If you have been named as “Attorney in Fact” by a Grantor through a Power of Attorney document, there is only one method that any document should ever be signed under this authority.
When signing on behalf of a Grantor as Attorney-in-Fact, you should always sign YOUR OWN NAME, followed by the words “Power of Attorney“.
Do NOT sign the Grantor’s name — EVER!
By signing your own name with the words “Power of Attorney” after your name to any contract or other legal document, the person receiving the documents signed by you on behalf of the person who granted you the Power of Attorney understands exactly what is being provided.
(NOTE: you should also provide a copy of the signed Power of Attorney document whenever a contract or agreement is substantial enough to warrant it. That adds credibility to the signature and reinforces the nature of the relationship for the signature.)
If you sign only your own name without the words Power of Attorney, the signature provided is not a clear indication that the execution of the contract is done on behalf of the Grantor.
If you sign the name of the Grantor instead of your own as Power of Attorney, the validity of the signature could be questioned later, as it is obviously not the real signature of the person who assigned you as Attorney-in-Fact.
According to an expert from Estate Paperwork Services it is important that you do NOT use either of the above methods of signature on any legal document, as it only opens the signature up to legal scrutiny.
Remember, ALWAYS sign YOUR OWN NAME followed by the words ‘Power of Attorney’ when signing any contract, account papers, or any other legal document as an Attorney-in-Fact on behalf of the Grantor of a power of attorney.
Complete details on the Attorney-in-Fact process can be found here on Standard Legal’s Power of Attorney legal forms software.