You’ve probably seen it dozens of times: a simple “/s/ John Smith” typed at the bottom of an email or contract. It looks official. It feels legal. And technically…it is!
But there’s a catch: it’s also one of the weakest and riskiest ways to sign anything online.
In a world where fraud is soaring and legal disputes are increasingly digital, relying on a typed name and a slash could cost you big in court, in credibility, and in cash.
The "/s/" signature has its roots in old-school legal practices. It’s used by attorneys in court filings to indicate a signed document. It stuck around in the digital world because it’s easy, fast, and legally recognized under the E-SIGN Act.
In other words, a typed “/s/ Jane Doe” can be legally binding if it checks these four boxes:
But here’s the problem: legal doesn’t mean secure. And it definitely doesn’t mean smart.
Let’s talk numbers.
If you're using "/s/" signatures, you're operating in this high-risk environment with zero verification, no tamper protection, and no audit trail.
Worse? Financial regulators are paying attention. FINRA has specifically warned against weak digital signature practices, calling for robust systems to detect and prevent fraud. In their words: not doing so leads to “expensive and unnecessary penalties.”
Think of e-signatures like a house. "/s/" is just the doormat. It won’t keep out the storm.
Yes, a "/s/" meets the minimum standard. But so does a verbal “okay” on the phone.
It’s binding, but it’s also vulnerable.
If anyone with document access can type "/s/ John Smith," how do you prove it was really John? Spoiler: You can’t.
There’s no cryptographic protection. No lock on the document. Anyone can edit it after signing and there’s no way to tell. Imagine signing a deal and then watching someone quietly change the price.
These aren’t hypothetical problems. They happen all the time:
Employee Disputes
An ex-employee claims they never agreed to your policy. Your only proof? A "/s/" line typed in a Word doc.
Contract Changes
A vendor modifies terms after it’s “signed.” Without tamper-proofing, you’re stuck arguing over Word doc metadata.
Email-Based Identity Fraud
Someone hacks an executive’s inbox. They start signing contracts with "/s/" and by the time it’s discovered, damage is done.
The Marketlend Case
In Marketlend Pty Ltd v. Blackburn (2020), someone used another person’s e-signature account to sign a $700,000+ guarantee. It was already on a legitimate e-signature platform and it was invalidated. Imagine how much easier it would have been with just "/s/".
Regulatory Crackdowns
FINRA says weak signature oversight is no longer acceptable. If you can't prove who signed and when, you're risking major compliance fines.
Yes, courts can uphold "/s/" signatures, but that doesn't mean they will.
Judges are starting to demand:
Cases like Nguyen v. Barnes & Noble and Dillon v. BMO Harris Bank show courts will toss electronic contracts if they suspect weak consent or identity proof.
And with fraud cases and document tampering on the rise, the burden of proof falls on you, ie the company that accepted the "/s/" signature.
If you're still relying on "/s/" signatures, you're signaling that security, trust, and professionalism aren’t your priority.
Modern e-signature platforms like UnicornForms offer features that not only meet legal requirements, but go far beyond them:
Your documents are locked against tampering with secure hashes, digital certificates, and trusted timestamps.
From two-factor authentication to IP tracking and email validation, you know exactly who signed.
Every signature includes a trail of digital breadcrumbs: when, where, and how it was signed.
In a dispute, you don’t have to “prove” anything. You show it with digital records that hold up in court.
At UnicornForms, we’ve engineered our platform to do what "/s/" signatures never could:
Org-Level Validation
We offer the rare ability to sign under your organization’s own certificate, not just renting ours. It’s giving your documents more credibility, control and court admissibility.
Built-In Audit & Timestamps
Every signature includes cryptographic protection, trusted timestamps, and complete audit logs.
Simplicity Without Sacrifice
All this power comes in a package that’s user-friendly, fast, and friction-free.
If you’re still using "/s/" signatures, you're gambling with your reputation, compliance, and bottom line. In today’s world, where one wrong click can cost you thousands, that’s not a risk worth taking.
Your customers expect more. So should you.
UnicornForms helps you protect every agreement with cryptographic trust, identity verification, and audit-ready transparency.
Get started today or schedule a demo.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Please consult a qualified attorney for any legal concerns related to electronic signatures or compliance.
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