Frequently asked questions
The short answer comes first in each reply. The guides go into more detail.
Basics
What is SignClearly?
SignClearly is a web service for getting a PDF signed by one person. You upload the PDF, place signature, date and full name fields on its pages and send a link by email, and the recipient signs in their browser. You get back the signed PDF with a certificate page that lists who did what and when. See how it works for the full flow.
Does the recipient need an account?
No. The recipient opens the link from the email in a phone or computer browser and signs there, with nothing to install and no account to create. Only the sender has an account, and it uses a magic link by email instead of a password. Sending a PDF for signature shows each step the recipient goes through.
Can I sign my own document?
Yes. When you send, choose “Me” as the recipient and sign the document yourself in your account; no email is sent. You get the same signed PDF with a certificate page and event log. Signing your own document is always a simple electronic signature (SES).
How many people can sign one document?
One. Each document goes to one recipient, or to you if you sign it yourself, and there is no bulk send. If two people need to sign the same text, send a separate document to each of them. Our templates are written for documents that one person signs.
What files can I upload?
PDF files up to 20 MB and up to 100 pages. Before anything else happens, the server checks the file and computes its SHA-256 hash, which later appears on the certificate page. Save Word documents and other formats as PDF first.
Signing
How long does the signing link work?
From 1 to 30 days: you choose when you send, and the default is 7 days. When the link expires, the document is closed and the event log records it. You can then make a copy of the closed document and send it again.
What is an access code?
An access code is an optional extra check: a code of 6 to 32 characters that you give the recipient by phone or chat, not by email. The recipient enters it before the document opens. After 5 wrong attempts the link is locked, and after the right code the signing session lasts 2 hours. More about access codes.
How does the ID check work?
If you require an ID check, the recipient shows an ID document and takes a selfie with Didit, a third-party identity service, before they can sign. The names on the ID must match the recipient name you entered, in the same alphabet, or signing is blocked; only case and word order may differ. The recipient gets up to 3 attempts per link, and SignClearly keeps the result and the name on the ID, not images of the ID. More about the ID check.
What happens if the recipient declines?
The document is closed, its credits go back to your balance and you get an email saying the recipient declined. The recipient can add an optional reason, and the decline is recorded in the event log. To try again, make a copy of the closed document, change what was wrong and send the copy.
Can I cancel a document after sending it?
Yes: while the document is waiting for a signature, you can revoke the link and it stops working. The credits go back to your balance, and the event log records the revocation. If the recipient only lost the email, resend the invitation instead, which is free. To send a corrected version, make a copy of the revoked document, edit it and send the copy.
Evidence and the signed PDF
What do I get back after the document is signed?
A signed PDF: the signature and field values are placed on the original pages, and a certificate page is added at the end. The signer reviews this exact file before signing, and its content does not change after they sign. Both of you get an email when it is done; you download the file from your account, and the signer can download a copy for 7 days. See what the certificate page contains.
What is on the certificate page?
The certificate page names the sender and the signer, shows the SHA-256 hash of the original file and lists the event log up to the final review. Each event has its time in UTC, who acted and the IP address. The hash lets you check that the original you keep is the file that was sent for signing. The audit trail guide explains each entry.
Does the signed PDF contain a digital signature?
Yes: the signer signs with a one-time key created in their browser, and SignClearly's own certificate authority issues a certificate for that key, valid for 24 hours and for this one signature. The certificate carries the signer's email address, and the signature uses the PAdES format. A second signature, the SignClearly platform seal, covers the final file and shows it has not changed since SignClearly sealed it. Read why we run our own CA.
Why does Adobe say “Signature validity is unknown”?
Because SignClearly issues its certificates from its own certificate authority, which is not on Adobe's trusted list (AATL) or the EU trusted lists. Adobe still checks the signatures and shows whether the file changed after signing; only the signer's identity shows as unknown. To clear the message, import the SignClearly Root CA as a trusted root once per computer, as described on Verify a signed PDF.
What is the event log, and what is a hash chain?
The event log records each step of a document: created, uploaded, sent, opened, consent given, signed, completed, downloaded, and declined, revoked or expired. Each event stores the SHA-256 hash of the event before it, so changing an earlier event breaks the chain. Each event also gets an HMAC with a key kept outside the database. More in the audit trail guide.
Pricing
How does pricing work? Do I need a subscription?
There is no subscription: you buy credits in packs and pay per document with them. If a document is not signed, its credits go back to your balance. Packs are paid through Stripe Checkout, a new account starts with no credits, and resending an invitation is free. Current packs and the cost per document are on pricing.
Does an advanced signature (AES) cost more?
Yes, an AES with an ID check costs more credits than a simple electronic signature (SES). If the document is not signed, the credits go back, except a credit for each ID check attempt that got a result, because the identity service charges for every attempt. The current cost of each kind is on pricing.
Legal acceptance
What is the difference between SES and AES?
With a simple electronic signature (SES), SignClearly confirms that the recipient controls the email address the link was sent to, but not who they are. With an advanced electronic signature (AES), the recipient also passes an ID check, the name on the ID must match the name you entered, and the signer's certificate carries the name from the ID. Signing your own document is always an SES. See SES vs AES vs QES.
Is a signature made with SignClearly legally binding?
An electronic signature can have legal effect in the EU and the US, but whether a particular document is accepted depends on the country and the type of document. In the EU, eIDAS Article 25(1) says an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect or use as evidence just because it is electronic. In the US, the ESIGN Act and UETA give electronic signatures legal effect for most transactions, with exceptions such as wills and some family law and court documents. The SES vs AES vs QES guide explains the differences.
Is it a qualified electronic signature (QES)?
No. A QES needs a qualified certificate from a qualified trust service provider and a qualified signature creation device, and SignClearly has neither. Under eIDAS Article 25(2), a QES has the equivalent legal effect of a handwritten signature, so if a law or the other party requires a QES, use a qualified provider for that document.