Is DocuSign an acceptable signature?
Asked by: Verlie Koss | Last update: November 24, 2025Score: 4.5/5 (22 votes)
And, again, the short answer is yes. E-signatures are widely recognized and accepted throughout the industrialized world, and they can be – when implemented like Docusign eSignature – more secure than traditional paper-based signatures and thus less susceptible to forgery.
Is DocuSign considered a legal signature?
Are DocuSign's electronic signatures legally binding? DocuSign eSignatures are valid and legally binding across the globe and in use in 188 countries around the world.
Is DocuSign legally binding in Canada?
Yes. Top-tier, credible electronic signature platforms such as Docusign eSignature can help you comply with PIPEDA, ESIGN, UETA, eIDAS, and other national laws worldwide, enabling you to sign agreements that are legally enforceable both here and abroad.
How do I know a DocuSign signature is valid?
When a DocuSigned document is viewed in the Adobe Acrobat Reader, Adobe displays a seal that indicates the signatures are valid. Refer to image and image key below. This validation seal is lost when the document is imaged or printed but that does not invalidate the signatures.
Is DocuSign as good as a wet signature?
E-signatures are more secure than traditional wet signatures and thus less susceptible to forgery. Contracts signed with Docusign eSignature come with a secure electronic record.
E-Signatures vs. Digital Signatures (In About A Minute)
Does DocuSign use your actual signature?
Yes. If you want to use your handwritten signature and initials in eSignature, upload a scanned image of them. You can also create a signature and initials in eSignature using a stylus or your finger on a touchscreen device.
Can DocuSign be used in court?
The Docusign eSignature audit trail includes all the components mentioned in the case law and follows a secure and documented process necessary for court admissibility: A complete, automated history of every viewing, printing, sending, signing or declining activity, including key event timestamps.
How secure is a DocuSign signature?
DocuSign uses PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) technology with X. 509-compliant certificates. A Certificate Authority ensures the key security. The World Bank does not maintain or store any keys for signing and does not store data for registering the identity of individuals.
How to authenticate a DocuSign signature?
- Click Setup.
- In the Administration Tools menu, expand Processes.
- Expand e-Signature and then click on DocuSign. ...
- Click Authenticate. ...
- In the Email field, enter your email address and click Next.
- In the Password field, enter your password and click Log In.
How can I check if a signature is valid?
Signature validity is determined by checking the authenticity of the signature's digital ID certificate status and document integrity. To verify authenticity, the validator checks if the signer's certificate or its parent certificates are trusted.
Which documents cannot be signed electronically?
- Sales Agreements for land or buildings.
- Wills.
- Any document where another type of signature (i.e. non-electronic) has been agreed to.
- Any document where the law requires another type of signature.
- Long term lease agreements of 20 years and longer.
What are the four requirements for an electronic signature to be valid?
- Intent to sign. ...
- Consent to do business electronically. ...
- Opt-out clause. ...
- Signed copies. ...
- Record retention.
What are the rules for secure electronic signature in Canada?
- identifies the certification authority that issued it and is digitally signed by that certification authority;
- identifies, or can be used to identify, the person; and.
Is DocuSign a certified digital signature?
Docusign eSignature is certificate-based signing performed digitally. Each signed document has its own certificate of authenticity. Digital signatures use cryptography to ensure the authenticity of the person who electronically signs a document.
Are electronic signatures acceptable?
Legal system
There are many situations where signatures might be required under Commonwealth law. The Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (ETA) says that electronic signatures (often called e-signatures) are just as valid as traditional paper or 'wet ink' signatures for most Commonwealth processes.
Is DocuSign the same as Notarized?
DocuSign Notary is a MISMO Certified Product and meets the compliance requirements for Remote Online Notarization (RON), as further described on mismo.org.
How do I know if my Docusign signature is legit?
- Step 1: Check the Email Notification. ...
- Step 2: Open the Document. ...
- Step 3: View the Signature Details. ...
- Step 4: Compare the Signature to the Sender's Name. ...
- Step 5: Check the Timestamp. ...
- Using an Authentication Code. ...
- Using a Digital Certificate.
Does Docusign use your own signature?
Yes. You can use your handwritten signature or initials when you electronically sign documents. You can also create a signature and initials in Docusign using a stylus or your finger on a touchscreen device.
How do I verify a digitally signed signature?
In order to validate E-sign in Adobe acrobat reader, click on the eSign marked in red box. Once the user clicks on the image he will be prompted with the following window (Signature Validation Status). Click on the Signature Properties button to check signature properties.
Do DocuSign signatures hold up in court?
Electronic signatures hold up in court since they are legal signatures. The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, otherwise known as the E-Sign Act, states that electronic signatures shouldn't be considered invalid simply because they're electronic.
Why not use DocuSign?
Why can't DocuSign provide security for documents? Primary concerns were that DocuSign signatures could easily be manipulated or forged, opening the door for the individuals filing bankruptcy to claim that they were not the signers—thereby impacting the integrity of the legal system.
Can someone use my digital signature?
It is illegal to use Digital Signatures of anybody other than the one to whom it is issued.
How to tell if an electronic signature is valid?
Check the Audit Trail
The easiest way to verify an e-signature? Check the audit trail. This is a detailed report that records the who, what, when, and where of a signature.
Do law firms use DocuSign?
DocuSign is the most well-known and widely used digital signature applications, including by law firms. DocuSign has the most third-party security and compliance certifications.
Is DocuSign a qualified electronic signature?
One million customers from over 180 countries. In the EU, Docusign delivers all of the signature types defined under the eIDAS regulation, including EU Advanced and EU Qualified electronic signatures.