The term “wet signature” is used in relation to signatures that people make by hand with pens or other writing devices on hard copies, that is, physical documents. Sometimes the word “ink” is added to this term to emphasize the difference between this type of signature and digitalized options. While electronic signatures are now commonplace and recognized as legally valid, some organizations and authorities still require applicants to sign papers and forms by hand. Fortunately, with modern software, it is no longer a problem, and you can generate a wet signature online and put it in any document you need.
While the wet ink signature implies using a pen, you can recreate a similar effect with simple electronic tools. Here are two guides on how you can do it with our platform. A signature generated this way has the same legal power as a handwritten one.
The most obvious option is to scan signature to PDF. If you have a scanner, you can sign the document with our eSign PDF tool:
The generated signature is stored in your account’s memory, so you can return to it again to sign any other file. Your wet signed documents are also kept in the cloud, so you can resume working on them whenever you want.
The second method, which you can use to wet sign official documents, is somewhat easier because it doesn’t require a scanner.
The second method also has one important advantage. With it, you create signatures with a transparent background. At first glance, it might seem unimportant until you come across scanned documents whose pages have a yellowish tint. On such sheets, an image with a signature, with a perfectly white background, will stand out and look unprofessional. That is why you should opt for a transparent background, which you can use on any e-documents.
Electronic versions of signatures are considered legal in almost all countries of the world. However, some local laws still require wet ink signatures on official documents. The approach to this issue varies by state and even by company, so before you sign anything, you should find out the requirements.
For example, a wet signature may be required in the following situations:
In summary, a wet signature might be needed when drafting wills, filling out adoption papers, property transfers, court orders, bank loan papers, etc. Companies and businesses that design the listed documents may require just such a format at their discretion. At the same time, for example, in the USA, there is a law according to which no document can be invalidated just because it is in electronic form. The same statement is true for signatures. So you cannot be denied service if you use a digital signature.
Do you still have questions about using wet signatures? Read the FAQs from our experts for more information.
The process of signing hard copies, that is, physical papers, using a regular pen and ink is called wet signing. Such a handwritten format of agreement with documents has long been considered the only acceptable one. However, modern technologies have made it possible to replace it with more convenient electronic and digital signatures. From a legal point of view, they have equal weight and legitimacy.
It is the name of a document on which the parties have handwritten signatures. With modern software, you can create such a signature using a mouse or touchpad with a stylus or by scanning/photographing your physical signature. Whichever option you choose, the document you signed will be considered valid and legally binding.
According to the so-called E-Sign Act, adopted in the United States at the beginning of the 20th century, electronic signatures are equal to wet handwritten options from the legal point of view. You can choose any format that is convenient for you at the moment. Using a digital signature instead of a wet one does not invalidate the document.