A contract signature rule adopted by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners generally imposing a nine-month time limit from the effective date of the treaty reinsurance agreement to the time when the treaty reinsurance contract must be actually executed by the ceding company and the reinsurer or, in the case of multiple reinsurers, the lead designated reinsurer. The rule enables the ceding company to comply with statutory and/or regulatory requirements and receive accounting treatment as prospective, as opposed to retroactive reinsurance.