Check out our workshop on how to sign on behalf of someone 101! Most of us know that a signature is the last thing we put on a document, but it can easily be one of the most critical detail. Most times, we may not know how to sign on behalf of someone else correctly. In this post, we will cover the basics of legally signing in place of another person.
Sometimes you will be requested to sign on someone else’s behalf, and the laws might be confusing. It depends on whether or not the person you are signing on behalf of has permitted you. Said permission should come in the form of a document. In standard cases, you only have to put p.p before your signature and the name of the intended signee under or above to make it clear.
What Happen If You Sign On Behalf Of Someone Without Permission?
It is a crime to sign on behalf of someone without their permission. In fact, you could even be imprisoned for this action.
If the other person is unaware that you are signing something for them and profiting from it, you are committing forgery. This is predicated on the intention to deceive another person. This is true even if you believe you have the authorization to sign anything. Therefore, it is critical to always get the authorization of the person on whose behalf you are signing.
So how do you get the authorization? When your boss or simply the intended signee assigns you the task of signing on their behalf, they always have to write an authorization letter beforehand. A letter of authorization comprises claims and signatures beneath it. The paper must be signed by both parties. As a result, it is legally bound.
Format For Signing On Behalf Of Someone Else
There are various formats for signing on one’s behalf. For the sake of simplifying the instruction, we will use employee-boss relation for demonstration, with the boss being the one that authorized the employee to sign on their behalf. You can use any of the followings:
First method: This is the easiest method because the composition is as straightforward as the purpose of the signing can be, which is “on behalf of”.
- (Employee name) on behalf of (boss name)
Second method: Using p.p. is one of the finest ways to sign on behalf of your boss. Legally, it’s the greatest technique to ensure that nothing happens to invalidate the legal binding of the document or letter you submit. The p.p sign also stands before your name or the name of the person that is assigned to sign on behalf of someone else. There are 2 ways to organize the signature.
- Boss name
- p.p. Employee name
- p.p. Employee name
- Boss name
Third method: A power of attorney (POA) is a document that allows an employee to sign for the employer. When using a POA in a letter format, the boss’s name should always come first. It was always followed by the employee’s name.
- Boss name
- by
- Employee name, Power of attorney
- Employee name
- Attorney for: Boss name
How To Sign On Behalf Of Someone
In different types of documents or cases, the way we sign in place of someone can be slightly distinctive. We will offer you the best tip below.
How to sign a letter on behalf of someone else
To maintain the letter’s business tone, use the concluding “Sincerely” or “Sincerely yours.” Sign and enter your name, then add “on behalf of [name of person you’re writing for].” By the end, you should have a small ending for the letter that looks like this:
- Sincerely,
- Signature (not obligatory for email)
- [Your name] on behalf of [name of the person you’re writing for]
How to sign on behalf of your boss
Always ask for an Authority Letter before you sign any type of document for your boss. Then, when the moment comes, you can choose to sign in the second or third format we have recommended above, which is more frequently used and has a better business tone. By the end, you should have a small ending for the letter that looks like this:
- Sincerely,
- Boss name
- p.p. Employee name
Or:
- Sincerely,
- Boss name
- by
- Employee name, Power of attorney
How to sign an email on behalf of someone
People can use any of the three methods we provide above in emails. However, the truth is that emails usually tend to be briefer and require a neat signature. Hence, people use the slash method, which we haven’t introduced above.
After the slash, you will put the initials of your name, separated by a dot. For example, if your name is Anna Marie, you should sign an email on someone’s behalf like this:
- Sincerely,
- Boss name / A.M
How to sign a document on behalf of someone
Signing a document requires a POA or at least an Authority Letter. Don’t sign without these documents/ permissions, and always read the content of the paper first, especially if it’s a contract or a list of bills. Then, you can you the same methods for signing in place of your boss, which involves the second and third signing methods.
Signature for someone else in business letter
In business letter, sign using these formats:
- Sincerely,
- Boss name
- p.p. Employee name
Or:
- Sincerely,
- p.p. Employee name
- Boss name
Signing a letter on behalf of your boss pp
These are the correct formats for signing using “p.p”:
- Sincerely,
- Boss name
- p.p. Employee name
Or:
- Sincerely,
- p.p. Employee name
- Boss name
For example:
- Sincerely,
- p.p Amanda Todd
- Mr. James Smith, CEO
Per Procurationem Signature Example
According to ArieNDevinsMom, a WordReference user, this is the correct way that they have used for years to sign for their boss:
ArieNDevinsMom
I write letters on behalf of my boss regularly. This is the proper way to do so. You are signing for your boss John Doe. Your name is Jane Doe and you are the Office Manager
Sincerely,
John Doe
p.p. Jane Doe
Office Manager
This is one correct way to sign using p.p. However, you can switch up the positions of various components in this signature:
This is Guernsey
Sincerely,
p.p. Jane Doe
John Doe
Signing For Someone Else With Permission Example
These are some of real-life examples of someone signing for another person with permission!
FAQs
What do you put when you sign on behalf of someone?
You put p.p before your name and the other person’s name under or above your signature.
Do you write the name of the person you pp for on the signature?
Yes, but the name of the person who directly signs are the one that goes after p.p, not the person who is the reason behind the document’s existence.
Can I sign on behalf of someone else?
Yes, but the person must give you an Authority Letter if the document is legally bound.
Tracy M. Hall was born in 1995 and studies society, human behavior, and mentality. She’s captivated by people’s interactions and motivations. After studying sociology, she got a Ph.D. in social psychology from Carnegie Mellon University. She wrote about human interaction, separation, and the future.
Tracy M. Hall is a social butterfly who likes meeting new people. She’s a superb listener and often acts as a confidante or mediator, eager to help others. Tracy’s life is an open book; Tracy shares her experiences to benefit others. She’s a natural optimist who feels everyone has something to offer and loves helping others realize their best.
Tracy M. Hall volunteered with mental health groups for years. She’s dedicated to destigmatizing mental illness and assisting.