Should or Can I Sign This?

[AKL_Megs]

I am sitting here paying bills and going through other mail of ours. There is one piece of mail from DH's old bank. (When we married, we closed out his accounts and added him to mine.) I want to mail it with all of the other bills and get it out of the way, but it requires his signature.

It has got me to thinking.

As his wife, am I legally allowed to "sign" his signature on things like this FOR him?

 

[DoeWDW]

Not sure about legally, but in our house, my husband and I have given each other permission to sign little stuff like that. For example, if a check needs to be endorsed to be deposited, he knows about it but just isn't physically around to sign it, he is happy to have me sign his name.

Now if it were for a major purchase that we hadn't agreed on, then I would never sign his name.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[mjkacmom]

It's not legal, but I'm signed DH's name a hundred times at least - every single check that has his name on it, waivers, etc.

 

[Arielle22]

My husband considers it a punishment when I make him sign things. Like the PP, I would not sign his name on anything he disagreed with.

He knows I do it and does not care. Now, he could never sign my name as I write neatly while he scribbles.

 

[mtemm]

nope

 

[AKL_Megs]

Thanks! Signed, sealed, delivered!

Of course I would never make a big purchase without him... maybe just a Coach bag or something...

 

[RitaE]

My husband always jokes that if the bank ever saw his real signature they'd probably accuse him of forgery.

 

[sbell111]

Since teh answer to the OP's question is found in state law, most of us would not be able to reliably answer it for her.

That being said, it is not widely known that a check to be deposited doesn't typically need to be signed. All you have to do is write 'For Deposit Only' and the account number on the back and you're good.

 

[Inigo]

We always joke that we don't think our bank would cash a check if my husband signed it since they've never seen his signature. I signed all of his paychecks prior to direct deposit.

Heck, one year I even bought a house, signing his name a bazillion times, when he was out of town. (We did file a Power of Attorney for that one.)

 

[clh2]

My husband always jokes that if the bank ever saw his real signature they'd probably accuse him of forgery.

My husband was annoyed (with me) the last time he went to the bank and actually "signed" something...they wanted to see his ID.

He should've let me handle it...

I have signed his name a b'jillion times. To the casual of observers...I'm pretty good at it too! Let's face it...DH isn't going to sign a gosh darn thing as it relates to school stuff... and trust me, it isn't that he isn't interested in the goings-on at school...it is just that the school is too darn petty when darn near every form needs 2 parents' signatures.

 

[locolala]

I have a POA, so I can sign anything and everything.. and sometimes it's really nice when I'm doing bills.

 

[golfgal]

My husband always jokes that if the bank ever saw his real signature they'd probably accuse him of forgery.

Same here.

DH actually just endorsed some checks in my name today and I deposited those-hopefully they will go through --I am sure there won't be a problems since it was a deposit into a joint account.

 

[Binnie]

My husband always jokes that if the bank ever saw his real signature they'd probably accuse him of forgery.

It could be, and I'm not saying that it is, but it could be that someone possibly resembling me may have, only hypothetically, of course, actually signed the signature card for her husband...

And in theory--if that were the case--we might have the same joke.

 

[JessicaR]

My husband always jokes that if the bank ever saw his real signature they'd probably accuse him of forgery.

I sign the original bank signature card and his CC signature panels. I dont think he has ever endorsed a check.

 

[RNMOM]

My DH travels and this can be a problem. I spoke with my bank years ago and they said if things are deposited directly into the account to do as the above poster said, put "for deposit only" and the account number. I go ahead and sign it with my name anyway.

I think there might be a problem if you sign another person's name on anything. Maybe I am wrong but I would think signing your own name is much safer.

 

[LadyZolt]

Wow, this thread has been an eye opener for me. I've been married 25 years this month and it honestly never occurred to me (or to DH) to sign something for the other. We just tell each other if something requires both signatures and then we sign and deposit, mail it, whatever. Of course these days we do most stuff electronically anyway, but when we do have to endorse a check or whatever, we just both sign it. It has never been a problem and I can't imagine signing his name. I do have POA, but when you sign using that, you would sign your name and then say you're POA. For example, "Jane Doe (your legal signature), POA for John Doe (printed)". I haven't ever had to sign POA for him, though, nor vice versa. I guess for us, it just never seemed all that hard to just sign where we're supposed to.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[lillygator]

I think if my hubby signed anthing, whoever it went to would question it.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have never (until this thread, obviously) even considered signing anything other than a thank you note with my hubby's name! I mean never even thought about it for a millisecond.

 

[SydSim]

I was about to deposit one of DH's checks at the bank, while he sat out in the car, when I realized that it didn't have his signature. I told the clerk I'd be right back to get his sig, when she said that it didn't need it if it was going to be deposited. Learn something new every day.