California · Commercial Code

COM §8205: An unauthorized signature placed on a security certificate before or in the course of issue is ineffective, but the signature is effective in favor of a purchaser for value of the certificated securit

What this law says, in plain English

An unauthorized signature on a security certificate is invalid, except it remains valid when protecting a purchaser who paid value for the certificated security.

Read the full statutory text
An unauthorized signature placed on a security certificate before or in the course of issue is ineffective, but the signature is effective in favor of a purchaser for value of the certificated security if the purchaser is without notice of the lack of authority and the signing has been done by one of the following: (1) An authenticating trustee, registrar, transfer agent, or other person entrusted by the issuer with the signing of the security certificate or of similar security certificates, or the immediate preparation for signing of any of them. (2) An employee of the issuer, or of any of the persons listed in paragraph (1), entrusted with responsible handling of the security certificate.

Verify at the official source: California legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.