By Chris Violette
Every written contract will typically have a signature line(s) for the participating parties to sign their names. These lines usually appear on the last page of the agreement (before any addendum or attachments) and may be on a page all their own. So, you’ve negotiated the terms of the contract, you’ve read the final draft which reflects your understanding of the agreement and, consequently, you sign it. Or, perhaps it’s a boiler plate template agreement you have seen a million times that you readily understand and have no acceptions with. Success, right?
What if, after the documents have been signed, a page (or pages) of the agreement is replaced with a new page that includes different terms from what you have agreed to? This can happen inadvertently when a contract has gone through numerous revisions and older pages get innocently swapped with those from a final execution copy. It can also happen when someone intentionally replaces a page in order to unilaterally – and nefariously – change or add terms more favorable to them. If you have only signed the last page, however, how could you show that those are not the terms you actually agreed to?
The most common and acceptable solution is to initial each page of the contract, typically in the lower right hand corner, in addition to signing on the signature page. This effectively acts as a unique watermark that would be noticeably absent if a page was inadvertently replaced and didn’t include the signed initials, or would otherwise have to be forged in order for someone with more fraudulent intentions to replace a page. Ideally, each party signing the agreement will initial each page but yours alone is better than nothing.
You don’t need anyone’s permission to do this. Just do it and protect yourself. It’s common, reasonable, and prudent. If anyone should object to you doing this I’d politely suggest running for your life (or at least for an attorney).
If this has been helpful to you please do ‘share’, ‘Like’, and pass along to your artist friends. I appreciate it very much.
Break legs!
Copyright 2015 Christopher Violette, All Rights Reserved
