Signing as Attorney
When you are acting as a Power of Attorney (POA), you are representing another person in their place. This means you must sign your name differently than you normally would. Instead of using just your name, you must add the words “by attorney” or “as attorney” after your name. This indicates that you are signing on behalf of another person.
For example, if your name is John Smith, you would sign as “John Smith by attorney.” You can also sign just “John Smith” and Add “as attorney” directly below that.
It is important to note that you should never add the title of “attorney-at-law” or use any other legal terms when signing on behalf of someone else. This could give the impression that you are a licensed lawyer, which is not the case when you are acting as a POA.
Writing a Check
When you are writing a check as a POA, you must indicate that you are signing on behalf of another person. This can be done by adding the words “by attorney” or “as attorney” after your name. For example, if your name is John Smith, the check would be signed as “John Smith by attorney.”
You should also include the name of the person that you are signing for. For example, if you are signing for Jane Doe, the check would be signed as “John Smith by attorney for Jane Doe.”
Signing in California
In California, there are specific requirements for signing a Power of Attorney (POA). You must include the words “By Attorney-in-Fact” after your name. For example, if your name is John Smith, the signature would be “John Smith By Attorney-in-Fact.”
You should also include the name of the person that you are signing for. For example, if you are signing for Jane Doe, the signature would be “John Smith By Attorney-in-Fact for Jane Doe.”
It is important to note that you should never add the title of “attorney-at-law” or use any other legal terms when signing on behalf of someone else. This could give the impression that you are a licensed lawyer, which is not the case when you are acting as a POA.
Finally, it is important to make sure that you sign in the presence of a Notary Public. This ensures that the signature is legally binding and valid.
Great article! As a Power of Attorney, I fully support the idea of signing all documents in the presence of two witnesses. On top of that, having the document notarized is also something worth considering.
Great info! Making decisions responsibly.