Tegningsrett

Tegningsrett, or signing authority, is the legal capacity to sign documents and thereby bind a legal entity such as a company or association in contracts, declarations, and other acts. It is typically held by individuals in leadership roles, such as the daglig leder (managing director) and/or members of the board, or by designated employees through a power of attorney. The scope and limits of tegningsrett are described in the organization’s governing documents (for eksempel vedtekter) and may also be registered with public registers.

The scope of tegningsrett can be absolute or restricted. It may apply to all acts within the ordinary course of business, or be limited to certain types of transactions, value thresholds, or specific agreements. In some cases, tegningsrett requires joint signing, for example two signatories or signing together with a second authorized person.

In practice, when a person signs within the authorized scope, the organization is bound by the act. Third parties may rely on the signatory’s authority, but may seek confirmation if the proposed action lies outside the known scope of authority or if there are questions about validity.

Changes to tegningsrett—such as appointing new signatories, altering limits, or revoking authority—are typically effected by the company’s governing bodies (for example the board or general meeting) and may require amendments to vedtekter or internal resolutions. Such changes are often recorded in the registered information via the Brønnøysund Register Centre, ensuring that external parties have up-to-date information about who may sign for the entity.