Having a document signed manually always requires some time and effort. With an electronic signature, it is possible to save both. There is no need to print a document, fax, or scan. In accordance with the E-sign Act, an electronic signature is as legally binding as an ink one.
Why Use Software
An electronic signature is a picture of a signature either uploaded from a file or drawn instantly. It is possible to add an electronic signature to PDF or any type of document using online tools, but you can also do it without the use of third party software. Any symbol put with an intention to sign counts as a signature. The software secures the content of the document from changes and verifies signatures. And it makes communication between all the parties involved more efficient.
Getting Started
Let’s assume you have a contract that requires the signatures of two partners. You go to the SignNow website and register for a trial period. After confirming your e-mail, you see a simple dashboard:
Creating a Document
You have the document on your laptop. You press the Upload button on the top. It is a contract that has to be signed regularly. You can save the document to templates and use it again later.
Choosing People You Want to Sign
You can invite another signer or multiple signers. It is possible to divide signers into groups. The second group receives an invitation to sign only when the first group accepts the document. An email of a person you want to notify when the document is signed can be added.
Additional options:
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Send an invitation link or authorize a signer to forward the document to a third party
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Add another level of protection by providing an access code to the signer separately in person or via an SMS to mobile phone
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Choose the day when the invitation to sign will expire (by default, an invitation expires in 30 days)
Inviting a Signer to Add Information to the Document
As soon as you decide on the order and number of signers, you see the document. You can add empty information boxes apart from the signature box. Adjusting the size of each box is simple. In this example, two additional text fields for each signer were included. The signers are asked to fill their names and addresses in. When you are adding a field, make sure the correct signer is active and then choose the type of the field. The app will color the field in the signer’s color. In this case, blue-colored fields belong to Signer One and orange-colored ones to Signer Two.
Additional options:
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Add an initials field on every page
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Ask a signer to checklists
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Let a signer choose a date by clicking on a pop-up calendar
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Request a signer to attach a file, an ID, for example
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Make any field conditional. In this example, Signer One can sign only if he/she adds his/her name
Seeing a Document from Another End
When you finalize your field choice, an invitation is sent to a signer’s email. The link leads the recipient to the document. Your partner does not have to be subscribed to SignNow. Each signer has access to the fields that were attributed to him/her.
When the individual signs, he/she either uploads a picture of his/her signature or prints or draws it using a mouse. If a person opens a document with a phone, it is possible to sign with a finger on a screen. One can even simply print his/her name into an electronic document. It will be presented in a handwritten script.
What Happens Next
When all necessary fields are done, the status of the document is shown as “signed,” and each signer receives a notifying e-mail. You can store the document on the SignNow account or download a PDF file. It includes all the signatures and a log with document event timing. The log shows when the document was viewed and signed by each person. The file contains a document integrity confirmation if the document has not been changed since you have sent it. When the document is signed, you cannot make any changes to it either.
More Features
The above-listed steps are enough to have a document signed in a couple of minutes. With its excellent software, SignNow solution is easy to use, and it has a lot of additional settings and features in case you need them. Short video explanations covering a wide range of issues are available on the SignNow Company’s website. There is a 24/7 live support service as well.
Why Use SignNow
The SignNow service lets every signer safely work with documents at his or her own convenience. The progress can be tracked, and if it slows down, a reminder will be sent. It is a time saver with a regular document workflow. Software becomes extremely useful when you need to deal with multiple signers on a regular basis. A team’s access to work with documents can be customized to increase the overall productivity of a team. SignNow lets its users sign and manage documents on the go and offline.
SignNow is protected with numerous internationally acclaimed safety standards and protocols. They are listed on the company’s website together with the awards it won.
The app offers three subscription plans starting from 8 USD per month per user. It is also included in the AirSlate Bussiness package.
SignNow is quick, safe, easy to use, and affordable. You won’t need another electronic signature app.
