paraaf

Paraaf, also known as paraph or parafe, is a short signature, initial, or flourish placed on a document to indicate approval and to help authenticate its contents. The term paraaf derives from the French word paraph, from para- "beside" and graph "to write" (in Dutch, paraaf is the common term). A paraaf is typically a few handwritten letters, an initial, or a small signature near the end of a page or along its margin. In multi-page documents, signatories may paraph each page or section to deter substitutions and alterations, while a full signature may still be required on the final page or the document as a whole.

In practice, paraphs are used in legal, commercial, and administrative documents, such as contracts, agreements, notarial deeds, and financial statements. They serve to indicate that the signer has read and approved the content and to provide a form of tamper-evidence without the need for signing the entire document anew. The exact requirements and effect of a paraaf vary by jurisdiction and document type. In some systems, a paraaf is legally binding as a form of authorisation; in others it supplements a full signature and does not replace it.

Overall, the paraaf is a recognized and widely used tool to attest authenticity and intent in written documents, distinct from a full signature but complementary to it.