How to Collect Digital Signatures Online
ZenBuild makes it easy to collect digital signatures on any form. Signers can draw, type, or upload their signature. Each signed submission generates a tamper-proof PDF with a SHA-256 hash that anyone can verify.
Step-by-step guide
Add a signature field to your form
Open the form builder and drag a Signature field onto your form. This field gives signers three options: draw their signature with a mouse or finger, type their name to generate a signature, or upload an image of their signature. Position it at the bottom of your form, typically after a consent statement.
Send signing requests
For bulk signing, use the Signing Requests feature in the builder. Enter email addresses of people who need to sign, and each will receive a personalized link to the form. You can track who has opened, signed, or not yet responded from the builder's settings panel.
Download and verify signed documents
Once a form is submitted with a signature, ZenBuild generates a signed PDF with the signer's name, email, timestamp, and a SHA-256 document hash. Download signed documents from the submissions page. Anyone can verify a signed document's authenticity using the verification page.
Tools for this task
Related templates
Tips
- Place the signature field at the end of the form, after all the information the signer needs to review
- Include a clear consent statement above the signature field explaining what the signer is agreeing to
- Use bulk signing requests for contracts that need to go to multiple parties
- Download and store signed PDFs in your records - they include cryptographic verification hashes
- Test the signing flow yourself before sending requests to external parties
Frequently asked questions
Are digital signatures legally binding?
Digital signatures collected through web forms are generally considered legally binding under the ESIGN Act (US) and eIDAS (EU) for most business transactions. For highly regulated documents, consult with legal counsel about specific requirements.
How do I verify a signed document?
Upload the signed PDF to ZenBuild's verification page. The system checks the document hash against the stored record to confirm it hasn't been tampered with, and displays the signer details and timestamp.
Can multiple people sign the same document?
You can send signing requests to multiple people. Each person receives their own signing link and their signature is captured individually. For sequential multi-party signing, send requests one at a time.
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