Which of the following is a factor when signing on behalf of another person?

• A. The registrant must have written authorization; the signature must clearly show you are signing on behalf of someone else.
• B. The registrant may sign without authorization.
• C. The registrant must obtain a court order.
• D. The signature must be the same as the other party's.

Answer: (A)

When you sign documents for someone else, your authority must be clearly established. You need written authorization to bind the other party, such as a client instruction or power of attorney. This authorization shows you have the right to act and helps protect both sides from confusion or disputes.

The signature should reflect that agency relationship, for example by indicating the signer is signing on behalf of the principal (such as “John Smith, agent for Jane Doe” or “Jane Doe by John Smith, agent”). This makes it clear to all parties and to lenders that the signer is acting with authority, not on their own.

Signing without authorization is not appropriate and can lead to questions about the validity of the agreement. A court order is not a typical requirement for signing on someone’s behalf, and the signature does not need to be identical to the other party’s signature—what matters is that the authority to sign is documented and the agency relationship is disclosed.