Consigne
Who should sign for a company
Signing without authority is the costliest mistake, and it does not show until it matters.
Someone from a company signing does not mean the company is bound. If the signer lacks authority for that act, the document may not hold — and you find that out exactly when you need it, not before.
Who usually can
| Who | Normally |
|---|---|
| Sole or joint company director | Yes, broadly |
| Authorised signatory | Yes, within what their authority says |
| A managing director without authority | No, however it looks |
| A department head | Only if they hold authority for it |
How to check without going mad
- 1
Ask once, when onboarding the company: the power of attorney or a registry certificate.
- 2
Note who can sign what, and up to what amount.
- 3
On each contract, check against that note rather than asking again.
Important
If the amount exceeds what the authority covers, someone who does hold it must sign. A contract signed beyond authority is exactly the one that gets disputed later.
Watch out
Authority gets revoked. What was valid three years ago may not be today, and on an important deal a recent certificate is worth asking for.
Worth knowing
Adding an authority check to supplier or client onboarding turns this into a one-off step instead of a doubt on every contract.
›Can two people sign jointly?
Yes, by making both mandatory signers.
›What if the wrong person signed?
The document can be challenged. Better to redo it with the right person.
›Is this legal advice?
No. It is the practical criterion; the specifics come from your adviser.
A real case
The situation
A company discovers three significant contracts were signed by a director without authority.
What you do
- Starts requesting authority documents at client onboarding
- Redoes the three with the correct signatory
What you get
Later contracts are signed by someone who can, checked in thirty seconds.
The situation
Somebody without authority signs.
What you do
- Checks who may sign before sending
What you get
The signature holds up the day it is reviewed.
The situation
Nobody knows who the supplier's authorised signatory is.
What you do
- Asks while preparing the send
What you get
The document goes to the right person first time.
The situation
The signatory changed and nobody said so.
What you do
- Reviews authority at renewals
What you get
The record stays current without surprises.
The situation
An employee signs out of convenience.
What you do
- Redirects to the signer with authority
What you get
A questionable signature is avoided.
The situation
Authority must be evidenced to a third party.
What you do
- Keeps the authority documentation with the contract
What you get
Everything is provided together when asked.
This article answers
- who can sign on behalf of a company
- authorised signatory contract
- the signer had no authority
- verify signing authority