Can you sign a document with just your name?
Sophia Koch
Updated on January 25, 2026
Accounts, document authentication, and more While typing your name can count as a legal signature, a business needs to have a way to prove that the individual who typed their name actually signed the document.
What does it mean to sign your name in full?
Full signature means signing with ones full name, ie. including your first, middle and last name. It means your full name also your surname with nothing missing in the same. Full signature has to be legible so that one can read exactly ever letter of your full name.
Does a signature make a document legal?
A document that’s legally binding can be upheld in court. Any agreement that two parties make can be legally enforced, whether it’s written or verbal. Their signature is proof of their acceptance of the contract. The signature binds both parties to the terms.
Is a picture of a signed document legal?
A JPEG is legal if all the requirements of a contract are met. If you prefer, a JPEG can easily be converted to a PDF either through an application on a smart-phone, or through a photo processing program such as Preview or Photoshop.
Do you have to use your full name on a signature?
Yes, if you define it you can and should use the defined term throughout the document, except that your printed name above/below the signature line should match the full name you used at the top. There is no such law.
Do you have to use your full name when signing a deed?
If you are signing a deed,or any to be recorded document you must use your full name. Banking practices have dictated this modern trend. Ancient practice only required a person’s mark. Then first and last names were used. And now, full names are the norm.
What’s the proper way to sign your name?
The proper signature is “Name, Title, Name of Company.” For example “Brandon Haubert, Manager, wh Law | We Help.” Because companies cannot sign for themselves, this signature identifies the person signing, the title and authority of the person, and the name of the contracting party.
Do you have to use a legal name when signing a contract?
As mentioned in this post, a signature identifies the person who created it. Generally, it is better to use a full legal name for identification purposes (eg. Adam James Smith as opposed to AJ Smith). According to the National Notary Association, the shortened version of a name is generally accepted.