Wet signatures remain necessary when law, notarization, or a party contractually requires an original ink signature on paper for evidentiary or procedural reasons.
A real estate agent manages multiple closings that require original signatures, notarizations, and certified copies. They coordinate signers, title companies, and escrow officers, ensuring signed documents are delivered on schedule and retained per transaction records policies for legal compliance and future audits.
An HR manager handles onboarding packets with a mix of forms: some require original employee signatures, others accept electronic consent. They maintain personnel files, manage retention timelines, and ensure that any wet-signed documents are stored securely and accessible for compliance audits.
Many organizations rely on wet signatures for specific transactions even while adopting electronic options for other processes.
Teams increasingly blend wet and electronic signing, using clear policies to decide when each method is appropriate.
Prepare and format documents in Google Docs then export to PDF for printing; integration simplifies template use and reduces formatting errors before a paper signing event.
Attach signed documents and custody metadata to CRM records so customer interactions show completed paperwork alongside electronic communications and historical notes.
Store scanned wet-signed documents in encrypted cloud repositories with versioning to protect against loss and simplify audit retrieval.
Coordinate notarization steps and checklist items, including ID verification requirements and notary acknowledgment fields to ensure legally-compliant execution.
| Setting Name | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Signature requirement rule | Paper required for notarization |
| Reminder Frequency | 48 hours |
| Signer verification method | ID check in-person |
| Scanning standard | 300 DPI minimum |
| Retention schedule | 7 years |
Determine the devices and software needed to capture, scan, and store wet-signed documents reliably before scheduling signings.
Ensure device security settings, automatic backups, and approved scanning apps are in place so scanned wet signatures are consistent, tamper-evident, and properly archived.
A buyer meets a notary to sign mortgage and deed documents that require original signatures and notarization on paper
Ensuring the originals are notarized and recorded, resulting in clear chain-of-title for property ownership transfer.
A school district collects signed parental consent for certain medical treatments and extracurricular activities that district policy requires in original ink
Leading to auditable, compliant student files that satisfy district and legal requirements.
| Criteria | signNow (Recommended) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legally enforceable in U.S. | |||
| Audit trail included | |||
| Bulk Send capability | |||
| API access |
Scan documents within 48 hours of signing.
Record custody within 24 hours of receipt.
Keep originals for seven years unless law dictates otherwise.
Follow state notary retention rules, often at least five years.
Shred originals after retention period expires.
| Attribute | signNow (Featured) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | Dropbox Sign | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting monthly price | $8+ per user | $10+ per user | $15+ per user | $15+ per user | $19+ per user |
| Free trial availability | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| API availability | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile apps | iOS and Android | iOS and Android | iOS and Android | iOS and Android | iOS and Android |
| Audit trail and records | Complete audit logs | Complete audit logs | Complete audit logs | Complete audit logs | Complete audit logs |
Generate, perform, and maintain workflows of any complexness, digitally from virtually anywhere. Scalable electronic signature features ensure you can share contracts with the right people in the correct sequence and define roles for every recipient. Perform document workflows faster and easier than ever before.
Enhance sophisticated signing procedures with airSlate SignNow�s highly effective tools to boost your operation. Take control of your automatic signature workflows to make sure they're running at peak performance with fast notifications and alerts.
Bring teammates together in a secure, shared workspace. Handle paperwork, use form templates and notices to deliver better cross-organization interaction. Relieve your employees from having to hang out on repetitive actions so that they can center on beneficial, business-critical tasks.
Run your projects with best-in-class integration. Capture Salesforce, Microsoft Teams, and SharePoint all in one business stream. Hook up your applications to a single system for endless opportunities and higher performance.
Feel confident knowing that your data is protected by the most up-to-date in encryption security. airSlate SignNow is GDPR and eIDAS compliant and gives you awareness into your signing experience with court-admissible audit trails. Set up user access permissions and rights to manage who has access to what.
