Signature & e-signature guides

Plain-language articles on e-signature law (ESIGN and eIDAS), how to add a signature to a PDF, what makes a contract valid, and when a wet signature still matters. Read them alongside our free signature templates.

A document being sent to a phone with a signature field and a checkmark

July 16, 2026

How to Request a Signature Online (Step by Step)

Getting a document signed online is easy to do badly — wrong signer order, no reminders, no record. Here's a clean, repeatable process that gets signatures back faster and keeps a defensible trail.

e-signature
workflow
signature

July 14, 2026

E-Signature vs. Digital Signature: What's the Difference?

The terms get used interchangeably, but they mean different things. An e-signature captures intent; a digital signature adds cryptographic proof. Knowing which you need saves confusion and, sometimes, a rejected document.

e-signature
digital signature
security

A contract document with a signature line and a teal checkmark seal

July 11, 2026

What Makes a Contract Legally Valid?

A signature does not make a contract valid on its own. Five elements do the real work. Here is what they are, in plain language, and how to avoid the mistakes that quietly void an agreement.

contracts
legal
signature

Split illustration comparing a hand signing with a pen and a signature added on a laptop screen

July 9, 2026

Wet Signature vs. Electronic Signature

Ink and electronic signatures usually carry the same legal weight — but they aren't interchangeable in practice. Here's when to reach for each.

wet signature
electronic signature
comparison

Illustration of a PDF document on a laptop with a signature being added to the signature line

July 7, 2026

How to Add a Signature to a PDF

You don't need to print, sign, and rescan. Here's how to drop a signature into a PDF on every major device in under a minute.

pdf
signatures
how-to

Illustration of a document with an electronic signature and a legal balance scale

July 5, 2026

Are Electronic Signatures Legally Binding? (ESIGN & eIDAS)

In most countries an electronic signature carries the same legal weight as ink — with a few important exceptions. Here is what the law actually requires.

electronic signatures
esign act
eidas