I’ve written a lot about e-signatures and the benefits of e-signature over more inefficient processes, but document security and electronic access to signed documents play an important role in the overall integrity of the electronic signature.
A comment on a recent article I wrote raised a very important point about the integrity of the originally signed document. He is absolutely correct that the authenticity of an electronically signed document must be able to be verified. One example to this point may be a document that must be signed by more than one person. Say a husband, wife, a lawyer, and a notary have to sign one particular document. By law, one person cannot electronically sign the document, print it out, then have the remaining signers sign by hand.
As such, it is important to use a reputable e-signature vendor that provides both long-term storage of the original document and a sequential e-signature feature that enables mutliple signers to electronically sign the document in a specific predetermined order.
A reputable e-signature vendor will enable sequential signing, carbon copies of signed documents for all signers, and store the original document in a secure environment in order for the carbon copies to be authenticated for years to come.
