Is a document legal if a signature does not match the one printed on a document such as the signature is the maiden name and the print is the married name?

Answer 1

According to Federal UCC the following applies to personal legal signatures: § 1-201 Definitions (Federal)

(37) "Signed" includes using any symbol executed or adopted with present intention to adopt or accept a writing.

§ 3-401. SIGNATURE.

(a) A person is not liable on an instrument unless (i) the person signed the instrument, or (ii) the person is represented by an agent or representative who signed the instrument and the signature is binding on the represented person under Section 3-402.

(b) A signature may be made (i) manually or by means of a device or machine, and (ii) by the use of any name, including a trade or assumed name, or by a word, mark, or symbol executed or adopted by a person with present intention to authenticate a writing. State Laws may have additional criteria. For example, Utah State Law states: "Signed" includes using any symbol executed or adopted with present intention to adopt or accept a writing.

Answer 2

There are thousands of types of legal documents. It would help to know which type you are referring to.

Generally, in any legal document, the signature should match exactly the name printed at the top of the document. A common category in which this type of issue arises is in the execution of deeds that convey real property. Although the document would be 'legal', that is, the grantor who signed their name incorrectly could not regain their property, the signing of the name incorrectly would require some action to correct the record. That could involve executing and recording a corrective and confirmatory deed or recording a scrivener's affidavit certifying that the person named at the top and the person who signed are one and the same.