Someone sends you a contract to 'just sign and return'. You draw your name with a trackpad, save, send. Is that legally binding? What's the difference between that and the official-looking signatures on a passport renewal form?
Electronic signatures: drawn or typed
An electronic signature is exactly what it sounds like — a drawn, typed, or uploaded image of your signature placed on the page. Legally, this is enough for most everyday agreements in the UK, EU, and US. Tenancy renewals, freelance contracts, school forms — all routinely signed this way. Sign PDF in Flint creates one in seconds. To make it harder to tamper with, flatten the file after signing so the signature becomes permanent.
Digital signatures: with cryptography
A digital signature adds a cryptographic certificate that proves two things: who signed, and that nothing changed since. Your PDF viewer can verify both, and a broken seal means tampering. These are common in government, finance, and legal sectors. They require a certificate issued by a trusted authority (sometimes free, often paid). For everyday use, electronic signatures are usually fine — digital is overkill until someone specifically asks for it.
Which one do you need?
Read the request. 'Please sign' = electronic is fine. 'Please digitally sign with certificate' = you'll need a proper certificate (issued by your bank, government ID provider, or a service like DocuSign). For sensitive contracts where forgery would be expensive, combine an electronic signature with password protection so the file can't be silently edited en route.
FAQ
Is a typed name legally binding?
In most jurisdictions, yes — the intent to sign matters more than the visual form. Courts have upheld 'I agree' email replies. That said, a drawn or scanned signature looks more deliberate and is harder to deny later.
Can I sign on my phone?
Yes — Flint's signing flow works on touchscreens. Draw with your finger and the result is identical to a desktop signature. Save and send from the same device.
What if I lose the original after signing?
Keep a copy. Sent PDFs sometimes get edited downstream; the only proof you signed *that* version is your own stored copy. Save signed PDFs to a folder you back up.
For 95% of cases, an electronic signature is enough. Sign your PDF in Flint, flatten it, and you're done.