# Wet signature

A wet signature is a person's handwritten signature, made in ink on paper.

## In plain words

"Wet" refers to the ink. The term came into use once electronic signatures became common, to tell the old way apart from the new one. A wet signature is a physical mark on a physical page. Its evidence is the paper itself, the ink and, sometimes, a witness or notary.

For most business documents in the US, an [electronic signature](/glossary/electronic-signature) can't be refused just for being electronic. So the question is rarely "is a wet signature required by law?" It is more often "does this particular document, or this particular office, still want one?"

## When a wet signature may still be needed

- **Documents outside ESIGN and UETA.** Wills, codicils and testamentary trusts, family law matters, and court papers are excluded from ESIGN. Other law may or may not allow e-signing them.
- **Recording offices and lenders.** Some deeds and mortgage papers have their own recording or custody rules, though claims that they always need ink are overbroad.
- **Some agency forms.** Certain government forms have their own signature rules. Check the agency's current guidance.
- **A party's choice.** Under UETA, nobody has to deal electronically. A person can insist on paper.

## An example

A tenant is asked to sign a lease online and prefers paper. On the signing page they choose **Request paper**. The landlord is told, prints the lease and the tenant signs it in ink. The electronic record shows the request, so nobody can say the tenant was refused.

## How it shows up in docuinked

docuinked doesn't handle wet signatures. Every signing page includes **Request paper** next to **Decline**, at any point before signing. Each choice is logged, the sender is told and the `document.declined` webhook fires. You then follow up outside docuinked.

## Common confusions

**A scan is not a wet signature.** A scanned, signed page is a picture of a wet signature. Once it is emailed, it is an electronic record, and its weight depends on who can show what about it.

**"Wet ink required" is often habit.** Many offices ask for ink out of custom, not law. Ask what rule they rely on.

## Related terms

- [Notarization](/glossary/notarization)
- [ESIGN Act](/glossary/esign-act)
- [Digital signature](/glossary/digital-signature)

## Sources

Checked 2026-11-07.

- [15 USC 7003, exclusions](https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/7003)
- [UETA 1999 text](https://scs.nevada.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/FED_Act99.pdf)

This page is general information, not legal advice.

## Common questions

### Is a wet signature stronger than an electronic one?

Not by default. Each is as strong as the evidence behind it. An e-signature with a detailed record can be easier to prove than ink with no witness.

### Can I mix wet and electronic signatures on one contract?

Many contracts allow signing in counterparts, where each party signs their own copy. Whether that suits your document is a question for your lawyer. docuinked only records the electronic signatures.

### What should I do when a signer asks for paper?

Send them a paper copy by your normal route and keep the request on file. Don't pressure them back to the electronic link.