# What exactly is the statement one signs by endorsing a check? (why isn't it printed?)

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-statement-one-signs-by-endorsing-a-check-why-isnt-it-printed/453630>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 20, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-statement-one-signs-by-endorsing-a-check-why-isnt-it-printed/453630 "2008-06-20T22:29:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mops](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mops/32/16494_2.png) [@Mops](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mops)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2008, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-statement-one-signs-by-endorsing-a-check-why-isnt-it-printed/453630/1 "2008-06-20T22:29:59Z")

</div>

Normally documents that are signed contain the following two elements:

1. A statement
2. One or more signatures that make the statement operative as a statement of the signers(s)

Examples:

(contract)

1. statement: _Contract. John Firstparty and Michael Secondparty agree to the following: …_
2. signatures: \* John Firstparty Michael Secondparty\*

(letter)

1. statement: _… We are having a fabulous time here in Antarctica …_
2. signature: \* Thomas Tourist\*

(tax return)

1. 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._
2. signature: _T. Axpayer_

(obverse of check/cheque)

1. statement: _Pay to the order of (payee) (amount)_
2. 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]

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2008, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-exactly-is-the-statement-one-signs-by-endorsing-a-check-why-isnt-it-printed/453630/2 "2008-06-21T00:13:02Z")

</div>

The statement is “Pay to the Order of” on the front of the check, which is signed by the payer.

The payee, by endorsing the check (and sometimes by adding a qualifier such as “for deposit only”) acknowledges receipt or other disposition of the payment.