Blank Endorsement Law and Legal Definition
Blank endorsement means an endorsement on a negotiable instrument with no indication about the payee. As a result, such negotiable instruments becomes payable to the bearer. Under a blank endorsement, possession alone is evidence of title, at least prima facie. Usually, the holder of a negotiable note, under a blank endorsement, is considered as having a full and complete title to the instrument by delivery, when supported on regular endorsements. And it is immaterial that through how many hands it may have passed in pursuance of this simple mode of transfer. Hence, a blank endorsement is sufficient of itself to transfer a right of action to any bona fide holder. It is also called as endorsement in blank or blank indorsement. The term blank indorsement is found only in older American documents.
Following is an example of a case law explaining a blank endorsement. “A blank endorsement implies a transfer to a holder, of a bill, of some right to it, and of absolute dominion over it, and also, an authority to fill up the blank, so as to exhibit written proof of the specific character of that right; and of course, as long as the holder has possession of the bill, his inherent power to fill up the blank, co-existing with his right, does not depend on the continued will, or the life, of an endorser, who parts with all his control over it, and, as afterwards is made certain by the filling of the blank, all his interest in it, by endorsing his name on it, and delivering it to the holder. The filling of the blank endorsement by writing a full and formal assignment to the holder, is only expressio eorum quoe taicte insunt; the expression of those things which are inherent in, or implied by, the simple endorsement of the name itself. “[Cope v. Daniel, 39 Ky. 415 (Ky. 1840)].
