What does (SEAL) next to your name mean?

Many people are confused by the word (SEAL) at the end of a signature line on a contract. Some think this means the document must be notarized. Others panic because they cannot find their corporate seal.

It can look like this:

_____________________________________(SEAL)

Yosemite Sam, individually

Or this:

ACME SAFE COMPANY

By:_______________________________(SEAL)

Wile E. Coyote, President

Historically, the author of important documents would press his or her seal into wax on the document or to close the document to prove their authenticity. It was fairly easy to tell if the document had been opened and read -- because the seal was broken. Whenever I see the word (SEAL), I imagine a king sealing an important document to be delivered to his ministers in a foreign country.

Seals were required on contracts signed by corporations in the 19th century for similar authenticity reasons.