Procuration is the official term for signing for someone else. This term is taken from the Latin word procurare meaning “to take care of.” Now, when signing on someone else’s behalf, the signature is preceded by p.p. standing for per procurationem. The p.p. is a signal to the reader that someone signed the letter on behalf of another.

The ordinary process for other documents such as letters, forms or general legal documents is that you write ‘p.p’ before your signature, to demonstrate that you are signing for someone else. This will show the reader that you’ve signed with the authority of the intended signee.

Signing on behalf of others (often abbreviated as “for/on behalf of”) refers to the practice where one person signs in the name and with the authority of another. This typically occurs in situations where the actual signer is not available, such as business executives empowering their assistants to sign in their stead.