If you’re still printing, signing, and scanning contracts in 2025, you’re doing too much.
Let’s clear up the confusion about e-signatures vs. wet signatures and when each is necessary.
Are E-Signatures Legally Binding?
Yes! The ESIGN Act (U.S.) and eIDAS (EU) make them valid for most contracts.
The only exceptions are wills, court docs, and certain government forms.
Story: A real estate agent used to drive across town just to get physical signatures on sales contracts. After switching to Adobe Sign, deals closed three times faster, and she stopped wasting hours in traffic.
When to Use E-Signatures vs. Paper Signatures
✅ E-Signatures Are Best For:
- Business contracts
- Sales agreements
- NDAs
- Employee onboarding docs
- Vendor agreements
???? You Still Need Paper Signatures For:
- Wills & estate planning
- Court documents
- Certain real estate deeds (varies by state/country)
- Some notarized documents
Example: A small business owner switched from physical signatures to DocuSign for vendor contracts. This cut down turnaround time from weeks to hours—and they never lost an important contract again.
Best Tools for E-Signatures
- Adobe Sign → Works directly in Microsoft Word & Outlook
- DocuSign → Industry standard for contracts
- Microsoft Word’s built-in signature feature → For internal docs
Pro tip: If you need a legally binding audit trail, use DocuSign or Adobe Sign—not just an image of your signature pasted in Word.
Story: A freelancer was using basic PDFs with a copy-pasted signature. A client later disputed a contract, and they had no legal proof of consent. After switching to DocuSign, they had ironclad contracts that stood up legally.
How to Get Started with E-Signatures in Microsoft 365
If you’re using Microsoft tools, e-signing is easier than you think:
1️⃣ Open the document in Microsoft Word
2️⃣ Click “Insert” → “Text” → “Add a Signature Line”
3️⃣ Choose a typed, drawn, or image-based signature
4️⃣ Save & send via Outlook or SharePoint
Pro tip: For bulk signing needs, integrate Adobe Sign with Microsoft 365.
Final Thoughts: Save Time & Close Deals Faster
Paper signatures slow down business. With e-signatures, you can finalize agreements faster, stay legally compliant, and ditch the printer for good.
Try it out, and you’ll wonder why you didn’t switch sooner!
