How to use Initials

Do you want your signatories to add their initials when signing?

You can easily initial all your documents with Yousign. Automatically add the initials of your signers at the bottom of each page to ensure that all documents to be signed are read. Simple, fast, automatic.

• How to activate the Initials feature?
• How to use the Initials feature?
• Why are the initials not displayed on all pages of the document?
• Can I choose the location of the initials?
• Legal value of the initials

How to activate the Initials feature?

Only users with an admin access can request to enable Initials for the account. To do so, please contact our support team with contact details listed under the "Help" section on your dashboard. 

The Initials feature is available to Yousign users with the following plans:

• App : Business and Corporate plans
• API: Premium and Ultimate plans

How to use the Initials feature?

Once the Initials feature is available in your application, you can use it very simply directly in step 2 of the creation of a procedure, when you upload your documents.

You only need to click on "Activate initials" for the signer's initial placeholders to be automatically generated at the bottom of each page of the document.

Initials will not be displayed on pages that already contains a signature image.

Initials will automatically generate when signing and there will be as many on the document as there are signatories in your signature procedure.

Why are the initials not displayed on all pages of the document?

Initials are generated on all pages of your documents to be signed, except those with a signature image.

Can I choose the location of the initials?

The location of the initials is automatically generated, to save you time in your signing process.

Legal value of the initials

Visual signature and initials images have no legal value. The legal value is provided by a cryptographic, immaterial and invisible process, which is integrated into the PDF document format and guarantees the integrity as well as the identity of the signatory.

Initials are defined as follows: a handwritten sign, usually consisting of the initials of the surname and forenames of the persons who are parties to a contract which they affix to the bottom of each page. The initials have two functions, the first is to ensure that each of the signers has not merely signed the last page but has read the entire act, the second is to avoid the addition or destruction of intermediate pages after the act has been signed.

However, the electronic signature requires the signer to go through the entire document to be signed. Moreover, the electronic signature guarantees the integrity of the document: since the signature is applied to the entire document, not even a single comma in the signed version of the document can be changed without "breaking" the electronic signature.

To go further :

Is my electronic signature valid?