AboutPaul D. Friedman, M.A., Ph.D., J.D. Expertise I have been a practicing civil trial attorney since 1989 and have a master's degree in bioethics and a doctorate of philosophy in comparative ethics of law, medicine and business.
I am Certified as a Civil Trial Specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and am Certified as a Specialist in Injury and Wrongful Death Litigation by the State Bar of Arizona Board of Legal Specialization.
Experience Experience in the area I have been a practicing trial attorney since 1989 and I have a masters degree in bioethics and a doctorate of philosophy regarding comparative ethics.
Organizations belong to State Bar of Arizona
State Bar of Colorado (inactive)
District of Columbia Bar (inactive)
Federal Bar
Licensed in Arizona District Court
Licensed in Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Licensed in the United States Supreme Court American Bar Association National Board of Trial Advocacy
American Association for Justice
Arizona Trial Lawyers Association
American Society for Bioethics and Humanities Kennedy Institute of Ethics National Association of Realtors
Education/Credentials Bachelor of Arts 1985
Juris Doctorate 1989
Master of Arts in Bioethics 2004 Doctorate of Philosphy 2006
Awards and Honors Phi Beta Kappa
Multiple Who's Who
Publications A list of my copyrighted publications and presentations is contained at WWW.EXPERTETHICS.COM
Question For a couple years I've been signing my signature as "Christopher G. H***" (last name censored for privacy). After holding up lines at the check-out counter signing that name on the credit card slip I decided to take an easier route, simply signing "C. H***".
My father saw that I had used that shortened signature to sign a loan document. He told me that I have to sign my full name, as the shortened signature is NOT legal. I asked if he knew for sure, and he said yes (too stubborn to ever say he doesn't know).
My question: Is he right? Must I sign my full name, or perhaps since I've been signing my full name must I continue to do so?
Thank you for your time.
Chris
Answer Chris,
Generally, a person needs to make his/her mark on a document. Before most were literate, it was an x which is how the phrase "x marks the spot" derived. There may be some instances on a legal form which asks for the full legal name where one must sign their full name. For instance, tax returns or a license may not to be signed as they are printed.
