Can I Integrate Electronic signature in Word

A digital signature in Word is a secure and encrypted way to electronically sign documents directly within Microsoft Word. This feature ensures the authenticity and integrity of the document, making it ideal for business agreements and legal documents.

To create a digital signature in Word using airSlate SignNow, you can easily integrate the service with Microsoft Word. Once integrated, you can select the document, add your digital signature, and send it for signing, allowing for a seamless signing experience.

Using a digital signature in Word provides various benefits, including enhanced security, streamlined document workflows, and faster transaction times. It eliminates the need for printing, signing, and scanning, saving time and reducing physical paperwork.

Yes, there is a subscription fee for using airSlate SignNow to create digital signatures in Word, but it is cost-effective compared to traditional signing methods. Plans may vary, so it's best to check the website for the most current pricing options that fit your business needs.

Yes, you can use a digital signature in Word on mobile devices with the airSlate SignNow mobile app. This feature allows you to sign documents on-the-go, ensuring flexibility and accessibility for busy professionals.

Absolutely! airSlate SignNow offers robust integrations with various applications, including cloud storage, CRM solutions, and collaboration tools, allowing you to manage digital signatures in Word more efficiently.

Yes, digital signatures in Word created with airSlate SignNow are legally binding and compliant with e-signature regulations. This means your signed documents have the same legal standing as traditional handwritten signatures.

Both terms - “electronic signature” and “digital signature” - are often used interchangeably, they aren’t exactly the same. Electronic signatures could be considered virtual representations of a pen-and-paper (“wet”) signatures. Digital signatures, also called cryptographic signatures, are a type of electronic signature that’s coded and encrypted in order to prevent the impersonation of a signee, tampering, and improve security overall.The main difference is that a digital signature is mainly used to secure documents and is authorized by certification authorities while an electronic signature (e-signature, e-sign) is usually associated with a contract where the signer has got the intention to do so: Difference Between Digital Signature and Electronic SignatureE-signature helps an individual to show his agreement to the conditions and terms of an electronic service. It can also be used to confirm the identity of the message's creator. Many countries give the same legal importance and significance to e-signatures as to traditional ways of executing documents. Here are the features of some most popular tools in this area: Best E-Signature Software Reviews & Comparisons | 2019 List of Expert's ChoicesWith electronic signature tools you avoid signing digital documents by hand - which is tedious cause otherwise you need to print, sign and scan all that stuff - that’s why such tools are on the rise. If you work with such signatures often, maybe you need some simple free tool which is specialized exactly for your business tasks. It really depends on the purpose for which you need this to sign an already typed document - it is often better to use a specialized tool, like Draw Your Signature Online and Sign PDF - CreateMySignature.com (instead of a regular image editor) to streamline your business documents workflow.

Does this option work - How to Create an Electronic Signature in Microsoft Word Documents?

I sure hope so! I do this all the time when I write a letter of recommendation. In fact I go one further. I don’t scan a signature. I ‘signed’ one a few years ago using my mouse skills in CorelDraw! and put it in a file, which I’ve used for virtually every (PDF) letter I’ve sent since. I’ve also received many such letters as part of graduate admissions committees, and never given it a second thought. I think the only real concern is for authenticity, and since most such letters come through a service that only the letter writer herself can log in to, there usually is no such concern.

Yes, e-signatures are legally valid in India. In fact, e-signatures have been recognized by the Indian law, with the passage of the Information Technology Act in year 2000.As per the IT Act, two types of signatures have the same legal status as handwritten signatures. These primarily include:(i) Digital Signatures: In this case, the signer is issued a long-term (1 to 2 year) certificate based digital ID stored on a USB token that can be used along with a personal PIN to sign a document.Note: Previously, the signer was issued a long-term (1 to 2 year) certificate based digital ID stored on a USB token that could be used along with a personal PIN to sign a document digitally. Now with Aadhaar, that complicated procedure isn’t required anymore. You can simply use signNow’s Aadhaar eSign to create a digital signature on the fly using your Aadhaar ID(ii) Electronic signatures: These electronic signatures combine Aadhaar identity number with an electronic Know-Your-Customer (eKYC) method (which includes sending an One-Time-Passcode to the mobile number linked to the Aadhaar card for verification)These Aadhaar based e-signatures and digital signatures are valid as long as they satisfy these conditions:(i) Electronic signatures must be uniquely linked to the person signing the document. (in the case of Aadhaar based signatures, they are linked by the unique Aadhaar ID)(ii) At the time if signing, the signatory must have control over the data used to generate the electronic signature (for eg: they should be able to directly affix the electronic signature to the document)(iii) There should be an audit trail of the steps taken during the signing the process(iv) In the case of digital signatures, signer certificates must be issued by signNowing Authority recognized by the Controller of signNowing Authorities appointed under the IT Act.Few of the exceptional cases in which documents cannot be signed electronically and must be executed using traditional handwritten signatures include:(i) Negotiable instruments such as a bill of exchange or a promissory note(ii) Powers of attorney(iii) Trust deeds(iv) Wills and any other testamentary disposition(v) Real-estate contracts such as leases or sales agreements.If you are looking to get legally compliant electronic signatures on contracts, invoices, quotes etc., try signNow, India’s first Aadhaar eSign solution that offers a complete fill-and-sign functionality with business workflows. Thus allowing users to finish their documents in one go.Here’s an informative ebook that will give you a brief overview of everything you need to know about electronic signature laws in some of the largest economies around the world: The Complete Guide to Electronic Signature Laws

UK LegislationLet’s take things from the beginning:Why companies have a retention policy for contracts?Section 5 of the Limitation Act 1980 that requires retention for the length of the contract or agreement and 6 years afterwards.How Limitation Act 1980 usually applies on contracts?This allows 6 years following the end of the contract for any party to initiate proceedings e.g dispute/litigation/arbitration/claim. Should this happen, your company would need to have in its position as much relevant evidence as possible.Therefore, in case of proceedings, the Section 8 of the Civil Evidence Act 1995 becomes relevant:“Proof of statements contained in documents.(1) Where a statement contained in a document is admissible as evidence in civil proceedings, it may be proved:(a) by the production of that document, or(b) whether or not that document is still in existence, by the production of a copy of that document or of the material part of it, authenticated in such manner as the court may approve.(2)It is immaterial for this purpose how many removes there are between a copy and the original.”In other words, scanned copies of original documents are admissible in court proceedings provided their integrity is non-disputable.How can I have a bullet-proof contract copy as evidence in a court?Should someone proves the electronic exchange of the document, the task becomes much simpler. Please also refer to the BS 10008:2008 - Evidential weight and legal admissibility of electronic information to ensure that the retention policy is sufficient.Contracts that have been signed electronically (and this can be audited) will provide the sufficient weight to pass the above test. Under s7 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000:7 Electronic signatures and related certificates(1)In any legal proceedings—(a)an electronic signature incorporated into or logically associated with a particular electronic communication or particular electronic data, and(b)the certification by any person of such a signature,shall each be admissible in evidence in relation to any question as to the authenticity of the communication or data or as to the integrity of the communication or data.(2)For the purposes of this section an electronic signature is so much of anything in electronic form as—(a)is incorporated into or otherwise logically associated with any electronic communication or electronic data; and(b)purports to be so incorporated or associated for the purpose of being used in establishing the authenticity of the communication or data, the integrity of the communication or data, or both.(3)For the purposes of this section an electronic signature incorporated into or associated with a particular electronic communication or particular electronic data is certified by any person if that person (whether before or after the making of the communication) has made a statement confirming that(a)the signature,(b)a means of producing, communicating or verifying the signature, or(c)a procedure applied to the signature,is (either alone or in combination with other factors) a valid means of establishing the authenticity of the communication or data, the integrity of the communication or data, or both.SummaryShould you have the sufficient method to prove exchange of documents, hard copies will not be required. Destroying hard copies in cases that the exchange/formation of the contract cannot be trailed is not advisable.What do you recommend?Establish a solution that involves digital signature and auditable method of exchange of documents and then revisit the retention policy. Until then, paying for storage is much cheaper than the risk of insufficient evidence.PS: I also understand that deeds are needed to be stored as hard copies as electronic signature is not accepted, but it would be great if someone else can confirm this.

[full disclosure: I’m VP Digital Transformation at Solutions Notarius Inc., a company that supplies electronic and digital signature solutions]It completely depends on the requirements. I do not believe there is a uniquely better e-signature solution for all scenarios. For example, if the type of documents to be signed require low to medium reliability only, most modern e-signature platforms could be ok, subject to meeting legal requirements in the applicable jurisdiction, but if the document must meet stringent regulatory and statutory requirements that include high reliability of identity of signers, those platforms do not typically meet that threshold.Ideally, you would analyze, define and obtain agreement as to what constitutes the minimal acceptable legal reliability threshold you are willing to accept - or that readers of that document will accept. Next, define the technology requirements that correspond to that threshold. Finally, research e-signature options that meet these requirements and provide the best combination of price, features, scalability, etc..Finally, it should be noted that higher legal reliability e-signature platforms and solutions can always accommodate lower reliability documents while the converse is not true…

Sometimes we really don’t understand what we mean under “best”, even this question doesn’t elaborate what the best service means? Which criteria the author believes the service fits the best? price?best design? Reliability?Let’s better talk about “suitable” for this moment and current needs.As the previous answers mentioned, do you need the service to be available on all major platforms or a signature that will stand up in court?Do you need a free simple solution, a feature-rich service that charges on the amount of signatures/documents signed or on monthly basis?Do you need to work with your documents on the go with low or no internet connection (while travelling, in the airport or plane)?And you can ask yourself with tons of such questions to create a matrix of features-service to choose the one you need. Or you can use 3rd party platforms like Alternativeto to initially select the provider you are interested in.When we conducted a closed beta testing for signNow recently, one of the goals was to understand the main criterias SMB owners from US use to choose a solution or switch to another one.We interviewed more than 230 businesses and what’s interesting, while the top factor goes to Security&data privacy, price or for example, digital signature availability is not in Top-3 of choices. Speed of an app/solution and multiplatform availability (works in web browser as well as on Mac, iPhone/iPad, Android and Windows devices) are what values higher.So, if there is a need to sign/send documents on Mac, iphone/ipad, android, windows and web browser and to work with documents offline, signNow is alternative to go with. We are still in beta, implementing some major requests from our beta users, but will be launching this September.And, signNow is free while in beta.