal signature is a handwritten marking meant to identify an individual and affirm that she agrees with the terms of the document she is signing. Legal signatures are most commonly handwritten and may be printed, written in cursive or just a symbol. To be legal, a signature must be able to be attributed to an individual.

In the absence of a statutory prohibition, an individual can use any character, symbol, figure, or designation he wishes to adopt as a signature, and if he uses it as a substitute for his name, he is bound by it. For example, if a contract refers to "William Jones" but Jones signs his name "Bill Jones," the contract is still enforceable against him. An individual can also use a fictitious name or the name of a business firm. A signature might also be adequate to validate an instrument even if it is virtually illegible. The entire name does not have to be written, and the inclusion of a middle name is not significant.