What Is a Signature Block?
A signature block, or e-sig, is an electronic version of your handwritten signature. It allows you to sign digital documents, like contracts or invoices, on your computer or mobile device.
How E-Signatures Work
E-signatures use encryption to verify your identity and associate it with the document you’re signing. When you create an e-signature, you’ll provide info to prove your identity, like an email address, phone number, or photo ID.
Your e-sig is then embedded in the document, along with the date and time of signing. Some e-signature services also provide an audit trail showing the document’s chain of custody. This helps ensure the validity and security of electronic agreements and approvals.
E-signatures carry the same legal weight as pen-and-ink signatures. Laws like ESIGN and UETA establish e-sigs as legally binding. So you can confidently go paperless and sign everything electronically!
Why Is a Signature Block Important?
A signature block legally binds you to a document or transaction.
When you sign electronic documents, your signature block verifies your identity and intent. It’s your digital fingerprint, uniquely tied to you, giving the document credibility and legitimacy.
Without a signature block, e-docs have no real legal standing or authority. Anyone could claim you agreed to something when you actually didn’t. Your e-signature, password, or authentication method proves you reviewed and accepted the terms, safeguarding you and the other parties involved.
So next time you electronically sign an NDA, contract, or purchase, remember – your signature block is your bond. It’s not just a formality, it’s what makes the entire digital process possible.
What goes inside a signature block?
What s signature block typically contains varies. In order of importance, it will generally include:
- Your full name: Make sure to use your legal first and last name.
- Signature: This goes without saying
- Your title: Include your job title or role to provide context for readers.
- Company name: The name of your organization or business.
- Your contact information: Such as your email address, phone number, website, and social media profiles (optional).
- A closing: Like “Best regards” or “All the best” followed by a comma.
These elements convey your professional brand and give readers a way to contact you. Keep your signature block consistent across documents, emails and other communications for a seamless experience.
What are the benefits of the signature block?
One of the biggest benefits of using an electronic signature block is convenience. Rather than having to print, sign, scan and email or fax documents, you can simply apply your e-signature with the click of a button. This streamlines the entire signing process and saves you a ton of time.
Another advantage is security. Digital signatures are encrypted to verify your identity and protect the document’s content. This ensures that only you can sign the document and provides non-repudiation, meaning you can’t deny that you signed it. Electronic signatures also make it easy to track and manage documents by providing an audit trail.
Signature block vs. signature field – what’s the difference?
A signature block contains your electronic signature and any additional signatory information like your name, title, and date. It’s a graphic image of your handwritten signature that you can insert into electronic documents.
A signature field, on the other hand, is an interactive form field where you actually sign your name using a stylus, touchscreen or mouse. Signature fields allow you to physically sign documents electronically in real time.
Types of Electronic Signature Fields and How They Work
Types of Electronic Signature Fields and How They Work
There are a few common types of electronic signature fields used on documents.
- Signature pads allow you to physically sign your name on a digital pad. Your signature is captured as an image and embedded in the document.
- Click-to-sign fields let you sign by clicking a button to automatically generate your typed name or an image of your handwritten signature.
Draw-to-sign fields enable you to sign using your mouse, stylus or finger to draw your signature on the screen. Software captures your signature as an image to be embedded in the document.
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Typed name fields simply allow you to type your full legal name to serve as your signature for that document.
Whichever method you choose, your e-signature is legally binding and helps streamline the signing process.
Online Notarization and Remote Signing Explained
Have you ever had to get a document notarized or witnessed remotely? Thanks to electronic signature technology, online notarization and remote signing are now possible.
With online notarization, you can get documents legally notarized over the internet using a webcam. You’ll connect with a notary public via a video call and share your screen to show the document you need notarized. The notary will verify your identity, notarize the document digitally, and the final notarized copy will be automatically available.
For remote signing, e-signature services allow multiple people to view, sign, and get legally binding signatures on the same document from different locations. You just upload the document, add signature and date fields where needed, then invite others via email to review and sign. They can open the doc, verify the details, add an electronic signature and date, and click to finalize. The signed document is saved to the cloud where anyone with access can download copies.
