Replacing or supplementing wet signatures with electronic alternatives reduces turnaround time, lowers physical storage costs, and improves auditability while preserving legal validity under U.S. electronic signature law when implemented correctly.
Manages signature workflows and maintains signed paper copies. Responsible for verifying signatures, scheduling signings, coordinating witnesses, and ensuring retention policies are followed for regulatory compliance and internal recordkeeping.
Implements and supports any digital systems used to track or store signed documents. Ensures secure backups, access controls, and integration with document management systems while maintaining audit logging.
Many small businesses, legal practices, and regulated departments still depend on wet signatures for specific document types and compliance workflows.
Entities considering a move away from paper should map document types and regulatory needs before changing signing methods.
Clearly defined signature blocks and initialing lines reduce ambiguity and speed review; consistently formatted pages make it easier to confirm all required signers completed their sections and to identify missing signatures during audits.
Document clear witness requirements, include witness signature blocks, and maintain witness contact details; consistent witness practices help confirm signer intent and support document admissibility when challenged.
When notarization is mandated, retain the notary certificate and seal, record notary name and commission details, and store notarized originals separately to satisfy chain-of-custody and regulatory expectations.
Implement locked, access-restricted storage with inventory logs and controlled retrieval procedures; maintain a written retention schedule and secure destruction practices for end-of-life documents.
| Setting Name | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Reminder Frequency | 48 hours |
| Signing Order | Sequential |
| Authentication Method | ID check |
| Notarization Required | Per document |
| Document Retention Period | 7 years |
Wet signatures are inherently device-free, but organizations often use devices to prepare, display, or scan signed documents.
Ensure devices used for document preparation and capture meet image quality and security standards and that scanned originals are backed up and access-controlled.
A regional brokerage required printed purchase agreements for closing
Leading to faster remote closings when hybrid electronic notarization was used and properly documented.
A clinic used handwritten consent forms for procedures
Resulting in reduced wait times and improved record searches after selectively adopting electronically captured consents with retained scanned originals.
| Criteria | signNow (Featured) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legally binding in U.S. | |||
| Two-factor authentication | |||
| Bulk Send support | |||
| Remote notarization options | Limited | Third-party | Third-party |
| Plan / Vendor | signNow (Featured) | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | Dropbox Sign | PandaDoc |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting monthly price (approx.) | $8 per user | $10 per user | $14.99 per user | $15 per user | $19 per user |
| Free trial or free tier | Free trial available | Trial available | Trial with Acrobat | Free limited plan | Free eSign tier |
| API access availability | Available via REST API | Available via REST API | Available via REST API | Available | Available |
| Bulk sending capability | Included on plans | Included on plans | Enterprise feature | Paid plans | Included on paid plans |
| Enterprise SSO and admin | Available on enterprise plans | Available on enterprise | Available with Adobe Enterprise | Available | Available with business plans |
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.
