Preparing Your E-Signature for Your Online Notary Appointment

Key Takeaways

• Preparing your e-signature before your online notary appointment makes the signing process faster and smoother.

• You can create your signature using a touchscreen, mouse, or by uploading a photo of your handwritten signature.

• Your e-signature must be your full name, not just initials or typed text, and accessibility options are available if needed.

• During the appointment, your notary will guide you through signing and uploading your signature if necessary.

• Book your online notary appointment with NotaryPro today and sign your documents with ease and confidence.

Getting ready to sign a document online? One thing that helps more than you might expect is preparing your e-signature ahead of time.

You may feel unsure about how to sign digitally, especially if you’re using a mouse or switching between devices. On the other hand, you may want your online signature to look more like the one you use every day when signing with a pen.

Here, we’ll walk you through your options for prepping your e-signature, so it looks exactly the way you want it to.

Preparing Your E-Signature Ahead of Time Helps

Having your e-signature ready makes the signing process faster and more convenient. You can focus on your online notary appointment rather than figuring things out on the spot.

It’s a small step that can make the whole experience feel smoother, especially if it’s your first time signing documents online. Having one less thing to worry about helps you show up ready and confident for your upcoming session.

How to Create Your Signature Before an Appointment

There’s no one right way to sign online. What matters is choosing a method that works best for you and feels natural. Whether you’re signing from a phone, tablet, or computer, there are a few simple ways to prepare your signature in advance. We’ve outlined them below, so you can take a look and choose the best course of action.

Drawing Your E-Signature On a Phone or Tablet Screen

Many clients find it easiest to sign using a touchscreen. You can draw your e-signature with your finger or stylus directly on your screen during an appointment.

That said, if you’d rather practice the art of drawing your e-signature, one option is to use a mobile drawing app. It could be Apple Notes (iOS) or any drawing app that supports pen input. Choose black ink on a white background, and practice drawing your e-signature until you’re happy with it. You can save your final e-signature to your phone or email it to yourself, and apply it to your document during your appointment.

E-Signing with a Computer

If you’re using a desktop or laptop, you’ll sign using your mouse or trackpad. Although it may not look exactly like your usual written signature, that’s okay — it’s still valid.

Try to make your e-signature resemble your handwritten version as much as possible. Even if it looks slightly different, your digital signature is still acceptable. That’s because it’s supported by a secure digital ID and a full record showing how and when your document was signed.

E-Signing with a Photo of Your Handwritten Signature

You can also write your signature on a piece of paper, then upload a clear image of it during your appointment. To do this, write your signature on a blank, white paper and take a clear photo or scan it.

You’re welcome to edit the image using your own tools and adjust its brightness or contrast. Just ensure your file is saved in one of the following accepted formats: PDF, JPG, or PNG. Your image must also be under 50MB in size. Once you’re happy with how it looks, save or email the file to yourself so it’s ready to upload at your appointment.

E-Signing During Your Online Notary Appointment

You’ll apply your e-signature during your video appointment, in front of your notary, when they prompt you to do so. Depending on your setup, you’ll either draw your e-signature or upload a saved image of it.

Here’s what applying your e-signature might look like:

• Phone or Tablet: Sign directly on a screen using your finger or stylus.
• Computer: Use your mouse or trackpad to draw your signature.
• Written Signature Photo: Select the photo of your written signature and upload it when prompted.

Your notary will guide you through everything, so you won’t have to figure anything out alone. If you’re uploading a file, just make sure it’s saved in an easy-to-find location on your device.

E-Signature Requirements and Special Cases

Your e-signature must meet a few requirements to be accepted during your online notary appointment. These conditions help ensure the e-signing process is secure and legally valid. We’ve outlined them below so you can ensure your e-signature is valid:

• Full Signature is Required

You must sign using your full signature; initials can’t replace it. If your document requires initials, your notary will ask you to type them separately during an appointment.

• Typed Signatures Are Not Accepted

Most recipients don’t accept typed names as valid signatures, so this option is disabled by default during appointments.

• Imprints May Be Accepted for Accessibility

If you’re unable to sign or type due to a physical disability, your notary may place a digital mark on your behalf. They’ll also add a statement confirming the mark was made voluntarily, in your presence, and that you understood the document’s contents.

In such cases, a notary will add a note such as this:

“Signed (or marked) by [Client’s Full Name] by affixing their mark/imprint in my presence, as they are unable to write or type their signature due to a physical disability. I confirm that the individual was personally known to me (or identified to my satisfaction), appeared to understand the contents of the document, and affixed their mark voluntarily.”

E-Sign Confidently at Your Online Notary Appointment

Taking a few minutes to prepare your signature gives you control over how it appears and keeps the signing process simple. You can choose a method that feels most natural, whether that’s signing on a touchscreen, with a mouse, or by uploading an image.

You don’t need a perfect-looking signature, just one that reflects your usual style. And if you have accessibility requirements, your notary is happy to guide you through special accommodations.

Ready to sign your document with confidence? Book an online notary appointment with us today and get expert guidance every step of the way.