Does my signature need to have my full name to be valid?

[Casawi]

I went to take my GRE test yesterday, and I was required to sign some documents and provide my passport because I am not a citizen.
The lady working there is looking at my passport and my signature, then asked "Is this your signature?" and I say yes. My signature only has one of my last names, so she says it needs to match your name... she point to my full name on the paper work.
Then I said, the signature is in ink and as long as I match what is on my passport with same hand writing ... I don't see the problem.
At this point she flips out on me, and tell me that next time I have to have my name ... blah blah... asks for a different ID, which I didn't want to give her just so she gets the point that she is wrong.
She asked this other lady working there what to do, and they had to write a report or something ????... and delayed my test by 20mins.
I just keep repeating to her that my signature can be a symbol ... as long as it is consistent with all my document... which was my case.

Was I right or wrong ?


Edit: How about people who can't read or write? My grandma's signature is just a circle with a dot in the middle.

 

[Homerboy]

http://www.zug.com/pranks/credit_card/

 

[nakedfrog]

It depends. On my mortgage paperwork they were insistent that I include my middle initial in my signature, but I never use it normally.

 

[Leros]

My dad's legal signature consists of J followed by a squiggly line. He claims his full name is there inside the squiggly line. He's had no problems so far.

 

[torpid]

I can't believe you didn't do as she asked. That way you could have later disputed the results if you didn't like them. "That wasn't me! My signature is this here and not my full name. Why did you allow someone to take the test without matching their signature to official documentation? This person has ruined my educational opportunities and was only able to do so because of your gross incompetence".

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Leros
My dad's legal signature consists of J followed by a squiggly line. He claims his full name is there inside the squiggly line. He's had no problems so far.

Heh. Sounds like me. I don't have a signature. I "make my mark".

 

[ViviTheMage]

Originally posted by: Casawi
I went to take my GRE test yesterday, and I was required to sign some documents and provide my passport because I am not a citizen.
The lady working there is looking at my passport and my signature, then asked "Is this your signature?" and I say yes. My signature only has one of my last names, so she says it needs to match your name... she point to my full name on the paper work.
Then I said, the signature is in ink and as long as I match what is on my passport with same hand writing ... I don't see the problem.
At this point she flips out on me, and tell me that next time I have to have my name ... blah blah... asks for a different ID, which I didn't want to give her just so she gets the point that she is wrong.
She asked this other lady working there what to do, and they had to write a report or something ????... and delayed my test by 20mins.
I just keep repeating to her that my signature can be a symbol ... as long as it is consistent with all my document... which was my case.

Was I right or wrong ?

that just makes things harder for you....

Originally posted by: Homerboy
http://www.zug.com/pranks/credit_card/

pssh, I have been doing that for a while now, they never notice. Even on the electronic signatures.

 

[irishScott]

Full name is required for full identification on all official documents. Just an extra layer of ID.

Theoretically, it would be easier to steal someone's identity of only the first/last name were required (how many people's middle names do you know?)

I sign my full name on everything just to be safe. Besides, it takes about an extra 1/2-1 second, so why not?

Only exception was my Driver's License because I ran out of room.

 

[dainthomas]

Originally posted by: Leros
My dad's legal signature consists of J followed by a squiggly line. He claims his full name is there inside the squiggly line. He's had no problems so far.

So is mine. I used it to join the Navy and buy a house, and never had any issues.

If they make you change your signature, then what's the point of having a signature?

OP: I'm not a grammar Nazi but could you please fix the title?

 

[Casawi]

Originally posted by: torpid
I can't believe you didn't do as she asked. That way you could have later disputed the results if you didn't like them. "That wasn't me! My signature is this here and not my full name. Why did you allow someone to take the test without matching their signature to official documentation? This person has ruined my educational opportunities and was only able to do so because of your gross incompetence".

She wasn't about to let me walk in the test room. But nice try.

 

[BigJ]

I'm glad you like being difficult just to be difficult. Going in and taking a test that could drastically alter your educational career and you're worried about your damn signature.

 

[Casawi]

Originally posted by: BigJ
I'm glad you like being difficult just to be difficult. Going in and taking a test that could drastically alter your educational career and you're worried about your damn signature.

I wasn't the problem, she was. I was willing to sign whatever she wanted me to.... but I can't change what is on my passport already.

 

[Casawi]

Originally posted by: Casawi
I went to take my GRE test yesterday, and I was required to sign some documents and provide my passport because I am not a citizen.
The lady working there is looking at my passport and my signature, then asked "Is this your signature?" and I say yes. My signature only has one of my last names, so she says it needs to match your name... she point to my full name on the paper work.
Then I said, the signature is in ink and as long as I match what is on my passport with same hand writing ... I don't see the problem.
At this point she flips out on me, and tell me that next time I have to have my name ... blah blah... asks for a different ID, which I didn't want to give her just so she gets the point that she is wrong.
She asked this other lady working there what to do, and they had to write a report or something ????... and delayed my test by 20mins.
I just keep repeating to her that my signature can be a symbol ... as long as it is consistent with all my document... which was my case.

Was I right or wrong ?

that just makes things harder for you....

I only did that because instruction in CAPS stated that my passport is the only thing they will accept.

 

[LTC8K6]

Many times the full deal is required. Uncle Sam would accept no less when I had to sign my name 11 million times to join the US Army.

I regularly use 2 different signatures.

One for my personal stuff, and one as the boss.

As the boss, I always sign just my first 2 initials and my last name, and the bank has it that way on my sig card for payroll checks.

For my personal stuff, I use my first name, middle initial, and my last name.

 

[Casawi]

How about people who can't read or write? My grandma's signature is just a circle with a dot in the middle.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: Leros
My dad's legal signature consists of J followed by a squiggly line. He claims his full name is there inside the squiggly line. He's had no problems so far.

we might have the same dad

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: Casawi

Originally posted by: BigJ
I'm glad you like being difficult just to be difficult. Going in and taking a test that could drastically alter your educational career and you're worried about your damn signature.

I wasn't the problem, she was. I was willing to sign whatever she wanted me to.... but I can't change what is on my passport already.

Oh really?

asks for a different ID, which I didn't want to give her just so she gets the point that she is wrong.

 

[Casawi]

Originally posted by: BigJ

Originally posted by: Casawi

Originally posted by: BigJ
I'm glad you like being difficult just to be difficult. Going in and taking a test that could drastically alter your educational career and you're worried about your damn signature.

I wasn't the problem, she was. I was willing to sign whatever she wanted me to.... but I can't change what is on my passport already.

Oh really?

asks for a different ID, which I didn't want to give her just so she gets the point that she is wrong.

read above why I didn't.

 

[Deeko]

Originally posted by: Homerboy
http://www.zug.com/pranks/credit_card/

That was pretty hilarious. And I gotta say, as a former Circuit City employee, i DID check signatures But Circuit City employees haven't been on commission in years, so he was a little off.

On topic...my signature is sort of an M followed by a scribble. I know it isn't my name, but I have godawful handwriting, so unless I want to spend 5 minutes each time I sign, there's no way I can sign the same way twice. I just can't (in elementary school I was the only kid in the gifted program and special ed simultaneously...haha). The scribble, I can do close enough. I've only been questioned twice. once by a grocery store clerk, and once by an admin at work when I was signing for server access.

 

[Regs]

Signatures are not full proof in a court of law. Though it's hard to convince a judge it was not yours without reasonable proof.

When the judge asks, "Is this your signature" and you say no, it's your word against theirs. Again, the judge will likely ask for a history of signatures to compare. He will also use logic and reason , of course, based off the events that lead up to that signature.

Though if you have something to compare it too, like a drivers license or other form of document, it's more enforceable. Another way of enforcing signatures in formal contracts (contracts that have to be in writing) is having a witness or having it notarized.

Since signatures are not full proof, this is basically their way of telling you that you can't use this as a defense in a court of law if you dare try.

 

[laurenlex]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
It depends. On my mortgage paperwork they were insistent that I include my middle initial in my signature, but I never use it normally.

Same for me. I had a VERY difficult time including my full name and middle initial. It looked like a 3rd grader signed the mortgage. And looked different each time.

 

[hypn0tik]

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Leros
My dad's legal signature consists of J followed by a squiggly line. He claims his full name is there inside the squiggly line. He's had no problems so far.

we might have the same dad

I am your father.

I sign my last name the same way. My signature has a big S followed by a short squiggle and then a big J followed by a long squiggle.

 

[BigJ]

Originally posted by: hypn0tik

Originally posted by: Anubis

Originally posted by: Leros
My dad's legal signature consists of J followed by a squiggly line. He claims his full name is there inside the squiggly line. He's had no problems so far.

we might have the same dad

I am your father.

I sign my last name the same way. My signature has a big S followed by a short squiggle and then a big J followed by a long squiggle.

Oh really now....

 

[Vic]

Official answer: yes, you can be made to sign your full and complete name.

Unofficial answer: only if it's legible. Technically, your signature is whatever you say it is, provided it can be considered unique.

And a notarized signature, witnessed and attested to by a duly authorized notary public, does constitute "full proof" in a court of law. That's what notaries are for.

 

[StageLeft]

She be stupid. I have bought houses and cars and gotten passports and my signature has the first letter of my first name and then basically 1-2 letters from my last. It is 100% illegible.