Signature page

What is a signature page?

A signature page is the page at the end of a contract where the parties sign to show they agree to the terms. It names each party, gives space for the signature of the person signing for it, and records their printed name, title and the date.

In business contracts the signature page usually opens with a short testimonium such as “In witness whereof, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the Effective Date”, followed by one signature block per party.

What does “signature page follows” mean?

“Signature page follows” (or “signature page to follow”) is a note placed at the end of the last page of text, usually “[Remainder of page intentionally left blank. Signature page follows.]”. It tells the reader that the blank space is deliberate and that the signatures are on the next page. It stops anyone from adding text in the gap after the contract has been signed.

The matching line at the foot of the signature page itself reads “[Signature page to Master Services Agreement]”, so a loose page can always be matched to the right contract.

What goes on a signature page?

When a company signs, the signature block names the company first and the person signing second (“Northwind LLC, By: Jane Miller, CEO”). That makes clear the person signs on behalf of the company, not personally, so only someone with signing authority should sign.

Signature page template

Can you sign only the signature page?

Often, yes, but carefully. When parties sign in different places, each one can sign its own copy of the signature page and send it back, as long as the contract allows signing in counterparts. The signed page has to belong to the final version: in the 2008 Mercury case, an English court said that signature pages signed on an earlier draft cannot simply be attached to the final deed, and later cases have followed that view. Many lawyers therefore send the final text with the signature page, not the page alone.

Do you need a signature page with electronic signatures?

Not as a separate sheet. With an electronic signature, every party signs the same digital document, and the signature blocks sit at the end of it like a signature page does on paper. In fynk you place a signature block for each signer, and the block already carries what a signature page needs: the signer’s full name and job title, the signature itself, the signature type it reached (simple, advanced or qualified) and a unique signature ID. The date and time of each signature go into the audit trail, together with every step before it. You can also set the signature order if one person has to sign before another. The video below compares the three types of electronic signature and when each one is enough.

Which contracts have a signature page?

Nearly every written business contract ends with one: service and supply agreements, leases, employment and contractor agreements, loan documents and NDAs. These free templates already include a signature section:

Related clauses

• In witness whereof The "In Witness Whereof" clause is a traditional concluding statement in legal documents indicating that the parties have read, understood, and agreed to the terms outlined in the contract. It is followed by the signatures of the parties involved, serving as formal acknowledgment of their consent and commitment.
• Counterparts A counterparts clause lets each party sign a separate, identical copy of a contract. Every signed copy counts as an original, and all of them together form one agreement, so the parties never have to sign the same piece of paper.
• Execution date The execution date is the date on which a contract is signed by all parties, usually the date of the last signature. It can differ from the effective date, when the contract's obligations start, and is often written as "executed this ___ day of ___, 20__".
• Execution in counterparts The "Execution in counterparts" clause allows a contract to be signed in separate, individual copies, with each party signing their own version. All signed copies together constitute a single, binding agreement, even though the signatures may not appear on the same document.

Frequently asked questions

• Where does the signature page go in a contract?

  At the very end, after the last clause and before any schedules or exhibits. If the last page of text is not full, it carries the note 'signature page follows' so the blank space is not mistaken for missing text.

• What is the difference between a signature page and a signature block?

  A signature block is the set of lines for one party: name, signature, printed name, title and date. A signature page is the page that holds all the signature blocks, usually with a testimonium above them.

• Does a signature page need a witness?

  Most commercial contracts do not. Witnesses or a notary are needed only where the law or the contract asks for them, for example for deeds, some real estate documents, wills and powers of attorney.

• Is a contract valid if the signature page is missing?

  Many contracts can still be binding if the parties clearly agreed, for example by email or by performing it, but some, such as real estate sales, need a signed writing. Either way, proof is much harder. The signed signature page is the simplest evidence that each party accepted the final text.