Whether a signature on a document is valid depends on the signatory being authorised for that transaction. In corporate files this question is asked almost every time. In translation, wording on authority is handled with particular care.
Source of the authority
Authority to represent rests on the company's own resolutions and their registration. The scope of the authority is shown by a document. That document is an annex to most files.
Sole signature
Some authorised persons may sign alone. This authority is defined expressly. If the document bears a single signature, the type of authority is asked.
Joint signature
Authority may depend on two persons signing together. A single signature does not bind the company in that case. In translation both signatures are shown.
Limit of authority
Authority may be defined by a type of transaction or by an upper limit. The limit is written in the document. The wording is carried over exactly.
Time limit
Some authority is granted for a fixed period. The start and end of the period are written. The dates are not skipped.
Difference between job title and authority
Holding a job title does not in itself show authority. Authority is proved by a separate document. The two concepts are not confused in translation.
Signing under a power of attorney
If the signature rests on a power of attorney (vekâletname), wording to that effect stands beside it. The wording is translated and its source is indicated. The power of attorney itself is a separate document.
Layout of the signature block
The signature block contains the name, the job title and sometimes a reference to the authority. The block is carried over as a whole. The order of the lines is kept.
Foreign job titles
On documents from abroad job titles point to a different hierarchy. A one-to-one equivalent is not always right. If necessary, an explanatory note is added.
Certificate of authority as an annex
The recipient usually asks for the document showing the authority too. That document is translated separately. It appears in the list of annexes.
Change of authority
Authority changes over time. The date of the document is compared with the date of the certificate of authority. Any mismatch is indicated.
Comparison with the signature circular
The signature on the document can be compared with the specimen in the signature circular (imza sirküleri). This comparison is made by the recipient. The translation service passes no judgement on likeness.
Missing wording on authority
If there is no wording on authority at all, that too is information. The absence is written in a translator's note. No assumption is added.
Branch office authority
Branch office officers may have limits different from those of the head office. This is why the unit name in the document matters. The unit information is kept.
Reference to a board resolution
A signature may rest on a board resolution. The date and number of the resolution appear in the document. This reference is carried over exactly.
Authority in electronic signatures
The question of authority applies equally to electronic signatures. The certificate shows identity, not authority. The two subjects are kept apart.
Form of the translator's note
Observations on authority are given in short notes. A note contains an observation, not a judgement. The form stays the same throughout the file.
Check before delivery
Signature blocks and wording on authority are compared against the list before delivery. A missing piece of wording makes the binding force of the document arguable. The check is not skipped.