What is a Signature Block? How Electronic Signatures Work

What is a Signature Block? How Electronic Signatures Work

What Is a Signature Block?

A signature block, or an e-sig, is an electronic representative of your manual signature. A signature block allows you to e-sign digital papers such as agreements or bills on your PC or mobile phone.

How E-Signatures Work

E-signatures utilize the provided encryption link to verify your identification and then connect it to your signed document. A digital signature can be made only after you have completed the required fields that identify you as the authorized signatory, such as your email address, phone number, or photo ID.

The document gets your e-signature, as well as the date and time of signing. Finally, there is a possibility that some e-signature apps maintain a record of the document’s custody, the so-called audit trail. The audit trail is a record of the entire process of an agreement, being made electronically, and approval until it occurs.

E-signatures are as binding as the ones signed by hand. The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) would be the laws to refer to if one is to say e-signatures are as valuable as handwritten ones. See more facts about the topic.

Why Is a Signature Block Important?

Adding a signature block means that you are legally obligated to a document or transaction.

When you electronically put your signature in documents, the presence of your signature block proves who you are and your intention. It’s your online identity, specifically related to you, that makes the document authentic and acceptable.

Without a signature block, e-docs have no real legal standing or authority. Anyone could claim you agreed to something when you 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 is a Signature Block? Why is it needed?

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: Your email address, phone number, website, and social media profiles (optional) are all examples.
• 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?

Convenience is one of the most significant advantages that you can get an e-signature block. You can easily sign any document with just a click on a button instead of printing, signing, scanning, and sending it via mail or fax. This quite smoothens the whole process of signing thereby largely reducing the time you have to spend.

Another advantage is security. Digital signatures employ encryption to identify the persons who put on a signature and secure the contents of the document. A digital signature guarantees that the document can be signed only by you and also provides non-repudiation, where you can’t deny that you have signed it. Besides, they keep an audit trail which is very useful for digital document management.

Signature block vs. signature field – what’s the difference?

A signature block is completely the same as your electronic signature combined with other signatory details such as your name, title, and date. The signature solutions are offered in the form of digital images of your handwritten signature that can be copied and pasted into electronic files.

A signature field, conversely, is an interactive form field that allows you to sign your name via 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

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. The software captures your signature as an image to be embedded in the document.

Typed name fields simply allow you to type your full legal name to serve as your signature for that document.

Whether you decide on A or B, the e-signature you make complies with the law and it can greatly expedite the signing activity.

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, and 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, and 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.