COVID-19 E-Signatures for Secure Remote Signing
Award-winning eSignature solution
What COVID-19 e-signatures mean
COVID-19 e-signatures are electronic signatures used to sign documents remotely during and after pandemic-era workflows. In practice, a signer reviews a document online, confirms intent to sign, and applies an electronic mark, typed name, or click-to-sign action. The system then records identity details, timestamps, and document activity in an audit trail. Under U.S. law, the signature can be valid if the signer consented, intended to sign, and the record is retained with reliable evidence of the transaction.
Why they matter legally
COVID-19 e-signatures reduce in-person delays and keep document workflows moving while preserving enforceability under ESIGN and UETA. For U.S. businesses, that means faster turnaround, fewer paper steps, and a record that can support admissibility and attribution when the signing process is documented well.
Common implementation issues
Signer consent is sometimes missing or poorly recorded, which weakens enforceability under ESIGN and UETA. Identity checks can be too light for healthcare, finance, or real estate documents that need stronger attribution. Incomplete audit trails make it harder to prove who signed, when they signed, and what changed. Retention gaps can leave signed records unavailable when a dispute, audit, or compliance review occurs.
Who uses COVID-19 e-signatures
Healthcare
Healthcare teams use patient intake forms, consent forms, and release authorizations with HIPAA controls.
Real estate
Real estate teams use lease agreements, disclosures, and closing documents with remote signers.
Typical users and roles
A director of NetSuite operations at Xerox uses signNow to route the right documents to the right people in the right format. That kind of workflow fits teams that need structured approvals, system integration, and consistent signer records across departments and locations. A founder at Martin Properties uses signNow to execute documents online with compliance and built-in security, including mobile and offline access. That matches real estate teams that need lease and transaction documents signed quickly without in-person meetings or paper handling.
Best ROI. Our customers achieve an average 7x ROI within the first six months.
Scales with your use cases. From SMBs to mid-market, airSlate SignNow delivers results for businesses of all sizes.
Intuitive UI and API. Sign and send documents from your apps in minutes.
Core features for remote signing
signNow supports remote signing workflows that keep document handling simple, traceable, and suitable for U.S. compliance-focused teams.
Remote signing
Create and send documents without printing, scanning, or mailing, which shortens turnaround time and reduces manual handling across remote workflows.
Audit trail
Capture signer identity, timestamps, and document history in one record, which supports attribution and later review.
Templates
Use templates for repeated forms and agreements, which helps teams standardize language and reduce setup time.
Mobile access
Collect signatures on phones and tablets, which keeps approvals moving for field, mobile, and distributed teams.
Signing order
Route documents to multiple signers in order, which supports approval chains and role-based review steps.
Record integrity
Store signed files with tamper-evident records, which helps preserve integrity after completion and sharing.
How the signing flow works
The signing process follows a simple sequence from document preparation to completion and record storage.
Prepare: Upload the document and prepare the fields. Send: Send it to the signer by email or link. Sign: The signer reviews, authenticates, and signs online. Complete: signNow stores the completed file and audit trail.
Quick setup steps
Use a short setup sequence to prepare, route, and monitor a signing request.
Upload:
Upload the file and add required fields. Route:
Choose the signer order and delivery method. Review:
Review the document and sign it yourself if needed. Track:
Send the request and monitor completion status.
Recommended workflow settings
Use a controlled setup that supports attribution, record integrity, and retention needs for U.S. business and healthcare workflows.
| Setting | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| Authentication method | SMS OTP for remote signers |
| Signature type | SES for routine U.S. contracts |
| Audit trail | Enable full time-stamped logging |
| Document retention | 6 years for HIPAA records |
| Encryption | TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256 |
Platform and device support
COVID-19 e-signatures work across major desktop and mobile environments, with browser-based access and mobile app support for remote signing.
Desktop browsers Chrome, Firefox, Edge Desktop systems Windows, macOS Mobile systems iOS, Android
For regulated deployments, confirm browser policy, device management, and account controls before rollout. Teams often pair browser access with mobile apps, SSO, and API-based provisioning to keep access consistent across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
Security and compliance controls
Transport security:
Storage encryption:
Security reporting:
Information security:
Healthcare compliance:
Privacy and trust:
Real-world signing examples
These examples show how signNow fits remote signing, system routing, and compliance-focused document handling in U.S. business settings.
Enterprise operations
A NetSuite operations leader needed flexible routing for different document types across teams and systems.
- Xerox used signNow with NetSuite integration.
- Right documents reached the right people.
This kind of setup supports structured approvals, document consistency, and faster routing without changing the underlying compliance record. It is useful when teams need the signing process to match business rules, system data, and document format requirements.
Real estate
A property founder needed online execution for leases and related forms without in-person meetings.
- Martin Properties processed documents online.
- Mobile and offline signing stayed available.
The result is a remote signing workflow that fits property transactions, lease execution, and field-based work. It helps reduce paper handling while preserving a signed record that can be stored, reviewed, and shared after completion.
Practical setup guidance
A careful setup reduces disputes, supports compliance, and keeps remote signing records easier to review later.
Match authentication to risk
Record electronic consent
Standardize document templates
Define retention before launch
FAQ and troubleshooting
These answers focus on plan features, compliance requirements, and record handling that matter in U.S. signing workflows.
signNow Business includes legally binding eSignatures, templates, mobile apps, and audit trails. For HIPAA workflows, use a BAA and keep signed records for 6 years under 45 CFR 164.530(j)(2).
signNow Business Premium adds bulk send, while Enterprise adds advanced signer authentication and formula fields. If you need higher assurance, choose the plan that matches the document risk and compliance need.
HIPAA use requires a signed BAA and controls that support user identification, audit controls, integrity, and person authentication. signNow’s compliance posture supports that workflow when the BAA is in place.
ESIGN and UETA support electronic signatures when the signer intends to sign and the record is attributable to that person. signNow’s audit trail helps document that intent and attribution.
If a signer cannot complete a request, check browser support, mobile access, and authentication settings. signNow supports Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android for browser-based and mobile signing.
For regulated records, use retention rules and export completed files with the audit trail. signNow’s record history and completed document storage help preserve evidence for later review.
Vendor comparison at a glance
signNow appears first, followed by leading vendors that also support legally binding U.S. e-signatures.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESIGN and UETA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Audit trail | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| HIPAA support | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Starting price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
Rollout and retention timeline
Use this timeline to plan launch steps alongside retention and policy checkpoints for U.S. records.
Day 0:
Day 1:
Week 1:
7-day trial:
HIPAA retention:
21 CFR Part 11:
UETA adoption:
Post-launch:
Risks of poor execution
Weak attribution
Missing audit trail
Retention gap
No electronic consent
Compliance failure
What the audit trail records
The audit trail captures technical evidence that supports attribution, integrity, and later retrieval of the signed record.
Authentication:
Timestamp:
Document hash:
Seal:
Event log:
Retrieve:
Pricing and plan snapshot
Prices below reflect verified entry-tier data and plan notes from the provided ground truth.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free trial | 7-day free trial | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Bulk send | Business Premium | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
| Audit trail | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Envelope cap | No cap | 100/user/year | Not verified | Not verified | Not verified |
Key performance indicators that demonstrate SignNow's proven track record.