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Can I sign legal documents with a smiley face?

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Can I sign legal documents with a smiley face?


Do Legal Documents Require Signing In Standard Pen Colors?Is it possible to legally prohibit someone from linking to specific pages on your website?Do scans of signed documents have the same legal power as the original document?What can I do if I signed an excessively restrictive contract?Can other party sneak in new contract terms via termination notice?How to prove that someone forged my signature on a contract that I was not aware of?In Australia, Is it legal to sign a document as somebody else?making a contract that includes video licenceLease dispute, over email and text messageIf you must include all of the natural language prose in a legal document, or if it can be abstracted outE-signing: legal ramifications of “identifying” a person













32















The signature on my driver's license is a unique and identifiable smiley face :-)



I use this signature to sign all legally binding documents. A lot of the time, people reject it, and request an "actual signature". I then show them that it is the same signature as my driver's license, and they usually, (but not always,) accept it.



Is my signature legal? Or must it be my name? If it is legal, is it a bad idea?










share|improve this question



















  • 4





    I recall an anecdote about a judge who included a smiley face as part of his regular signature. This caused an appeal of a death sentence because when he signed the relevant documents he included the smiley face on that as well.

    – EvilSnack
    yesterday











  • This reminds me of a video I watched at some point: youtube.com/watch?v=maT-vb458eg

    – Solomon Ucko
    yesterday






  • 3





    Note that the root of the word "signature" is "sign", i.e. a mark used to identify. Any mark will do, the illiterate traditionally used a simple X to sign.

    – dotancohen
    18 hours ago
















32















The signature on my driver's license is a unique and identifiable smiley face :-)



I use this signature to sign all legally binding documents. A lot of the time, people reject it, and request an "actual signature". I then show them that it is the same signature as my driver's license, and they usually, (but not always,) accept it.



Is my signature legal? Or must it be my name? If it is legal, is it a bad idea?










share|improve this question



















  • 4





    I recall an anecdote about a judge who included a smiley face as part of his regular signature. This caused an appeal of a death sentence because when he signed the relevant documents he included the smiley face on that as well.

    – EvilSnack
    yesterday











  • This reminds me of a video I watched at some point: youtube.com/watch?v=maT-vb458eg

    – Solomon Ucko
    yesterday






  • 3





    Note that the root of the word "signature" is "sign", i.e. a mark used to identify. Any mark will do, the illiterate traditionally used a simple X to sign.

    – dotancohen
    18 hours ago














32












32








32


5






The signature on my driver's license is a unique and identifiable smiley face :-)



I use this signature to sign all legally binding documents. A lot of the time, people reject it, and request an "actual signature". I then show them that it is the same signature as my driver's license, and they usually, (but not always,) accept it.



Is my signature legal? Or must it be my name? If it is legal, is it a bad idea?










share|improve this question
















The signature on my driver's license is a unique and identifiable smiley face :-)



I use this signature to sign all legally binding documents. A lot of the time, people reject it, and request an "actual signature". I then show them that it is the same signature as my driver's license, and they usually, (but not always,) accept it.



Is my signature legal? Or must it be my name? If it is legal, is it a bad idea?







united-states contract-law contract signature






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited yesterday







Evorlor

















asked yesterday









EvorlorEvorlor

26837




26837







  • 4





    I recall an anecdote about a judge who included a smiley face as part of his regular signature. This caused an appeal of a death sentence because when he signed the relevant documents he included the smiley face on that as well.

    – EvilSnack
    yesterday











  • This reminds me of a video I watched at some point: youtube.com/watch?v=maT-vb458eg

    – Solomon Ucko
    yesterday






  • 3





    Note that the root of the word "signature" is "sign", i.e. a mark used to identify. Any mark will do, the illiterate traditionally used a simple X to sign.

    – dotancohen
    18 hours ago













  • 4





    I recall an anecdote about a judge who included a smiley face as part of his regular signature. This caused an appeal of a death sentence because when he signed the relevant documents he included the smiley face on that as well.

    – EvilSnack
    yesterday











  • This reminds me of a video I watched at some point: youtube.com/watch?v=maT-vb458eg

    – Solomon Ucko
    yesterday






  • 3





    Note that the root of the word "signature" is "sign", i.e. a mark used to identify. Any mark will do, the illiterate traditionally used a simple X to sign.

    – dotancohen
    18 hours ago








4




4





I recall an anecdote about a judge who included a smiley face as part of his regular signature. This caused an appeal of a death sentence because when he signed the relevant documents he included the smiley face on that as well.

– EvilSnack
yesterday





I recall an anecdote about a judge who included a smiley face as part of his regular signature. This caused an appeal of a death sentence because when he signed the relevant documents he included the smiley face on that as well.

– EvilSnack
yesterday













This reminds me of a video I watched at some point: youtube.com/watch?v=maT-vb458eg

– Solomon Ucko
yesterday





This reminds me of a video I watched at some point: youtube.com/watch?v=maT-vb458eg

– Solomon Ucko
yesterday




3




3





Note that the root of the word "signature" is "sign", i.e. a mark used to identify. Any mark will do, the illiterate traditionally used a simple X to sign.

– dotancohen
18 hours ago






Note that the root of the word "signature" is "sign", i.e. a mark used to identify. Any mark will do, the illiterate traditionally used a simple X to sign.

– dotancohen
18 hours ago











3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















35















Can I sign legal documents with a smiley face?




Yes, that is lawful. A person's signature does not necessarily have to include the person's name or initials. What matters is that the signature reliably and unequivocally identifies the person who produces it, which apparently you have been able to prove by showing your driver's license.



The Black's Law Dictionary (4th Edition) states in its entry for signature that "whatever mark, symbol, or device one may choose to employ as representative of himself is sufficient". It directs to the entry for sign, which likewise speaks in terms of "any mark, as upon a document, in token of knowledge, approval, acceptance or obligation". Accordingly, your signature qualifies as mark or symbol that fits these purposes.



Your history of signing other legally binding documents that way further reinforces the authenticity of your signature.




If it is legal, is it a bad idea?




It is a bad idea to the extent (if any) that (1) others can easily forge your signature (notwithstanding that forgery or identity theft might be proved circumstantially); and (2) verifying your identity may cause hassle or annoyance to you and/or third parties. But this paragraph obviously is applicable to any and all signatures, not just those which at first glance may seem to be a joke.






share|improve this answer




















  • 2





    As far as I know, when you sign, that is legally binding, no matter how you sign - whether you sign with an Emoji or as "Mickey Mouse", it is binding for you. And it is legal unless you do at as part of fraud. So if you sign with an Emoji and later claim you didn't sign this, that may be fraud.

    – gnasher729
    yesterday






  • 5





    What's different with this particular set of characters is that, being punctuation, they're probably much easier to forge than a normal signature, which will usually contain more unique or unusual features. Although doctors basically get away with scribbles for signatures. =)

    – jpmc26
    yesterday







  • 2





    @jpmc26 well, try to get the scribble right when you don't even know what it's supposed to say ;)

    – Frank Hopkins
    yesterday






  • 1





    Must the signature be fixed? Wouldn't it be better to have a unique signature per document so that it becomes impossible to forge it? It would be easy to mix a cryptographic secret, with the name of the parties, the name of the document and date to generate an alphanumeric signature to be written in a document...

    – Bakuriu
    10 hours ago


















2














A contract is a meeting of the minds. If your conduct before and immediately after the signing resembles the way people act when they have a meeting of the minds, that is proof of agreement.



To invalidate a contract over a defective signature, a party would have to object timely to the signature; immediately or the first time they reasonably should have seen it.



And then, since a contract is a meeting of the minds, you must reach a meeting of the minds about what an acceptable signature is. Both of you can draw vulgar graffiti tier art of a rooster and balls for all it matters, as long as you both signed it.






share|improve this answer






























    1














    I'm not sure if this is legal in the US, because the attitude towards name and identification issues is quite different from Europe.
    Where I live, only the written surname (first name optional) is considered a valid signature (in most cases). Some documents, like a Last Will, even need to be signed with your full name, including middle name(s).



    It is possible though to use any sign as your legal signature if the sign is registered and affirmed by a notary. This exception was intended for people who aren't able to write.



    I bet there's a similiar law in the US.





    share










    New contributor




    Julian is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
    Check out our Code of Conduct.















    • 3





      In the US you can sign with an "X" if so inclined or unable to sign otherwise. It's quite liberal

      – A. K.
      yesterday







    • 2





      In the U.S., a scribble that only theoretically contains your name is perfectly legal as a signature (source: I live in the U.S.), so I'm inclined to doubt that a smileyface or emoji or whatnot would be prohibited.

      – Sean
      yesterday






    • 1





      Welcome to the site! Thanks for trying to help but we're looking for answers that are reasonably authoritative. We already have a detailed answer that explains that, yes, this is legal, so it's not really useful to add an answer of "I'm not sure", acknowledging that the US is different from Europe, and ending with "I bet [the US is similar to Europe]".

      – David Richerby
      yesterday






    • 3





      For your interest: The answer is correct for Germany.

      – K-HB
      yesterday






    • 3





      This is not true for the Netherlands. It would be wise not to make claims over the whole of Europe, as the laws are vastly different between even neighboring countries.

      – Sebastiaan van den Broek
      18 hours ago











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    3 Answers
    3






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    3 Answers
    3






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    active

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    35















    Can I sign legal documents with a smiley face?




    Yes, that is lawful. A person's signature does not necessarily have to include the person's name or initials. What matters is that the signature reliably and unequivocally identifies the person who produces it, which apparently you have been able to prove by showing your driver's license.



    The Black's Law Dictionary (4th Edition) states in its entry for signature that "whatever mark, symbol, or device one may choose to employ as representative of himself is sufficient". It directs to the entry for sign, which likewise speaks in terms of "any mark, as upon a document, in token of knowledge, approval, acceptance or obligation". Accordingly, your signature qualifies as mark or symbol that fits these purposes.



    Your history of signing other legally binding documents that way further reinforces the authenticity of your signature.




    If it is legal, is it a bad idea?




    It is a bad idea to the extent (if any) that (1) others can easily forge your signature (notwithstanding that forgery or identity theft might be proved circumstantially); and (2) verifying your identity may cause hassle or annoyance to you and/or third parties. But this paragraph obviously is applicable to any and all signatures, not just those which at first glance may seem to be a joke.






    share|improve this answer




















    • 2





      As far as I know, when you sign, that is legally binding, no matter how you sign - whether you sign with an Emoji or as "Mickey Mouse", it is binding for you. And it is legal unless you do at as part of fraud. So if you sign with an Emoji and later claim you didn't sign this, that may be fraud.

      – gnasher729
      yesterday






    • 5





      What's different with this particular set of characters is that, being punctuation, they're probably much easier to forge than a normal signature, which will usually contain more unique or unusual features. Although doctors basically get away with scribbles for signatures. =)

      – jpmc26
      yesterday







    • 2





      @jpmc26 well, try to get the scribble right when you don't even know what it's supposed to say ;)

      – Frank Hopkins
      yesterday






    • 1





      Must the signature be fixed? Wouldn't it be better to have a unique signature per document so that it becomes impossible to forge it? It would be easy to mix a cryptographic secret, with the name of the parties, the name of the document and date to generate an alphanumeric signature to be written in a document...

      – Bakuriu
      10 hours ago















    35















    Can I sign legal documents with a smiley face?




    Yes, that is lawful. A person's signature does not necessarily have to include the person's name or initials. What matters is that the signature reliably and unequivocally identifies the person who produces it, which apparently you have been able to prove by showing your driver's license.



    The Black's Law Dictionary (4th Edition) states in its entry for signature that "whatever mark, symbol, or device one may choose to employ as representative of himself is sufficient". It directs to the entry for sign, which likewise speaks in terms of "any mark, as upon a document, in token of knowledge, approval, acceptance or obligation". Accordingly, your signature qualifies as mark or symbol that fits these purposes.



    Your history of signing other legally binding documents that way further reinforces the authenticity of your signature.




    If it is legal, is it a bad idea?




    It is a bad idea to the extent (if any) that (1) others can easily forge your signature (notwithstanding that forgery or identity theft might be proved circumstantially); and (2) verifying your identity may cause hassle or annoyance to you and/or third parties. But this paragraph obviously is applicable to any and all signatures, not just those which at first glance may seem to be a joke.






    share|improve this answer




















    • 2





      As far as I know, when you sign, that is legally binding, no matter how you sign - whether you sign with an Emoji or as "Mickey Mouse", it is binding for you. And it is legal unless you do at as part of fraud. So if you sign with an Emoji and later claim you didn't sign this, that may be fraud.

      – gnasher729
      yesterday






    • 5





      What's different with this particular set of characters is that, being punctuation, they're probably much easier to forge than a normal signature, which will usually contain more unique or unusual features. Although doctors basically get away with scribbles for signatures. =)

      – jpmc26
      yesterday







    • 2





      @jpmc26 well, try to get the scribble right when you don't even know what it's supposed to say ;)

      – Frank Hopkins
      yesterday






    • 1





      Must the signature be fixed? Wouldn't it be better to have a unique signature per document so that it becomes impossible to forge it? It would be easy to mix a cryptographic secret, with the name of the parties, the name of the document and date to generate an alphanumeric signature to be written in a document...

      – Bakuriu
      10 hours ago













    35












    35








    35








    Can I sign legal documents with a smiley face?




    Yes, that is lawful. A person's signature does not necessarily have to include the person's name or initials. What matters is that the signature reliably and unequivocally identifies the person who produces it, which apparently you have been able to prove by showing your driver's license.



    The Black's Law Dictionary (4th Edition) states in its entry for signature that "whatever mark, symbol, or device one may choose to employ as representative of himself is sufficient". It directs to the entry for sign, which likewise speaks in terms of "any mark, as upon a document, in token of knowledge, approval, acceptance or obligation". Accordingly, your signature qualifies as mark or symbol that fits these purposes.



    Your history of signing other legally binding documents that way further reinforces the authenticity of your signature.




    If it is legal, is it a bad idea?




    It is a bad idea to the extent (if any) that (1) others can easily forge your signature (notwithstanding that forgery or identity theft might be proved circumstantially); and (2) verifying your identity may cause hassle or annoyance to you and/or third parties. But this paragraph obviously is applicable to any and all signatures, not just those which at first glance may seem to be a joke.






    share|improve this answer
















    Can I sign legal documents with a smiley face?




    Yes, that is lawful. A person's signature does not necessarily have to include the person's name or initials. What matters is that the signature reliably and unequivocally identifies the person who produces it, which apparently you have been able to prove by showing your driver's license.



    The Black's Law Dictionary (4th Edition) states in its entry for signature that "whatever mark, symbol, or device one may choose to employ as representative of himself is sufficient". It directs to the entry for sign, which likewise speaks in terms of "any mark, as upon a document, in token of knowledge, approval, acceptance or obligation". Accordingly, your signature qualifies as mark or symbol that fits these purposes.



    Your history of signing other legally binding documents that way further reinforces the authenticity of your signature.




    If it is legal, is it a bad idea?




    It is a bad idea to the extent (if any) that (1) others can easily forge your signature (notwithstanding that forgery or identity theft might be proved circumstantially); and (2) verifying your identity may cause hassle or annoyance to you and/or third parties. But this paragraph obviously is applicable to any and all signatures, not just those which at first glance may seem to be a joke.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited yesterday

























    answered yesterday









    Iñaki ViggersIñaki Viggers

    9,94621328




    9,94621328







    • 2





      As far as I know, when you sign, that is legally binding, no matter how you sign - whether you sign with an Emoji or as "Mickey Mouse", it is binding for you. And it is legal unless you do at as part of fraud. So if you sign with an Emoji and later claim you didn't sign this, that may be fraud.

      – gnasher729
      yesterday






    • 5





      What's different with this particular set of characters is that, being punctuation, they're probably much easier to forge than a normal signature, which will usually contain more unique or unusual features. Although doctors basically get away with scribbles for signatures. =)

      – jpmc26
      yesterday







    • 2





      @jpmc26 well, try to get the scribble right when you don't even know what it's supposed to say ;)

      – Frank Hopkins
      yesterday






    • 1





      Must the signature be fixed? Wouldn't it be better to have a unique signature per document so that it becomes impossible to forge it? It would be easy to mix a cryptographic secret, with the name of the parties, the name of the document and date to generate an alphanumeric signature to be written in a document...

      – Bakuriu
      10 hours ago












    • 2





      As far as I know, when you sign, that is legally binding, no matter how you sign - whether you sign with an Emoji or as "Mickey Mouse", it is binding for you. And it is legal unless you do at as part of fraud. So if you sign with an Emoji and later claim you didn't sign this, that may be fraud.

      – gnasher729
      yesterday






    • 5





      What's different with this particular set of characters is that, being punctuation, they're probably much easier to forge than a normal signature, which will usually contain more unique or unusual features. Although doctors basically get away with scribbles for signatures. =)

      – jpmc26
      yesterday







    • 2





      @jpmc26 well, try to get the scribble right when you don't even know what it's supposed to say ;)

      – Frank Hopkins
      yesterday






    • 1





      Must the signature be fixed? Wouldn't it be better to have a unique signature per document so that it becomes impossible to forge it? It would be easy to mix a cryptographic secret, with the name of the parties, the name of the document and date to generate an alphanumeric signature to be written in a document...

      – Bakuriu
      10 hours ago







    2




    2





    As far as I know, when you sign, that is legally binding, no matter how you sign - whether you sign with an Emoji or as "Mickey Mouse", it is binding for you. And it is legal unless you do at as part of fraud. So if you sign with an Emoji and later claim you didn't sign this, that may be fraud.

    – gnasher729
    yesterday





    As far as I know, when you sign, that is legally binding, no matter how you sign - whether you sign with an Emoji or as "Mickey Mouse", it is binding for you. And it is legal unless you do at as part of fraud. So if you sign with an Emoji and later claim you didn't sign this, that may be fraud.

    – gnasher729
    yesterday




    5




    5





    What's different with this particular set of characters is that, being punctuation, they're probably much easier to forge than a normal signature, which will usually contain more unique or unusual features. Although doctors basically get away with scribbles for signatures. =)

    – jpmc26
    yesterday






    What's different with this particular set of characters is that, being punctuation, they're probably much easier to forge than a normal signature, which will usually contain more unique or unusual features. Although doctors basically get away with scribbles for signatures. =)

    – jpmc26
    yesterday





    2




    2





    @jpmc26 well, try to get the scribble right when you don't even know what it's supposed to say ;)

    – Frank Hopkins
    yesterday





    @jpmc26 well, try to get the scribble right when you don't even know what it's supposed to say ;)

    – Frank Hopkins
    yesterday




    1




    1





    Must the signature be fixed? Wouldn't it be better to have a unique signature per document so that it becomes impossible to forge it? It would be easy to mix a cryptographic secret, with the name of the parties, the name of the document and date to generate an alphanumeric signature to be written in a document...

    – Bakuriu
    10 hours ago





    Must the signature be fixed? Wouldn't it be better to have a unique signature per document so that it becomes impossible to forge it? It would be easy to mix a cryptographic secret, with the name of the parties, the name of the document and date to generate an alphanumeric signature to be written in a document...

    – Bakuriu
    10 hours ago











    2














    A contract is a meeting of the minds. If your conduct before and immediately after the signing resembles the way people act when they have a meeting of the minds, that is proof of agreement.



    To invalidate a contract over a defective signature, a party would have to object timely to the signature; immediately or the first time they reasonably should have seen it.



    And then, since a contract is a meeting of the minds, you must reach a meeting of the minds about what an acceptable signature is. Both of you can draw vulgar graffiti tier art of a rooster and balls for all it matters, as long as you both signed it.






    share|improve this answer



























      2














      A contract is a meeting of the minds. If your conduct before and immediately after the signing resembles the way people act when they have a meeting of the minds, that is proof of agreement.



      To invalidate a contract over a defective signature, a party would have to object timely to the signature; immediately or the first time they reasonably should have seen it.



      And then, since a contract is a meeting of the minds, you must reach a meeting of the minds about what an acceptable signature is. Both of you can draw vulgar graffiti tier art of a rooster and balls for all it matters, as long as you both signed it.






      share|improve this answer

























        2












        2








        2







        A contract is a meeting of the minds. If your conduct before and immediately after the signing resembles the way people act when they have a meeting of the minds, that is proof of agreement.



        To invalidate a contract over a defective signature, a party would have to object timely to the signature; immediately or the first time they reasonably should have seen it.



        And then, since a contract is a meeting of the minds, you must reach a meeting of the minds about what an acceptable signature is. Both of you can draw vulgar graffiti tier art of a rooster and balls for all it matters, as long as you both signed it.






        share|improve this answer













        A contract is a meeting of the minds. If your conduct before and immediately after the signing resembles the way people act when they have a meeting of the minds, that is proof of agreement.



        To invalidate a contract over a defective signature, a party would have to object timely to the signature; immediately or the first time they reasonably should have seen it.



        And then, since a contract is a meeting of the minds, you must reach a meeting of the minds about what an acceptable signature is. Both of you can draw vulgar graffiti tier art of a rooster and balls for all it matters, as long as you both signed it.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered yesterday









        HarperHarper

        2,7671214




        2,7671214





















            1














            I'm not sure if this is legal in the US, because the attitude towards name and identification issues is quite different from Europe.
            Where I live, only the written surname (first name optional) is considered a valid signature (in most cases). Some documents, like a Last Will, even need to be signed with your full name, including middle name(s).



            It is possible though to use any sign as your legal signature if the sign is registered and affirmed by a notary. This exception was intended for people who aren't able to write.



            I bet there's a similiar law in the US.





            share










            New contributor




            Julian is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.















            • 3





              In the US you can sign with an "X" if so inclined or unable to sign otherwise. It's quite liberal

              – A. K.
              yesterday







            • 2





              In the U.S., a scribble that only theoretically contains your name is perfectly legal as a signature (source: I live in the U.S.), so I'm inclined to doubt that a smileyface or emoji or whatnot would be prohibited.

              – Sean
              yesterday






            • 1





              Welcome to the site! Thanks for trying to help but we're looking for answers that are reasonably authoritative. We already have a detailed answer that explains that, yes, this is legal, so it's not really useful to add an answer of "I'm not sure", acknowledging that the US is different from Europe, and ending with "I bet [the US is similar to Europe]".

              – David Richerby
              yesterday






            • 3





              For your interest: The answer is correct for Germany.

              – K-HB
              yesterday






            • 3





              This is not true for the Netherlands. It would be wise not to make claims over the whole of Europe, as the laws are vastly different between even neighboring countries.

              – Sebastiaan van den Broek
              18 hours ago
















            1














            I'm not sure if this is legal in the US, because the attitude towards name and identification issues is quite different from Europe.
            Where I live, only the written surname (first name optional) is considered a valid signature (in most cases). Some documents, like a Last Will, even need to be signed with your full name, including middle name(s).



            It is possible though to use any sign as your legal signature if the sign is registered and affirmed by a notary. This exception was intended for people who aren't able to write.



            I bet there's a similiar law in the US.





            share










            New contributor




            Julian is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.















            • 3





              In the US you can sign with an "X" if so inclined or unable to sign otherwise. It's quite liberal

              – A. K.
              yesterday







            • 2





              In the U.S., a scribble that only theoretically contains your name is perfectly legal as a signature (source: I live in the U.S.), so I'm inclined to doubt that a smileyface or emoji or whatnot would be prohibited.

              – Sean
              yesterday






            • 1





              Welcome to the site! Thanks for trying to help but we're looking for answers that are reasonably authoritative. We already have a detailed answer that explains that, yes, this is legal, so it's not really useful to add an answer of "I'm not sure", acknowledging that the US is different from Europe, and ending with "I bet [the US is similar to Europe]".

              – David Richerby
              yesterday






            • 3





              For your interest: The answer is correct for Germany.

              – K-HB
              yesterday






            • 3





              This is not true for the Netherlands. It would be wise not to make claims over the whole of Europe, as the laws are vastly different between even neighboring countries.

              – Sebastiaan van den Broek
              18 hours ago














            1












            1








            1







            I'm not sure if this is legal in the US, because the attitude towards name and identification issues is quite different from Europe.
            Where I live, only the written surname (first name optional) is considered a valid signature (in most cases). Some documents, like a Last Will, even need to be signed with your full name, including middle name(s).



            It is possible though to use any sign as your legal signature if the sign is registered and affirmed by a notary. This exception was intended for people who aren't able to write.



            I bet there's a similiar law in the US.





            share










            New contributor




            Julian is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.










            I'm not sure if this is legal in the US, because the attitude towards name and identification issues is quite different from Europe.
            Where I live, only the written surname (first name optional) is considered a valid signature (in most cases). Some documents, like a Last Will, even need to be signed with your full name, including middle name(s).



            It is possible though to use any sign as your legal signature if the sign is registered and affirmed by a notary. This exception was intended for people who aren't able to write.



            I bet there's a similiar law in the US.






            share










            New contributor




            Julian is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.








            share


            share








            edited 12 hours ago









            Community

            1




            1






            New contributor




            Julian is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.









            answered yesterday









            JulianJulian

            191




            191




            New contributor




            Julian is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.





            New contributor





            Julian is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.






            Julian is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
            Check out our Code of Conduct.







            • 3





              In the US you can sign with an "X" if so inclined or unable to sign otherwise. It's quite liberal

              – A. K.
              yesterday







            • 2





              In the U.S., a scribble that only theoretically contains your name is perfectly legal as a signature (source: I live in the U.S.), so I'm inclined to doubt that a smileyface or emoji or whatnot would be prohibited.

              – Sean
              yesterday






            • 1





              Welcome to the site! Thanks for trying to help but we're looking for answers that are reasonably authoritative. We already have a detailed answer that explains that, yes, this is legal, so it's not really useful to add an answer of "I'm not sure", acknowledging that the US is different from Europe, and ending with "I bet [the US is similar to Europe]".

              – David Richerby
              yesterday






            • 3





              For your interest: The answer is correct for Germany.

              – K-HB
              yesterday






            • 3





              This is not true for the Netherlands. It would be wise not to make claims over the whole of Europe, as the laws are vastly different between even neighboring countries.

              – Sebastiaan van den Broek
              18 hours ago













            • 3





              In the US you can sign with an "X" if so inclined or unable to sign otherwise. It's quite liberal

              – A. K.
              yesterday







            • 2





              In the U.S., a scribble that only theoretically contains your name is perfectly legal as a signature (source: I live in the U.S.), so I'm inclined to doubt that a smileyface or emoji or whatnot would be prohibited.

              – Sean
              yesterday






            • 1





              Welcome to the site! Thanks for trying to help but we're looking for answers that are reasonably authoritative. We already have a detailed answer that explains that, yes, this is legal, so it's not really useful to add an answer of "I'm not sure", acknowledging that the US is different from Europe, and ending with "I bet [the US is similar to Europe]".

              – David Richerby
              yesterday






            • 3





              For your interest: The answer is correct for Germany.

              – K-HB
              yesterday






            • 3





              This is not true for the Netherlands. It would be wise not to make claims over the whole of Europe, as the laws are vastly different between even neighboring countries.

              – Sebastiaan van den Broek
              18 hours ago








            3




            3





            In the US you can sign with an "X" if so inclined or unable to sign otherwise. It's quite liberal

            – A. K.
            yesterday






            In the US you can sign with an "X" if so inclined or unable to sign otherwise. It's quite liberal

            – A. K.
            yesterday





            2




            2





            In the U.S., a scribble that only theoretically contains your name is perfectly legal as a signature (source: I live in the U.S.), so I'm inclined to doubt that a smileyface or emoji or whatnot would be prohibited.

            – Sean
            yesterday





            In the U.S., a scribble that only theoretically contains your name is perfectly legal as a signature (source: I live in the U.S.), so I'm inclined to doubt that a smileyface or emoji or whatnot would be prohibited.

            – Sean
            yesterday




            1




            1





            Welcome to the site! Thanks for trying to help but we're looking for answers that are reasonably authoritative. We already have a detailed answer that explains that, yes, this is legal, so it's not really useful to add an answer of "I'm not sure", acknowledging that the US is different from Europe, and ending with "I bet [the US is similar to Europe]".

            – David Richerby
            yesterday





            Welcome to the site! Thanks for trying to help but we're looking for answers that are reasonably authoritative. We already have a detailed answer that explains that, yes, this is legal, so it's not really useful to add an answer of "I'm not sure", acknowledging that the US is different from Europe, and ending with "I bet [the US is similar to Europe]".

            – David Richerby
            yesterday




            3




            3





            For your interest: The answer is correct for Germany.

            – K-HB
            yesterday





            For your interest: The answer is correct for Germany.

            – K-HB
            yesterday




            3




            3





            This is not true for the Netherlands. It would be wise not to make claims over the whole of Europe, as the laws are vastly different between even neighboring countries.

            – Sebastiaan van den Broek
            18 hours ago






            This is not true for the Netherlands. It would be wise not to make claims over the whole of Europe, as the laws are vastly different between even neighboring countries.

            – Sebastiaan van den Broek
            18 hours ago


















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