Wet sign remains necessary for certain legal or regulatory processes that explicitly require original ink signatures, notarized documents, or physical record retention, providing a tangible proof-of-signature in those contexts.
An HR Manager often collects ink-signed employment agreements, I-9 forms, and policy acknowledgments. They manage physical document intake, record indexing, and secure storage while ensuring signed originals are retrievable for audits or compliance checks.
A Loan Officer collects original wet signatures on mortgage and loan documentation, coordinates notarization when necessary, and oversees mailing and closing procedures to ensure each signed paper document meets lender and regulatory requirements.
Certain industries and specific transaction types still require wet sign for compliance, evidentiary, or notarization reasons.
Many organizations combine wet sign where required and electronic alternatives for routine processes, balancing legal needs with operational efficiency.
Create standardized document templates that include fields for original ink signatures, cover pages for notarization, and clear placement guidance to reduce errors and ensure all required originals are completed consistently across workflows and departments.
Integrate scanning workflows and mobile capture tools to produce high-resolution digital replicas of wet-signed originals, automatically attach them to associated electronic records, and index them for retrieval, audit, and long-term retention.
Apply consistent metadata and tagging for each scanned original, including signer names, dates, notarization status, and retention codes so paper and electronic records remain linked and searchable across systems.
Connect scanned originals to backed-up cloud storage or on-prem archival systems with controlled access, versioning, and tamper-evidence capabilities to protect the evidentiary value of the paper-signed record.
| Feature | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Reminder Frequency | 48 hours |
| Storage Location | Secured cloud folder |
| Retention Period | 7 years |
| Notification Settings | Email and system alerts |
| Approval Sequence | Two-step sign-off |
Capture and manage wet sign documents reliably by using appropriate scanning, camera, and document management tools across devices.
Ensure devices have adequate resolution, secure transmission to storage systems, and consistent naming or metadata rules so scanned originals remain legible, auditable, and linked to the corresponding electronic records.
A buyer and seller sign original closing documents in ink at a scheduled closing meeting to meet lender and county requirements
Leading to preserved legal record and clear transfer documentation that supports future title searches and dispute resolution.
A healthcare facility requires an original signed consent for high-risk procedures to comply with institutional policy and certain state rules
Resulting in both an accessible digital reference and a retained original to satisfy auditing, compliance, and legal discovery needs.
| Signature Platform Comparison Header Row | signNow (Recommended) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet signature acceptance policy | |||
| Remote notarization support | Varies by plan | Via partners | |
| Audit trail completeness | High detail | High detail | High detail |
| Bulk paper scanning integration | Third-party tools | Third-party tools |
| Pricing and Plans | signNow (Featured) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | HelloSign | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Starts at $8/user/month | Starts at $10/user/month | Starts at $9.99/user/month | Starts at $15/user/month | Starts at $19/user/month |
| Free trial availability | Yes, limited trial | Yes, limited trial | Yes, limited trial | Yes, limited trial | Yes, limited trial |
| API access | Included on plans | Paid API plans | Included on business plans | Available on upgraded plans | Included on business plans |
| Advanced authentication options | Two-factor and knowledge-based options | Wide variety | Broad identity tools | Standard options | SSO and 2FA |
| Enterprise document management | Available with enterprise plan | Enterprise features available | Enterprise integrations | Available on higher tiers | Strong document workflows |
Prepare, perform, and maintain workflows of any complexity, electronically from virtually anywhere. Scalable eSignature functionality enable you to share papers with the right users the right sequence and assign roles for every signee. Stream document workflows faster and simpler than ever before.
Improve complex signing procedures with airSlate SignNow�s powerful features to improve your business. Take control of your automatic eSignature workflows to guarantee they're running at maximum efficiency with quick notices and alerts.
Join teammates together in a protected, shared workspace. Handle paperwork, use form templates and notices to deliver more efficient cross-company communication. Relieve your staff from having to hang out on repetitive actions to enable them to center on beneficial, business-essential activities.
Manage your jobs with best-in-class integration. Assemble Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint in one business thread. Link up your software to a single system for endless opportunities and more productiveness.
Feel confident understanding that your information is protected by the latest in encryption security. airSlate SignNow is GDPR and eIDAS compliant and offers you visibility into your signing process with court-admissible audit trails. Configure user authorization and rights to control who has access to what.
