GA Code § 11-3-401 (2021)
2021 Georgia Code|Title 11 - Commercial Code|Article 3 - Negotiable Instruments|Part 4 - Liability of Parties|§ 11-3-401. Signature

  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 Code Section 11-3-402.   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.     (Code 1981, §11-3-401, enacted by Ga. L. 1996, p. 1306, § 3.)   Law reviews.   - For article discussing parol evidence in the law of commercial paper, see 13 Ga. L. Rev. 53 (1978).   JUDICIAL DECISIONS   Editor's notes.   - In light of the similarity of the provisions, decisions under former Code 1933, § 14-6-4 and former Code Sections11-3-401,11-3-402, are included in the annotations for this section.    An account in a fictitious name is recognized in Georgia. National Factor & Inv. Corp. v. State Bank, 224 Ga. 535, 163 S.E.2d 817 (1968) (decided under former Code Section11-3-401).   Trade name.   - Under Georgia law, a person operating a business under a trade name may endorse personally checks drawn to that person under the trade name. Perini Corp. v. First Nat'l Bank, 553 F.2d 398 (5th Cir. 1977) (decided under former Code Section 11-3-401).   General endorsers.    - All who sign their names without qualification, and in absence of any contrary agreement, are placed in same category, as to presentment and notice of dishonor, as technical or general endorsers; that is, those who endorse for the purpose of transferring title. Massell v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 57 Ga. App. 460, 196 S.E. 115 (1938) (decided under former Code 1933, § 14-604).   Signing back of instrument.    - One who places signature on back of instrument without indicating intention to be bound in capacity other than endorser is deemed to be an endorser in legal sense of the word, and is entitled to have note presented to the one primarily liable, and, if it is not paid, to notice of dishonor. McCarroll v. First Inv. Co., 109 Ga. App. 748, 137 S.E.2d 319 (1964) (decided under former Code 1933, § 14-604).    One signing back of negotiable instrument other than as maker, drawer, or acceptor is an endorser and not a surety. Pitman v. Pitman, 215 Ga. 585, 111 S.E.2d 721 (1959) (decided under former Code 1933, § 14-604).   One signing, without more, for accommodation of maker.    - One who places name on back of promissory note, without more, for purpose of lending credit to the instrument for accommodation of maker, is nevertheless an endorser in the legal sense of the word, and is not a surety, unless as between the original parties one is shown to be a surety by agreement of the parties thereto. Massell v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 57 Ga. App. 460, 196 S.E. 115 (1938) (decided under former Code 1933, § 14-604).    Where evidence showed only that defendant signed name on back of a promissory note for sole purpose of lending credit to maker, the fact of suretyship was not established, and statute of limitations applicable to such endorser was same as that applicable to parties on the face of the instrument. Cantrell v. Byars, 66 Ga. App. 672, 19 S.E.2d 44 (1942) (decided under former Code 1933, § 14-604).   One may prove, as between immediate parties, intention to be other than endorser.    - Section does not prevent endorser from alleging and proving as between immediate parties to note, endorser's intention to be bound in a capacity other than endorser. Hopkins Auto. Equip. Co. v. Lyon, 59 Ga. App. 468, 1 S.E.2d 460 (1939) (decided under former Code 1933, § 14-604).    To establish prima facie that one is not an endorser one must clearly indicate by appropriate words an intention to be bound in some other capacity. Hopkins Auto. Equip. Co. v. Lyon, 59 Ga. App. 468, 1 S.E.2d 460 (1939) (decided under former Code 1933, § 14-604).   Admissibility of parol evidence.    - Where a person places signature on back of note without indicating by appropriate words one's intention to be bound in capacity other than endorser, it may be alleged and shown by parol evidence in this state, as between immediate persons, or those taking with notice of dishonor, or actual facts of such endorsement, that the one so placing name on the back of the instrument was to be bound in some other capacity. Massell v. Prudential Ins. Co. of Am., 57 Ga. App. 460, 196 S.E. 115 (1938) (decided under former Code 1933, § 14-604).    Cited in Willard v. Stewart Title Guar. Co., 264 Ga. 555, 448 S.E.2d 696 (1994); Southtrust Bank v. Parker, 226 Ga. App. 292, 486 S.E.2d 402 (1997).   RESEARCH REFERENCES   Am. Jur. 2d.   - 11 Am. Jur. 2d, Bills and Notes, § 60 et seq. 12 Am. Jur. 2d, Bills and Notes, § 497 et seq.   C.J.S.   - 10 C.J.S., Bills and Notes, §§ 27 et seq., 80. 80 C.J.S., Signatures, § 1 et seq.   U.L.A.   - Uniform Commercial Code (U.L.A.) § 3-401.   ALR.    - Place of maker's signature on bill or note, 20 A.L.R. 394.    Necessity of endorsement by all payees before maturity to make a transferee a bona fide holder, 25 A.L.R. 163.    Sufficiency of signing or endorsing bill or note by printing or stamping, 46 A.L.R. 1498.    Necessity that checks be signed by all persons in whose name the deposit stands, 61 A.L.R. 967.    Addition of word indicating representative or fiduciary capacity after name of payee, endorser, or endorsee on commercial paper as charging transferee with notice of trust in favor of third parties or of defenses in maker, 61 A.L.R. 1389.