What is the Meaning of Wet Signature?
Wet signature refers to a traditional method of signing a document using ink on paper. It is called a wet signature because the ink is wet when it is applied to the document. This type of signature is often used in legal and formal documents to indicate that the signer has read and agreed to the contents of the document.
Electronic Signature vs Wet Signatures
The wet signature has been used for centuries and is considered to be more secure and legally binding than electronic signatures (eSignatures). It provides a physical representation of the signer’s identity and intent, as the unique characteristics of the ink and handwriting can be analyzed if necessary.
The meaning of a wet signature is straightforward – it is a signature made with wet ink on paper. It is different from electronic signatures, which are created using digital methods and do not involve physical ink or paper.
In recent years, electronic signatures have gained popularity due to their convenience and efficiency. However, wet signatures still hold significant value in many legal and formal contexts. They provide a tangible and physical representation of a person’s commitment to a document.
Examples of When You May Need to Wet Sign a Document
Wet signatures are commonly used in various industries, such as law, finance, and real estate. They are often required for important documents like contracts, agreements, and deeds. The wet inked signature serves as proof that the signer has personally reviewed and approved the document.
To create a wet signature, one typically uses a pen or a similar writing instrument to apply ink directly onto the paper. The ink should be of good quality to ensure legibility and durability. It is important to avoid smudging or smearing the signature to maintain its clarity and authenticity.
Ways to Store a Wet Ink Signature
In most cases, there will be an official copy of a document that has a wet signature. For example, the registry office will keep hard copies of birth, marriage and death certificates, and notaries and real estate will keep the original contract relating to property purchases. These documents should always be stored safely and securely You will often be provided with an official hard-copy of these documents. But what ways are best to store your copy of these documents?
Tips to Store Your Documents at Home
Firstly, over the course of your life, you will inevitably acquire quite a lot of important document that you want to store safely. It may not be so practical to have many filling cabinets, and in any case, they cannot protect documents from the events that can happen in the home. So we recommend investing in a fire and waterproof document storage case. That way, if the worst does happen, you will still have access to all the copies of your documents without having to request copies -which can be a lengthly and expensive process.
Secondly, we highly recommmend digitising your documents by scanning and uploading them to a secure cloud storage. This could be something as simple as your Google drive, or DropBox. This way, you can ensure that copies of all of your important documents are kept safely and securely, ready to be emailed or downloaded and printed off, whenever required.
In conclusion, a wet signature is a traditional method of signing a document using ink on paper. It is considered to be more secure and legally binding than electronic signatures. The wet inked signature serves as proof that the signer has personally reviewed and approved the document. While electronic signatures have become more prevalent, wet signatures continue to hold importance in various industries.
