The Electronic Signature & Records Association (ESRA) defines an electronic signature as “an electronic sound, symbol or process that is attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.” In practical terms, it’s the digital equivalent of a handwritten signature that confirms the signer’s identity and intent to sign.

Collecting signatures by printing, scanning, and emailing slows everyone down and creates extra back-and-forth. With eSignature software, you can send signature requests to clients anywhere, verify signer identity, track status, and store signed documents in the client file automatically.

In Canada, provincial and territorial electronic commerce laws recognize electronic signatures. In the United States, the ESIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) give electronic signatures the same legal standing as handwritten signatures when the signer’s intent, identity, and consent are properly captured. Some documents, such as wills and certain powers of attorney, may be excluded, and some government and regulatory forms have their own eSignature requirements, so confirm the rules in your jurisdiction before sending them for signature.

Mango gives firms several ways to confirm who’s signing. You can use knowledge-based authentication, which asks questions the intended signer should be able to answer, or protect signing links with a secret question, password, or shared contact secret. You can also write your own security question. Every signature is also recorded in a detailed audit trail, so you have a clear record of who signed and when.

An electronic signature is any electronic mark a person adopts to show intent to sign a document. A digital signature is a specific type of electronic signature that uses encryption and certificate-based technology to confirm the document hasn’t been changed after signing.

Yes. Clients can review and sign documents from a phone, tablet, or computer, with no separate portal or account required.

Generic file sharing tools are built for general use. Accounting file sharing software is designed around how firms work with clients, with features like document requests, eSignatures, identity verification, audit trails, and storage connected to the client record.

Tools like Dropbox and Google Drive can be secure, but they’re built for general use and rely on sharing settings being configured correctly every time. They also don’t include features accounting firms often need, such as signature requests, identity verification, and audit trails tied to the client file.

Avoid sending sensitive files as standard email attachments. Use a secure platform that encrypts documents, controls who can access them, and keeps an audit trail. With Mango, clients receive a secure link by email, so they can access, upload, and sign documents without a portal login.

No. You can share and store files without worrying about size limits, including large documents and scanned records.