source:
  type: guide
  id: fnma-sel-b8-3-03
  authority: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B8-3-03 — Signature Requirements for Notes
  description: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B8-3-03 — Signature Requirements for Notes.
  coverage_tier: operative
obligations:
- id: fnma-sel-b8-3-03-full
  canonical_id: fnma-sel-b8-3-03-full
  section: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B8-3-03 — Signature Requirements for Notes
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - fnma
  - selling-guide
  - corpus-expansion
  - tier-operative
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: Fannie Mae Selling Guide B8-3-03 — Signature Requirements for Notes
    source_class: fnma-guide
    source_url: https://singlefamily.fanniemae.com/media/document/pdf/selling-guide
    snapshot_id: 5f7b8b79da595d76
    fetched_at: '2026-05-25T14:09:57Z'
    content_hash: sha256:98cf85a02861bbe84914a0e339b327c8fc131869a8a573882007bbeea60c5701
    paragraph_quote: 'B8-3-03, Signature Requirements for Notes (02/07/2024) Introduction
      This topic contains information on borrowers’ signatures on notes, including:
      Borrowers’ Signatures on Notes Signature Requirements: Powers of Attorney and
      Guardianship Borrowers’ Signatures on Notes An individual whose credit (credit
      history, income, assets, liabilities, etc.) is used in qualifying for the loan
      must sign the note. An individual whose credit was not used in qualifying for
      the loan, but who does have an ownership interest in the property must be named
      in and sign the security instrument, but is not required to sign the note. An
      individual who is not a loan applicant but whose credit is used in qualifying
      for the loan pursuant to a requirement of applicable law, is not required to
      sign the note, but if they have an ownership interest in the property must be
      named in and sign the security instrument. An individual who is a co-signer
      or guarantor and who does not have an ownership interest in the property must
      sign the note, but is not named in (or required to sign) the security instrument.
      When an inter vivos revocable trust is permitted by B2-2-05, Inter Vivos Revocable
      Trusts as a mortgagor, and no individual borrower has an ownership interest
      in the property (either on title or by operation of law), the trust must execute
      the note, but may do so without recourse for the exclusive purpose of subjecting
      its interest in the property to the lien of the mortgage. See B8-5-02, Inter
      Vivos Revocable Trust Mortgage Documentation and Signature Requirements for
      more information about the Published May 6, 2026 898 documentation requirements
      for mortgages granted by inter vivos revocable trusts, including appropriate
      forms of signature for the note. A borrower’s signature should not contradict
      the name typed below the signature line on the note. Slight variations are acceptable—a
      missing initial, the omission of a “Jr” or “Sr,” or an over- or under-signing
      (such as a borrower signing as William Thomas Smith when the typed name is William
      T. Smith, or vice versa). Signiﬁcant variations—such as William Smith signing
      as “Skip” Smith, signing with an “X,” or signing under an “also known as” name—are
      not acceptable unless the lender obtains a name aﬃdavit from the borrower stating
      that they commonly use the alternative signature. Signature Requirements: Powers
      of Attorney and Guardianship The following persons also may be eligible to sign
      the note on a borrower’s behalf in accordance with the guidelines below. An
      attorney-in-fact may sign the note. See B8-5-05, Requirements for Use of a Power
      of Attorney, for further requirements governing the use of a power of attorney.
      A court-appointed guardian may sign the note if the borrower is not legally
      competent, provided that they have unlimited power over the ward’s aﬀairs, including
      the power to hold, convey, and give a lien against real property owned by the
      ward, to make payments from the ward’s assets, and to permit inquiries concerning
      the ward’s credit. The lender should obtain a copy of the documents making the
      appointment. If the guardian in some other capacity is a party to the loan or
      sale transaction—for example, the seller of the property—the lender should ascertain
      that there are no material conﬂicts of interest. Recent Related Announcements
      The table below provides references to recently issued Announcements that are
      related to this topic. Announcements Issue Date Announcement SEL-2024-01 February
      07, 2024'
  judgment: false
