alter ego

An alter ego is a person who stands in the shoes of another, thus having the capability of acting in different capacities. Thus in England, an alter ego is a representative of another person, with a different status or in a different capacity.

One person may be a director of a company and the trustee of trust property.  The person acting in the capacity of company director is an alter ego of the legal person of the company if he were to sign as 'Company Limited'; likewise, he may be the alter ego of the trust by signing as 'X Trust'.  Likewise, a person X may sign a document for another person Y. if X were to sign the document as Y (by signing 'Mr Y'), then he is acting as the alter ego of Y.

[Latin: other I or self]

Usage: The company director was held liable as the alter ego of the company.

Related Words: alias.