Is an electronic signature legally valid?

Yes—electronic signatures meet legal standards when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are present under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA; these criteria determine enforceability.

What authentication is recommended?

Use an appropriate method based on risk: email OTP or SMS for low risk, knowledge-based authentication (KBA) for higher assurance, and RON or multi-factor authentication when identity proofing is required.

Do I need notarization or witnesses?

Most anti-steering disclosures do not require notarization; if state law, contract terms, or a lender policy requires notarization, follow those rules and retain the notary record or RON session accordingly.

How do I correct a signed form?

Do not alter a signed copy. Execute a corrected replacement with a new signature and clear cross-reference to the prior version, and retain both versions and an explanation for the audit trail.

How long must I keep the form?

Retention depends on industry and law. Maintain the form per applicable retention schedules (tax, lending, HIPAA). See retention guidance in this document for statutory baselines.

What if the client disputes the disclosure?

Preserve the signed form, authentication logs, communication history, and any supporting disclosures. These records form the primary defense in regulatory inquiries or consumer complaints.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Client Anti-Steering Form

Client Anti-Steering Form

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

CLIENT ANTI-STEERING FORM

Parties

Client Name: Client Address: Client Contact (Phone / Email): Service Provider Name: Service Provider Address: Provider Contact (Phone / Email):

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Client Name: seeks to engage Service Provider Name: to perform services described herein; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to confirm that Client shall make decisions regarding selection of services free from impermissible steering, undisclosed incentives, or other third-party influence, and that the Service Provider shall disclose any compensation, referral fees, or incentives that could reasonably be expected to affect Client selection;

WHEREAS, the parties intend by this Client Anti-Steering Form to set forth the obligations and acknowledgements relating to disclosure, independence of choice, and remedies for breach.

Scope of Work

Describe services to be provided:

Payment Terms

Total Fee: . Payment shall be made in the currency agreed by the parties and as set forth in the payment schedule below.

Payment Schedule / Milestones:

Late Payment: If any payment is not received within days after the due date, a late fee of % per month (or the maximum permitted by law, if less) may be charged on outstanding amounts. Client shall be responsible for collection costs and reasonable attorneys' fees incurred to collect overdue amounts.

Term and Termination

Term Commencement Date: . Term Expiration Date: .

Either party may terminate this engagement for convenience upon days written notice to the other party. Termination for material breach shall be effective upon days' written notice if the breach is not cured within such period.

Confidentiality

Each party acknowledges that in the course of performance it may receive Confidential Information of the other party. "Confidential Information" means non-public business, technical, financial, and client information disclosed in any form. Each party shall: (a) maintain Confidential Information in strict confidence using at least the same degree of care it uses for its own confidential information, (b) use Confidential Information solely for the purposes of performing this Agreement, and (c) not disclose Confidential Information to any third party except to employees, agents, or subcontractors on a need-to-know basis who are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those herein. Exceptions include information that: is or becomes publicly available through no breach of this Agreement; was known to the receiving party prior to disclosure; or is required to be disclosed by law, provided the disclosing party is given prompt written notice and an opportunity to seek protective relief.

Anti-Steering Acknowledgements

The parties acknowledge and agree to the following (check each applicable acknowledgement):

Client confirms Service Provider shall not, directly or indirectly, steer, influence, or require Client to select any third-party provider in exchange for undisclosed compensation, gifts, or incentives.

Service Provider represents and warrants that it has disclosed in writing all known direct or indirect compensation, referral fees, commissions, or other incentives from third parties that could influence Client selection.

Client acknowledges that they retain sole authority to select or reject any third-party providers and that selection will be made based on Client's independent evaluation of services, fees, and qualifications.

Representations; Remedies

Each party represents that it has full power and authority to enter into this form and that the persons signing below are authorized to bind the respective party. In the event of a breach of the anti-steering provisions, the non-breaching party shall be entitled to injunctive relief, specific performance, and recovery of actual damages, including reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. Remedies provided herein are cumulative and not exclusive.

Governing Law

This Form and any disputes arising out of or relating to it shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to its conflict of laws principles.

Entire Agreement

This Client Anti-Steering Form constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous oral or written agreements and understandings concerning such subject matter. Any amendment or modification of this Form must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Execution

The parties have executed this Client Anti-Steering Form as of the dates set forth below.

Client:

By:

Date:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

What the Client Anti-Steering Form Is and why it matters

The Client Anti-Steering Form documents a client's acknowledgement that they received multiple options and that recommendations did not improperly steer them toward a specific provider, product, or compensation arrangement. Common in financial and lending contexts, the form records disclosures about fees, alternatives, and conflicts of interest, supports consumer-protection compliance, and creates an auditable record for regulators, auditors, or clients who later question the decision process.

Why organizations use a Client Anti-Steering Form

The form provides clear evidence of disclosures, helps reduce regulatory risk, and documents informed client choice. It clarifies alternatives and compensation and supports consistent recordkeeping for audits and consumer inquiries.

Who typically completes or retains this form

Typical users include brokers, loan officers, financial advisers, compliance staff, and legal teams responsible for consumer disclosures.

Mortgage brokers and loan officers confirming borrowers received rate and fee alternatives.
Financial advisers documenting recommendations when commission structures or referral fees exist.
Compliance officers retaining evidence for audits, examinations, and consumer complaint responses.

The form complements other disclosure documents and should be integrated into onboarding and transaction workflows to maintain consistent records.

Step-by-step: Complete and store the Client Anti-Steering Form

Follow these sequential steps to complete, authenticate, and archive a Client Anti-Steering Form within your recordkeeping system and eSignature workflow.

01

Prepare: Confirm client identity and transaction details before disclosure.
02

Disclose: List alternatives, fees, and any referral or compensation arrangements.
03

Acknowledge: Obtain signature and date; record signer method and authentication.
04

Archive: Save signed PDF with audit trail and retention tags.

Common questions about completing and validating the form

Answers to frequent questions about acceptance, authentication, correction, retention, and what makes an electronic Client Anti-Steering Form legally enforceable.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature legally valid?
Yes—electronic signatures meet legal standards when intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are present under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA; these criteria determine enforceability.
What authentication is recommended?
Use an appropriate method based on risk: email OTP or SMS for low risk, knowledge-based authentication (KBA) for higher assurance, and RON or multi-factor authentication when identity proofing is required.
Do I need notarization or witnesses?
Most anti-steering disclosures do not require notarization; if state law, contract terms, or a lender policy requires notarization, follow those rules and retain the notary record or RON session accordingly.
How do I correct a signed form?
Do not alter a signed copy. Execute a corrected replacement with a new signature and clear cross-reference to the prior version, and retain both versions and an explanation for the audit trail.
How long must I keep the form?
Retention depends on industry and law. Maintain the form per applicable retention schedules (tax, lending, HIPAA). See retention guidance in this document for statutory baselines.
What if the client disputes the disclosure?
Preserve the signed form, authentication logs, communication history, and any supporting disclosures. These records form the primary defense in regulatory inquiries or consumer complaints.

Typical eSignature vendor pricing and capability snapshot

Comparing common vendor pricing and basic capabilities to support Client Anti-Steering Form workflows; signNow appears first as the first vendor column per comparison convention.

	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 trial	Trial available	Trial available	Trial available	Trial available
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

How to configure an online Client Anti-Steering Form workflow

Key configuration settings for templates, authentication, conditional fields, and retention tags to ensure consistent processing and compliance.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Use email link or SMS code; KBA optional
Template	Create reusable template with locked fields
Conditional Fields	Show compensation details when applicable
Retention Tag	Apply retention tag per policy (7+ years)

Typical electronic routing and signing flow

A simplified routing sequence shows upload, signer assignment, authentication, signing, and archival steps for electronic Client Anti-Steering Forms.

Upload: Upload PDF or DOCX and map fields.
Assign: Add signer emails and define signing order.
Authenticate: Use email OTP, SMS code, or RON verification.
Archive: Save signed PDF with audit trail and retention tag.

Technical considerations for processing forms electronically

Ensure your eSignature platform supports required integrations, authentication options, and file formats to process Client Anti-Steering Forms securely.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace
File formats: PDF, DOCX, XLSX, HTML
Auth options: Email OTP, SMS, KBA, RON

Security and compliance controls to protect form data

Encryption in transit: TLS 1.2/1.3

Encryption at rest: AES-256

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001

HIPAA / BAA: BAA available when required

ESIGN & UETA: Legal framework compliance

Access controls: Role-based permissions

Potential penalties and legal risks from incorrect forms

Regulatory fines: Enforcement fines and orders

License discipline: State licensing sanctions possible

Civil liability: Consumer lawsuits and damages

Reputational harm: Customer trust erosion

Loss of evidence: Altered or incomplete records weaken defense

Operational delays: Remediation and rework costs

Common preparation and processing mistakes to avoid

Incomplete disclosures that omit compensation details, alternatives, or material terms can trigger regulatory review and weaken client consent evidence.
Using inconsistent transaction identifiers or mismatching client names undermines auditability and makes it difficult to reconcile the form with underlying deals.
Collecting signatures without recording authentication method or timestamp removes key evidence for attribution and may limit the form's usefulness in disputes.
Failing to apply a documented retention policy or metadata tags increases legal risk and complicates response to regulatory or consumer requests.

Practical controls to improve accuracy and compliance

Adopt consistent templates, clear authentication rules, and retention tagging to reduce errors and ensure the form is admissible and audit-ready.

Standardize templates

Use a single approved template for all Client Anti-Steering Forms to ensure consistent language and mandatory fields. Lock core disclosure fields and enforce template-only edits through role-based permissions to avoid unauthorized changes.

Use strong authentication

Select an authentication level proportionate to transaction risk—email OTP for low risk, SMS or KBA for higher risk, and RON for identity-sensitive situations—and log the method for each signature event.

Maintain audit trails

Ensure each signed form includes an audit trail with timestamps, IP or device data, signer email, and any authentication codes. Preserve the trail as part of the immutable PDF for regulatory review.

Train staff and document process

Provide role-based training on when to present the form, how to complete disclosures, how to authenticate signers, and how to store completed forms. Document workflow steps to demonstrate consistent application.

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