INITIALS (

See also:

• LAT

Lat. initialis, of or belonging to a beginning, initium)  , the first letters of names . In legal and formal documents it is usually the practice in appending a signature to write the name in full . But this is by no means necessary, even in cases where a signature is expressly required by statute . It has been held that it is sufficient if a person affixes to a document the usual form in which he signs his name, with the intent that it shall be treated as his signature . So, signature by initials is a good signature within the Statute of Frauds (Phillimore v . Barry, 1818, 1 Camp . 513), and also under the Wills Act 1837 (In re Blewitt, 188o, 5 P.D . 116) .