Electronically Sign Forms/Documents

Environment

Electronic and digital signatures, SignNow (Sign Now), Adobe Acrobat, Google

Issue

How can I sign a document electronically? 

How can I sign a form that was sent to me to sign?

Resolution

A "digital signature" is an electronic signature that is authorized, verified, and secure and meets compliance standards for most procurement, purchasing, and legal document needs. However, not all signatures need to be official "digital signatures" and many times you can sign with just an electronic signature.  

Electronic Signature

The following options will work for an electronic signature. Depending on your specific need, you can decide which one best suits your needs. 

Keep in mind that none of the tools suggested below provide an official digital signature or meet the compliance standards for most procurement, purchasing or legal document needs. 

• Chrome PDF Viewer: The PDF annotations option within the viewer allows you to sign a document directly in the browser without first downloading and opening a separate application. 
  • The Chome Broswer is user widely throughout the university and this feature allows users to easily add a signature on PDF documents that were sent to them via email or other electronic means. 
    1. Open a PDF in Chrome. 
    2. Select the Draw icon that appears at the top center of the screen (Looks like a squiggly line)
    3. Choose your pen style and color from the pop-out menu
    4. Draw Signature
    5. Select the Download icon and choose download with your changes to save a version of the document with your signature applied. 
        
• Adobe Acrobat DC: Fill & Sign functionality offers a way to sign documents/forms sent to U-M faculty, staff, and students for information and signatures
  • This is a good option for some business practices, and it is available for active faculty, staff, and students at no cost
  • Here are the general instructions on how to use Adobe Acrobat Fill & Sign functionality: https://helpx.adobe.com/acrobat/using/fill-and-sign.html
     
• Google Docs: Insert Drawing using a Scribble line also offers a way to sign documents/forms sent to U-M faculty, staff, and students for signature
  • Google Docs is used widely throughout the university, and the built-in functionality to retain edit history on the document offers a means to know when the signature is applied
  • In addition, once signed, you can always save the document in a pdf format

1. Place cursor where you want to sign
2. Select Insert -> Drawing-> + New
3. Select Line -> Scribble
4. Draw Signature, then Save and Close

When using any of these options, please remember if your documents/forms contain sensitive data, make sure to store them appropriately according to the Sensitive Data Guide to IT Services: https://safecomputing.umich.edu/dataguide/.

Digital Signature

If you need to use an official digital signature, you can use the University’s e-signature service, SignNow. This service enables users to electronically prepare and send university business documents for the purpose of requesting and obtaining digital signatures and other information on those documents.

Additional Information

Note: Adobe has removed the Adobe Sign e-signature feature (which is different from Adobe Fill & Sign) licensed through U-M’s campus agreement. You will see an error to contact an administrator if you try to request a signature using Adobe Sign.

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.