Signing documents and contracts is part of the daily lives of both regular people and entrepreneurs. Fortunately, today, it is no longer necessary to make handwritten signatures in the traditional way on paper. There are tools that make it easy to create a handwritten signature, saving time and increasing productivity. We will talk about them in this article.
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What Is a Handwritten Signature?
We all signed documents hundreds of times in our lives with pen and paper. This signature is called a handwritten signature because it consists of a pictorial letter or handwritten drawing that represents the person’s first and last name.
A handwritten signature is a graphic image by which a person identifies oneself in the act and expresses agreement with the content of this document. It may consist of a series of letters, symbols, numbers, or any other characters that have a clear meaning.
These characteristics of a handwritten signature serve the legal function of guaranteeing a person’s identity since they cannot be easily reproduced by another person.
What Is a Digitized Handwritten Signature?
A digitized handwritten signature is a handwritten signature on a paper document that has then been digitized (using a scanner or a touchscreen) so that it can be transmitted or digitally archived. Namely, there are also solutions for saving an image of your signature on your computer so that you can use it as many times as needed.
The digitized signature is considered a simple electronic signature in accordance with the laws of your country. But there is a problem. In some cases, such a signature does not provide any guarantees regarding the identity of the signer and the integrity of the document. In addition, this type of signature presents a serious problem: it is relatively easy to forge, so it is not practical to use.
However, there is a paradox: this type of signature is one of the most commonly used by people to give consent to certain types of transactions, such as contracts.
Why Convert a Handwritten Signature to an Electronic One?
Like a handwritten signature, an electronic signature is a legal concept that expresses the consent of the parties to the obligations arising from an action, but this is not done in the traditional way on paper but online.
An e-signature solution has a major advantage in securing your contracts. Indeed, it provides full traceability of the signing process thanks to the electronic certificates generated during the process. It also allows you to identify the signer and guarantees the integrity of the document.
But keep in mind that to ensure the validity of the electronic signature, it is important to use at least an extended electronic signature certified by an electronic certificate.
An electronic signature certificate is the digital equivalent of a handwritten signature. There are several types, not all of which can be used to respond to a public contract.
Certificate for the Electronic Signature
The electronic signature certificate is nominal and is issued to one person, not a company. The certificate allows the signer to be identified by name, guarantees the integrity of the document, and binds the signer. In practice, it is contained on a smart card or on a USB stick.
Several companies called certificate authorities or e-certificate service providers can provide a certificate. And there are quite a few such organizations, but the conditions for obtaining DSC are almost the same everywhere. There are several types, and all of them cannot be used to answer a public contract. So, the owner of the certificate must be:
- a legal representative of the company (manager, president, etc.)
- any other person to whom authority has been delegated (to be included in the application file)
Convert Your Handwritten Signature to an Electronic One in a Few Easy Steps with SignNow
With a trusted e-signature service provider like SignNow, you can easily, quickly, and efficiently sign documents online anytime, anywhere. You only have to follow a few steps, and the document will be signed properly.
First, you need to create an account and verify it. After you receive a confirmation email, you can follow the link in it to the SignNow dashboard. Already there, you can upload your document for signature.
Next, fill in all the required fields using the top bar. By clicking “Fill,” you will have direct access to the fields that you have yet to complete.
To sign a document, click on the signature area. A pop-up window will appear, where you will need to sign in the empty space by drawing your signature. If you are at your computer but prefer to sign with your finger on your smartphone, you have the option to scan a QR code that will redirect you to the signing process. Then, click “Accept.”
After filling in all the fields and signing the document, click “Submit” to confirm the signing process. You will automatically receive a copy of the signed document by email.
