Is initialling with a paraph legally required?
No. Legally, when signing documents digitally, it is not necessary to place a paraph on every page. A digital signature is placed as a fully secured certificate over the entire document—not just the signed page. In addition, a digital seal is added: if anyone tries to modify the document, this seal will be broken and the signature becomes invalid. Read more about digital certificates and the legal background of paraphs.
Why does Signhost offer paraphs anyway?
Certain sectors still require an initial on every page—for example, real estate agents dealing with purchase agreements. These are often formality requirements, separate from legal validity. That’s why Signhost makes it possible to automatically place a paraph on all pages where there is no digital signature.
The paraph appears in the lower right corner of the page.
This position cannot be changed.
The paraph is a reduced version of the signer’s handwritten signature (scribble).
How do I use paraphs in my document?
It is sufficient to insert one digital signature per signer. More than one signer tag or drag-and-drop field per signer is not advised. We do not advise this because digital signatures are limited to 10 signatures per signer and this can lead to extra credit costs. In stead, use parahps in your document.
Steps to activate the Use scribble as paraph feature
Go to the new transaction page.
Enter the email address of the signer or select someone via Contacts.
For all signers, choose “Scribble” as the verification method.
Make sure the option “Required for signer” is checked.
Check the option “Use scribble as paraph”. This will be automatically checked for all signers and can not be set per signer.
Figure 1 - Check the checkbox 'Use scribble as paraph'
Example
Do you have a purchase agreement where buyers and/or sellers are required to sign every page?
Add one signer tag or drag-and-drop field per signer at the desired location in the document.
Enable the initialling feature.
➡️ The initials will automatically appear in the lower right corner of all other pages.
🔑 In short: Legally, one digital signature per signer is sufficient, but the initialling feature allows you to easily meet sector-specific requirements to have an initial on every page.
Our support team is happy to help you via chat or e-mail: support@signhost.com