You signed a contract Monday. Tuesday you spotted a typo on page 3. The temptation is to edit, re-sign, send again. Don't.
Resigning a signed PDF is one of those small habits that creates outsized problems. Here's the better path.
What's wrong with resigning
When you edit a signed PDF, you've technically created a new document — but the signature on it is the original signature, now sitting on changed content. Legally murky. Audit-wise messy.
If the counterparty later disputes the contract, the question 'which version was actually signed?' has no clean answer. Two signatures with different content underneath is a forensic nightmare.
The amendment approach
If a signed PDF needs changes, the correct path is an amendment — a separate, signed document that references the original by name and details the change. The original stays untouched.
Sign the amendment in Flint, file alongside the original. Both documents are clean, both are signed, audit trail intact.
What if it's a tiny correction?
For typos that don't affect meaning (a misspelled name, a wrong date), counterparties often accept a 'corrected for typo' annotation or a brief side letter. Ask before re-signing.
For anything that affects rights, obligations, or numbers, amendment is the only safe path.
Prevention beats cure
The best way to avoid the resign problem is careful pre-signing review. Read the PDF end-to-end before applying your signature. Have a second pair of eyes for high-value contracts.
The two minutes of review prevent the one hour of amendment paperwork later.
FAQ
Can I just delete the first signature and sign again?
If the signature was flattened (and it should be), you can't easily delete it. Even if you could, you'd be editing a signed document — same problem as resigning.
What if the counterparty asks me to resign?
Push back politely. Propose an amendment or a fresh contract. Most counterparties accept when they understand the audit issue.
Is this a real legal risk or just paranoia?
Real but rare. The risk is enforcement disputes — when both sides need clarity on what was signed. For routine contracts that never become disputed, you'll likely never feel the problem. For contracts that do become disputed, it's significant.
What about minor edits before any signature?
Edit freely. The 'don't resign' rule applies only after a signature exists. Pre-signing edits are normal contract revision.
Sign once, amend if needed. Cleaner audit trails, fewer surprises. Sign your next contract in Flint — and consider the amendment path if changes come up.