Why do lawyers sign letters "Very truly yours,"?

[Anonymous]

It's so weird, like something you would write to your sweetheart. How is this an appropriate way to sign a boring business/legal communication??

[Anonymous]

Maybe they are "very truly yours" in the law but they aren't sincere nor do they wish you the best?

[Anonymous]

I'm a lawyer and not entirely sure. It is just the way that every lawyer I know closes their letters.

There are a few attorneys who write that and the last sentence of their letters include something odd like "with best regards, I remain" which just sounds weird to me.

A lot of practicing law is following style and procedure that takes a long time to change.

[Anonymous]

I use "sincerely"

[Anonymous]

"Very truly yours" is a letter ending statement emphasizing that the contents of the correspondence were composed with the utmost dignity and integrity. The use of the phrase "very truly" highlights the author's good faith attempt at providing you with truthful, accurate information. "Very truly yours" is often used by attorneys.

http://www.answers.com/Q/What_does_very_truly_yours_mean_at_the_end_of_a_letter

I was taught that "Very truly yours" is a "nicer" way to close and that "Sincerely" is an acceptable but "colder" way to close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"Very truly yours" is a letter ending statement emphasizing that the contents of the correspondence were composed with the utmost dignity and integrity. The use of the phrase "very truly" highlights the author's good faith attempt at providing you with truthful, accurate information. "Very truly yours" is often used by attorneys.

http://www.answers.com/Q/What_does_very_truly_yours_mean_at_the_end_of_a_letter

I was taught that "Very truly yours" is a "nicer" way to close and that "Sincerely" is an acceptable but "colder" way to close.

Our letter templates have VTY, but I always change it to Best Regards.

[Anonymous]

It's short for "your servant" or "I remain very truly your servant," etc.

http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/very-truly-yours.2146008/

I use "Sincerely" or "Best regards" or often, "Thanks", depending upon relationship.

[Anonymous]

I don't use it. I think it's weird.

[Anonymous]

I don't use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't use it. I think it's weird.

+1 - I've never used it.

[Anonymous]

I now exclusively use Best Regards. VTY is a relic of bygone client correspondence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I now exclusively use Best Regards. VTY is a relic of bygone client correspondence.

I hope you don't actually capitalize the "R"...

[Anonymous]

It's the traditional closing for a business letter. Sincerely yours is for social correspondence, or was back in the day.

I don't know why the people who decided to coopt Esq. decided to go old school on the sign off.

Best regards? Seriously? Best according to whom? What's so great about your regards?

I've had better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I now exclusively use Best Regards. VTY is a relic of bygone client correspondence.

I hope you don't actually capitalize the "R"...

+1 LOL

[Anonymous]

What does best regards mean, anyway?