Wet Signature

What is a wet signature?

A wet signature commonly refers to a handwritten signature made using wet ink, but certain other identifying marks with ink may also be considered wet signatures, such as thumbprints, stamps, and personal seals. So long as these marks are done in ink, on paper documents, and identify the signer, they are considered wet signatures.

While a lot of legal correspondence is now done on electronic documents that accept electronic signatures as a valid form of identification, there are still certain legal documents that continue to require wet ink signatures. These include wills and trusts, family law documents—like adoption or divorce papers—court orders, and regulatory documents for certain industries. The mandated use of a traditional wet signature on a paper document can also vary by jurisdiction.

While they’re slightly less convenient than digital signatures, certain people may feel that traditional wet signatures feel more authentic, and are therefore more trustworthy, though this view isn’t necessarily true since handwritten signatures can be forged and electronic signatures are generally considered to be more secure.

Frequently asked questions

What documents require wet signatures?

Examples of documents that may require wet signatures instead of electronic signatures include:

• Wills, trusts, and codicils
• Family law papers, such as divorce documents
• Contracts governed by the Uniform Commercial Code (UCC), such as letters of credit, investment securities, and secured transactions
• Court orders or other official court documents
• Certain documents that require notarization, such as property deeds

Do wet signatures need to be witnessed?

Not all wet signatures need to be, but many of the documents they are used on do require witnessing, which is why a wet signature is used in the first place. If you sign your name on a check at the bank or a receipt at a shop, these are examples of wet signatures that don’t need witnessing.

Is it legal to require a wet signature?

Yes, wet signatures are required by law in certain situations—but these laws and requirements can vary across states, jurisdictions, or industries. It’s also possible that requirements may change in the future as electronic signatures continue to gain widespread acceptance.

Can you email a wet signature?

You can send a wet signature electronically by scanning and uploading a digital version of the document—but whether this will be accepted as a valid wet signature will depend on what you’re signing and who is accepting it. If you’re signing a document that requires a wet signature and you can’t deliver the physical document in person, you should check to make sure that your scanned electronic document will be accepted and that the wet signature will be considered authentic.