Signatures Done Electronically
Legally binding online. To sign something through the internet and it is considered as secure as you own handwritten signature just seems like a thing of the future and yet here we are.
I recently needed this for one of my websites to make it simpler for my customer to sign a Release/Waiver . Now I'm pretty new so I was kind of just hoping for an easy plug-in to download. This was not the case.
(Unless I just haven't found it and one of you could point me in the right direction. <-- ^ -->)
So now the research starts.
The requirements for an electronic signature to be recognized and this is for the United States are split into 4 major sections
- Intent to sign
- Concent to do business electronically
- Assosiation of signature with the record
- Record retention
Basically same as a real signature. Give consent and keep copies of everything.
I was surprised to find out how long we have been signing electronically. The UETA and ESIGN Act was passed into federal law in 2000. Then I thought more about it like going to the grocery store and signing for your credit card with the little Etch A Sketch pad probably counts as electronic. I know I have been doing that for a while now.
But I am specifically looking for the type your name in and check the box signature. I think I may have used this the with the DMV's website or another form of online government access that gave me the idea to add this to my site.
The searching continues because of these what I assume to be computer savvy lawyers that have created this technology don't want to give these lines of code away freely. And I'm sure I'm not alone when I say the budget that I was in pursuit of was a free one.
- HelloSign
- DocuSign
- eSignature
- EverSign
None of these are entirely free. HelloSign comes the closest but they still have you jump through some hoops to make it possible and it's not exactly what I was looking for
Sorry for the anticlimactic ending I did not find the best way to get an electronic signature done for my website. No biggy I have been having people sign those release waivers for years and like they say "If it ain't broke don't fix it".
Recent Comments
12
This has me thinking. I recently wrote out both my signature and my initial onto a piece of paper, after which I scanned it into a file in my documents. Thinking, that when I need one or the other all I had to do was look them up the copy so I can copy and paste them where needed.
So, I am asking would this be considered legal?
It's a slippery slope and I know the person asking for the signature is the one more at risk because it's more likely that the signer will be the one with the problem saying they did not actually give consent.
So I'm fairly sure if you are using it to sign something it will be fine but if you have some legal document you need someone else to sign maybe find a third party site to help facilitate its authenticity.
Thank you GoldenVoyage. Are you saying to Google the phrase, " third party "? Ought I to filter it with the word 'signitures'?
Doc,
I am not sure exactly what you plan to use this for but
you can check this website out - they list two FREE
e-signature plugins:
https://www.formget.com/wordpress-e-signature-plugins/
Susan
Doc,
I will keep my eyes open and ask around but if I come across
anything I will be sure to let you know :)
Susan
See more comments
Good points made here & good to know
... in a myriad number of ways -- the internet mirrors the off-line world in doing business and associated needs/requirements ...
-- thanks kindly for posting today, all the best ... 😊
keishalina9, isn't that the truth.
..... agree --- just too much to worry about which then becomes 'counterproductive' ... keep things simple .... why complicate one's life? ... too much to learn and too many challenges as it is already! ... 😊
We have come a long way from just a handshake.
... ya ... word is bond, word is golden ... what happened to that along the way?! .... are things better today? ...