Signatør

Signatør is a term used to describe a person who signs a document or agreement, typically indicating assent or commitment. The word is used in legal, diplomatic, and corporate contexts and can refer to either the act of signing or the party involved, especially in international settings where it denotes a state or organization that has signed a treaty.

In contract law, a signatør is usually a person authorized to sign on behalf of a company, government, or other entity. The signature of a signatør binds the entity to the terms, subject to any required internal approvals or formalities such as ratification, approval by a governing body, or registration. The authority of the signatør is typically defined by power of attorney, corporate bylaws, or agency arrangements.

In international law, a signatør (often translated as signatory) is a state or organization that has signed a treaty. Signing signals an intention to be bound, but most treaties require ratification or accession to become legally binding. Signatories may undertake preliminary obligations, such as negotiating in good faith or refraining from acts that would defeat the treaty’s object and purpose pending ratification.

Not all signatures have the same legal effect across jurisdictions; some instruments enter into force upon signature, while others require ratification, accession, or exchange of instruments. The term signatør thus encompasses both the individual who signs and, in a diplomatic context, the party that signs a treaty.