FAQs

• What is an electronic signature?

  An electronic signature is a catch-all term for any electronic process that indicates acceptance of an agreement or a record.

  Electronic signatures have been used for electronically signing offer letters, sales contracts, permission slips, rental/lease agreements, liability waivers, financial documents, etc. They are legally enforceable in most business and personal transactions worldwide. Learn more in our eSignature Legality Guide.

• What is a digital signature?

  A digital signature is a type of electronic signature generated via a digital certificate. A digital signature helps securely associate a signer with a specific document. Digital signatures form a digital “fingerprint” and can be used to validate signer identity and demonstrate that the signed document has not been tampered with.

• What’s the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?

  The terms “electronic signature” and “digital signature” are often conflated. For the vast majority of agreements and records, an electronic signature is sufficient. A digital signature is a subset of electronic signature that adds another layer of security to a signed document. A digital signature is supported with a digital certificate and uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which adds proof of signer identity and enhanced security to a legally enforceable signature.

• Are e-signatures legally enforceable?

  Yes. In Canada, an e-signature has the same legal status as a handwritten signature. Electronic signature in Canada is regulated federally by PIPEDA, the Personal Information and Electronic Documents Act.

  Read more about the legality of electronic signatures.

• What types of documents can be signed electronically?

  The majority of commonplace agreements and forms can be signed electronically. Examples of documents that may be signed electronically include NDAs, purchase orders, vendor agreements, insurance claims and hiring contracts.

• How do recipients sign documents with DocuSign eSignature?

  With DocuSign eSignature, signing is always free. Recipients click a link to open the agreement on a device of their choice, such as a mobile phone, tablet or computer. Tabs and simple instructions guide the user through the signing process, including adopting an electronic signature. The recipient clicks Finish to save the signed document.

• What document formats does DocuSign eSignature support?

  With DocuSign eSignature, you can upload documents in formats such as Microsoft Word, PDF or other common formats. You can upload documents from your computer or popular file-sharing sites like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive.