A counterparty asks if your drawn-with-a-finger signature on the iPad counts as a real signature. Short answer: yes. Long answer: yes, under ESIGN, UETA, eIDAS and equivalents nearly everywhere. We're not lawyers — but the case law is clear.
The legal test
Under ESIGN, UETA, eIDAS and similar frameworks, the test is intent to sign plus the ability to attribute the signature to a specific person. The technical form — drawn, typed, biometric, certificate-based — doesn't matter at the SES (basic) level.
A drawn signature passes the test. It's executed by an act of the signer (drawing it), it can be attributed (the signing session was logged), and the signer intended to sign (they drew their name on a signature field).
Where the form matters
For an Advanced Electronic Signature (AES) under eIDAS, additional technical requirements apply — the signature must be uniquely linked, identifying, under sole control, and tamper-evident. A drawn signature in a basic tool doesn't usually meet AES.
For a Qualified Electronic Signature (QES), you need a qualified certificate. Drawn isn't enough.
For the 90% of routine commercial signing, none of this matters — SES is the standard tier and drawn signatures clear it.
Drawing well
It doesn't need to look like your wet-ink signature — courts care about intent, not penmanship. Draw it once, save it as a default in Flint's signing tool, and use the same signature on subsequent documents.
For very formal documents, some signers prefer a typed signature or a stylus-drawn version. Both are equally valid; pick whichever you prefer.
FAQ
Will a drawn signature hold up in court?
Yes — courts have repeatedly upheld drawn electronic signatures under ESIGN, UETA, eIDAS and equivalents. The audit trail is your evidence.
Do I need to draw with a stylus?
No. Finger-drawn signatures on touchscreens are legally identical to stylus-drawn or mouse-drawn.
Can I draw a different signature every time?
Legally yes — intent is what matters, not consistency. Practically, use the same signature so anyone reviewing can recognise it.
Does a drawn signature need to look like my passport signature?
No. There's no legal requirement that electronic signatures match wet-ink ones. They just need to be your intentional mark.
Draw with a finger, sign with intent. Apply a drawn signature in Flint and move on.