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

[Anonymous]

I'm a civilian who works in a military setting. In the military, people use " Very respectfully" or v/r for short. It's weird, but I've gotten used to it.

[Anonymous]

Anyone singing in your head “I have the honor to be your obedient servant, A dot Burr”? Just me?

[Anonymous]

Very truly yours is the much less nice version of Sincerely. They are not interchangeable. I practiced law for about ten years before changing careers. This was widely understood at the firms I worked at. You use sincerely for people you are genuinely being polite to. VTY was neutral or distant.

[Anonymous]

I don't. Sincerely or bust.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a civilian who works in a military setting. In the military, people use " Very respectfully" or v/r for short. It's weird, but I've gotten used to it.

Me too! So weird when I first saw it. For other correspondence I use some form of regards.

I have never seen "very truly yours," nor was I taught it at school or in private practice.

[Anonymous]

I use Sincerely when I’m being normal.

I use Warmest Regards when I’m being a jerk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote: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??

They don’t? I’ve never seen this.

[Anonymous]

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

Best Regards always sounds like Good Luck, You Idiot (or Poor Fool).

[Anonymous]

Sincerely. Very truly yours is too much. As is kind regards. Especially coming at the end of a contentious letter or email, it’s just phony and forced and/or insincere. Please just never say “Best, Larla.” That one seems to be a school mom favorite and it drives me up a wall.

[Anonymous]

VTY from an attorney seems like mockery. They might as well sign it "hugs and kisses" or "xoxo."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a civilian who works in a military setting. In the military, people use " Very respectfully" or v/r for short. It's weird, but I've gotten used to it.

I am former military. I love v/r because it doesn't imply closeness. I also deeply miss being able reply to emails with a simple "ack."

[Anonymous]

I'm an attorney and don't use it.

However, I don't think it's weird because I understand that it's old-fashioned and well-intended. But people don't know about etiquette anymore, and it's likely going to be misunderstood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VTY from an attorney seems like mockery. They might as well sign it "hugs and kisses" or "xoxo."

Maybe these are better?:

All my love

Forever yours

You complete me

Laters babe

[Anonymous]

More words takes longer to type = more billing time.

(Typing That'll be $50 at my job).

[Anonymous]

In France, business letters end with the equivalent of “please accept my most respectful salutations” with the most formal verbs.