"Vi Coactus" or "V.C." is used with a signature to indicate that the signer was under duress. The signer uses such marking to signal that the agreement was made under duress, and that it is their belief that it invalidates their signature.
What is considered under duress?
Duress describes the act of using force, coercion, threats, or psychological pressure, among other things, to get someone to act against their wishes. If a person is acting under duress, they are not acting of their own free will and so may be treated accordingly in court proceedings.
What are the four elements required to prove duress?
- The threat must be of serious bodily harm or death.
- The threatened harm must be greater than the harm caused by the crime.
- The threat must be immediate and inescapable.
- The defendant must have become involved in the situation through no fault of his own.
Can someone be forced to sign a document?
Coercion or duress is when someone is forced to perform an act (such as signing a legal document) against his or her will by using threats, physical violence, psychological pressure, or other tactics.
Can you sign a document for someone else with their permission?
In order to legally sign for someone else, the signer must have the express permission of the person she is signing for. For example, if your brother had not given you explicit permission to sign the lease, but you believed he would have so you signed to help him out, you might be in trouble.
Can you sign a document under duress?
What does it mean to sign a contract under duress? Being pressured to sign a contract under duress, also called coercion, means you're signing it against your will. In extreme cases, a party may threaten physical violence or even death unless you sign.