How To Sign A Document Without Wasting Paper & Ink

Discussions about whether digital documents can completely replace paper documents are not purely theoretical. Currently, humanity has all the tools to gradually abandon paper carriers. In addition to saving forests, digital documentation makes offices more mobile. You don’t need huge cabinets to store all your documentation collected over many years! But for electronic documentation to be as valid as paper documentation, you must know how to sign a document online. 

Correctly executed eSignatures are often necessary for documents to be accepted by various government agencies and courts, although acceptance varies based on jurisdiction and individual agency guidelines.

Electronic Signature Tools and Platforms

To sign a paper document, you need a printer and a pen. But what tools do you need to put an eSignature on any document?

Suitable File Format

Not all file formats are appropriate for electronic documents. It must be an option that can guarantee protection of their content from changes. Only Portable Document Format (PDF) has this feature. Therefore, it is used as a global standard for official documents.

PDF Editor with eSignature Option

To add your signature to a document, you will need an online platform for working with PDF files like PDF Guru. It offers the ability to sign a document, among many other options, such as editing, converting, merging, compressing, etc.

How to Sign a PDF Document Online in a Few Clicks

To put a PDF Editor signature on your document, follow a few simple steps:

1. Open the PDF editor in any browser and on any device.
2. Create your account, which will store the documents you work with.
3. Select the “Sign PDF” option on the toolbar.
4. Upload your file into the editor’s working window.
5. In the pop-up window, choose your desired signature type: draw it, upload a scanned image of your signature, or type your name.
6. Click on the “Create and Use” button.
7. The signature will immediately appear on your document. Drag it to the desired location and reduce in size.
8. Click the check mark to confirm that the work was done correctly.
9. In the upper right corner, click the “Done” button and download the document in the format you need.

If you are wondering how to sign an email document, the algorithm of actions here will be exactly the same. However, first, you need to download this document to your device.

Benefits of Paperless Document Signing

• The ability to eSign documents allows you to be more mobile and work remotely in any country you wish.
• You save your and the company’s resources by not purchasing paper. Printing documents requires a huge amount of paper because documents often must be rewritten.
• It’s more environmentally friendly, which ultimately benefits you, other people, and the planet. Forests help purify the air and deserve to stand untouched, not gather dust as unnecessary paperwork in your closet.
• eSignatures are highly secure, so you can be sure that other people will not be able to forge them.
• The eDocuments circulation speed is many times higher than when they exist in the form of papers. Therefore, you get rid of unnecessary and time-consuming activities.

Legal Aspects of Digital Signatures

Although eSigning of documents is becoming a widespread and legally recognized practice, some documents can be eSigned, while others cannot. What documents cannot be signed electronically?

• Personal Documents: wills that an individual leaves, as well as testamentary trusts;
• Public Official Documents: some state laws that govern family law;
• Court Documents; 
• Business Documents: papers accompanying the transportation of hazardous materials and toxic substances, etc.

While the list provided covers common documents that typically cannot be eSigned, it’s important to note that this is not an exhaustive list. The legality of eSigning certain documents can vary depending on local laws and regulations.

Still, there aren’t many exceptions in which a digital signature is invalid. Therefore, you can use it in most cases without any hesitation.

Conclusion

Electronic signature benefits everyone, from regular users to the global environment. Our descendants will probably look at the printed documents the same way we now study the stones with inscriptions carved by ancient people. Therefore, master the simple and intuitive practices of eSigning documents to move confidently into an eco-friendly future.