countersigning

Countersigning is the act of signing a document that has already been signed by another party, typically by someone in an official or supervisory role to verify, authorize, witness, or endorse the original signature. The countersignature adds credibility, confirms identity, or fulfills legal or procedural requirements that the primary signer could not meet alone.

Common contexts for countersigning include government and administration (such as passports, licenses, or statutory declarations), financial documents (high-value vouchers or checks that require a second signature), and professional or corporate practice (supervisory approval, notarial attestation). In many cases, the act of countersigning serves to attest that the document was issued properly and that the signer’s identity has been verified.

Legal effect and procedure can vary by jurisdiction. A countersignature is not necessarily a guarantee of truth; rather, it is an attestation that the signer is who they claim to be and that the document meets required procedures. The countersigner may be required to include their title, contact information, and date. Notaries public or other authorized officials often serve as countersigners to provide authentication.

Countersigning is distinct from co-signing. Co-signing generally implies shared liability by multiple signatories, while countersigning is primarily about validation, authentication, or authorization. In the digital age, electronic countersignatures or attestations may be used, frequently with a timestamp or digital certificate to record the attestation.