Normally documents that are signed contain the following two elements:
- A statement
- One or more signatures that make the statement operative as a statement of the signers(s)
Examples:
(contract)
- statement: Contract. John Firstparty and Michael Secondparty agree to the following: …
- signatures: * John Firstparty Michael Secondparty*
(letter)
- statement: … We are having a fabulous time here in Antarctica …
- signature: * Thomas Tourist*
(tax return)
- statement: I certify the above to be a true statement of my income for the year 2007. I am aware that I will be sent to the salt mines if it proves not to be.
- signature: T. Axpayer
(obverse of check/cheque)
- statement: Pay to the order of (payee) (amount)
- signature: Bill Payer
The only instance that I know of a required signature without any explicit statement being signed is the endorsement of cheques/checks. In all other contexts a signature without anything being signed would be considered meaningless (or considered a blank signature, to be avoided because any arbitrary statement could be later written above the signature)
So:
[ul]
[li]What exactly is the implied statement that one signs to by endorsing a cheque/check? Is that statement spelled out anywhere?[/li][li]Why is that statement not printed on the check form, even if the reverse of the check is printed with a mark for the space where the endorsement signature is expected, i.e. it would not be more expensive to print the statement?[/li][/ul]