Resources > Glossary > Signing by X

Glossary of Notary Public, Mortgage, Signing Agent, and Loan Signing Terms.

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Common Terms 1   Common Terms 2

Signing by X

Function: verb

Signature by mark is often done by elderly people who can not sign their name due to poor motor skills. To complete such a signature, the signer signs an X on the signature line. Two subscribing witnesses are needed to assist in the signing. One signs the signers first name to the left of the X while the other signs the signers last name to the right of the X. Both subscribing witnesses need to name a notation in the signature area of the document who they are and that they witnessed the signing. Additionally, the subscribing witnesses should sign the notary journal in the additional notes section next to the signature or X of the signer. The subscribing witnesses' identification, address, and phone numbers should also be logged in the journal. The signer should ideally be thumbprinted in the notary journal to deter fraud, and the notary should communicate with the signer to make sure they really understand what they are signing. Many signers are mentally incapacitated due to being drugged by nurses, and due to being very old and near death.