What is an electronic signature?
An electronic signature is data in electronic form that a person uses to sign, such as a drawn signature or a typed name; the EU eIDAS Regulation defines it in Article 3(10). HawkOpen offers this basic, simple type.
Is the HawkOpen e-signature advanced or qualified?
Neither. HawkOpen offers only a simple electronic signature; it is not advanced or qualified, and HawkOpen does not issue qualified certificates. For a qualified signature you need a qualified trust service provider.
Is there a free e-signature tool to sign a PDF online?
The HawkOpen Free plan includes 1 signature request a month. The person who signs needs no account; you need a free HawkOpen account to send the request. For now the e-signature is a preview, because it accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on.
How do I add an electronic signature to a PDF or Word document?
HawkOpen does not edit PDF or Word files. It sends a PDF to the person who should sign: they open a link, confirm access with a code from the email, and draw a signature or type their name. For now this is a preview until external file scanning is switched on.
How do I ask someone for a signature by email?
In HawkOpen you create a signature request with the signer’s email address. HawkOpen emails them a link; they confirm access with a one-time code, then sign or decline, and you are notified and get an evidence report. For now this is a preview until external file scanning is switched on.
How much does an e-signature cost in HawkOpen?
Signature requests are part of the HawkOpen plans: Free includes 1 a month, Pro 5 a month and Business has no monthly limit. For now the e-signature is a preview, because it accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on.
Can I sign in HawkOpen with a national e-ID or a government e-signature?
No. HawkOpen does not connect to national e-ID schemes, trusted profiles, government signature services or qualified signature cards. Its signature is simple: the signer draws it or types a name after confirming a code from the email.
What is the best e-signature app?
HawkOpen does not rank e-signature apps. Choose by the signature level you need first: for a qualified signature you need a qualified trust service provider; for a simple signature with an evidence report, HawkOpen is one option, still in preview.
What is the difference between simple, advanced and qualified electronic signatures?
This information is general and concerns the features of HawkOpen (TriStiX S.L.). It is not individual legal advice or an assessment of whether a specific campaign or document complies with the law. Customers make their own decisions about their activities and, where needed, consult a qualified specialist. This does not limit any rights they have under mandatory law. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
The EU eIDAS Regulation has three levels. A simple electronic signature is data in electronic form attached to or logically associated with other data and used by the signer to sign. An advanced signature is also uniquely linked to and capable of identifying the signer, created with signature data the signer can use, with a high level of confidence, under their sole control, and reveals any later change. A qualified signature is an advanced one made with a qualified device and based on a qualified certificate.
What is the difference between an electronic and a digital signature?
This information is general and concerns the features of HawkOpen (TriStiX S.L.). It is not individual legal advice or an assessment of whether a specific campaign or document complies with the law. Customers make their own decisions about their activities and, where needed, consult a qualified specialist. This does not limit any rights they have under mandatory law. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
“Electronic signature” is the broad legal term: data in electronic form attached to or logically associated with what is being signed and used to sign it. “Digital signature” usually means the cryptographic technique behind advanced and qualified signatures; in Italy, “firma digitale” is the name of a type of qualified signature.
Is an electronic signature legally binding?
This information is general and concerns the features of HawkOpen (TriStiX S.L.). It is not individual legal advice or an assessment of whether a specific campaign or document complies with the law. Customers make their own decisions about their activities and, where needed, consult a qualified specialist. This does not limit any rights they have under mandatory law. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
In the EU an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect or refused as evidence just because it is electronic (eIDAS Article 25(1)). The eIDAS Regulation guarantees a qualified signature the equivalent effect of a handwritten signature; the effects of other signatures depend on the applicable law and the circumstances.
Which level of e-signature do I need for my contract?
This information is general and concerns the features of HawkOpen (TriStiX S.L.). It is not individual legal advice or an assessment of whether a specific campaign or document complies with the law. Customers make their own decisions about their activities and, where needed, consult a qualified specialist. This does not limit any rights they have under mandatory law. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
It depends on the country, the type of document and the form the law requires. Where no particular form is required, a simple signature can often be used; where the law requires written form or a qualified signature, check whether and how an electronic form can meet that requirement.
Will an electronic signature hold up as evidence in court?
This information is general and concerns the features of HawkOpen (TriStiX S.L.). It is not individual legal advice or an assessment of whether a specific campaign or document complies with the law. Customers make their own decisions about their activities and, where needed, consult a qualified specialist. This does not limit any rights they have under mandatory law. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
A court can admit an electronic signature as evidence; how much weight it gets depends on the applicable law and the circumstances of the case. HawkOpen’s evidence report helps by recording what happened during the signing.
Is a typed name or an email enough to count as a signature?
This information is general and concerns the features of HawkOpen (TriStiX S.L.). It is not individual legal advice or an assessment of whether a specific campaign or document complies with the law. Customers make their own decisions about their activities and, where needed, consult a qualified specialist. This does not limit any rights they have under mandatory law. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
A typed name or a name at the end of an email can count as a simple electronic signature in many legal systems, but whether it binds you depends on the country, the document and the form the law requires. In HawkOpen the signer can type their name instead of drawing, after confirming a code from the email.
How does signing work for the signer, and do they need an account?
No account is needed. The signer opens the link from the invitation email, confirms access with an 8-digit code sent to the same address, reads the PDF, ticks the consent box and draws a signature or types their name, or declines.
Everything happens in the browser; nothing is installed. When they sign or decline, you get an email, and once signed the evidence report is available in your dashboard. The code shows access to the mailbox, not who the signer is.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: How do I ask someone for a signature by email? · The signing code did not arrive. What should I do? · What happens if the signer declines to sign?
The signing code did not arrive. What should I do?
HawkOpen sends the code by email, not by text message, to the address the request was made for. Check spam and other folders, wait a minute and request a new code on the page; each code is valid for 10 minutes.
After many requests in a short time, the page asks you to wait up to 15 minutes. If the code still does not come, ask the sender to check the address on the request; they can delete it and send a new one to the right address.
Related questions: How does signing work for the signer, and do they need an account? · Can I resend, cancel or edit a signature request after sending it?
How long does a signing link stay valid, and can it expire?
A signing link works for at most 7 days, and you can set an earlier end date when you create the request. After that the link no longer opens, and an expired request cannot be extended: send a new one.
The link alone is not enough: the signer also confirms a one-time code sent by email.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Can I resend, cancel or edit a signature request after sending it? · Can HawkOpen remind the signer to sign?
What happens if the signer declines to sign?
The signer can press “Decline to sign” and confirm. The request then closes for good, the decline is recorded with its time, and HawkOpen emails you.
A declined request cannot be reopened or edited. If the document needs a change, correct the PDF and send a new request.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Can I resend, cancel or edit a signature request after sending it? · Can someone refuse, contest or cancel an electronic signature?
Can I resend, cancel or edit a signature request after sending it?
While the request is waiting, you can send a reminder, which repeats the invitation, and you can delete the request at any time. You cannot edit it: to change the document, signer or end date, delete it and create a new one.
Deleting removes the request and its document from HawkOpen, and the signing link stops working. If the document was already signed, download the evidence report first.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Can HawkOpen remind the signer to sign? · How long does a signing link stay valid, and can it expire? · What happens if the signer declines to sign?
Can HawkOpen remind the signer to sign?
Yes, by hand: while the request is waiting for a signature, you send a reminder from your dashboard and HawkOpen emails the signer again. There are no automatic reminders on a schedule for signature requests.
The reminder is in the same language as the invitation: the recipient’s language chosen when the request was created, otherwise the language of your dashboard, and English when neither is set. Its subject starts with “Reminder:” in that language (for example “Erinnerung:” in German).
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Can I resend, cancel or edit a signature request after sending it? · How long does a signing link stay valid, and can it expire?
Can I send one document to several signers or set a signing order?
Not in one request. A HawkOpen signature request has exactly one signer, so there is no signing order either. For several people, create a separate request for each; each gets its own evidence report.
Separate requests are not linked: each signer signs their own copy of the PDF, and nobody sees the others’ signatures.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: How do I ask someone for a signature by email? · Can I reuse signature templates or send documents for signature in bulk?
Can I add fields such as initials, a date or text for the signer to fill in?
No. The signer reads the PDF and adds one signature, drawn or typed, for the whole document; there are no form fields, initials on each page or date fields. Fill in the PDF before you send it.
The date and time of signing are recorded automatically in the evidence report, from HawkOpen’s server clock.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Can the signer draw or type their signature? · How do I add an electronic signature to a PDF or Word document?
Can the signer draw or type their signature?
Both. The signer draws the signature with a mouse, finger or pen in a box on the page, or types their name. HawkOpen needs a drawing with enough points or a typed name of at least two characters.
There is no option to upload an image of a handwritten signature. The drawn signature or the typed name appears in the evidence report.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Is a typed name or an email enough to count as a signature? · Can people sign on a phone or tablet?
In which languages is the signing page shown?
The signing page and the emails to the signer (the invitation, the reminder and the one-time code) are in English, Polish, German, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Italian. The language is the one chosen for the recipient when the request is created, otherwise the language of the sender’s dashboard; when neither is set, the page and the code email follow the signer’s browser, and the invitation and reminder are in English. The consent sentence on the page is in that same language.
In every language the consent sentence says that the signer agrees to conclude the document electronically with a simple electronic signature, which is not a qualified one.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: How does signing work for the signer, and do they need an account? · How do I ask someone for a signature by email?
Can people sign on a phone or tablet?
Yes. The signing page works in a phone or tablet browser, and the signature box accepts a finger or a stylus. No app is needed.
The signer also needs to read their email, on that device or another, to get the one-time code.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Can the signer draw or type their signature? · How does signing work for the signer, and do they need an account?
What does the e-signature evidence report (audit trail) contain?
The report lists the document title and its SHA-256 fingerprint, the signer’s name and email address, IP address and browser, the recorded consent, the times the request was created, the invitation was accepted by the mail provider, the document was viewed and signed, and the drawn or typed signature.
It ends with HawkOpen’s Ed25519 signature on the record and a link to the public verification page. It states that it documents a simple electronic signature, not a qualified one, and is not proof that the signer read the document. Times come from HawkOpen’s server clock; the code confirms access to the mailbox, not the signer’s identity.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: How can someone verify the evidence report without a HawkOpen account? · Can I download the signed PDF and the evidence report, and is the signature placed on the PDF? · Will an electronic signature hold up as evidence in court?
Can I download the signed PDF and the evidence report, and is the signature placed on the PDF?
After the document is signed, you download the evidence report as a PDF from your dashboard. HawkOpen does not stamp the signature onto your document: the original PDF stays unchanged, and the signature appears in the separate report.
Keep the original PDF and the report together: the report contains the original’s SHA-256 fingerprint, so you can show that the two belong together.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: What does the e-signature evidence report (audit trail) contain? · How do I know a signed PDF was not changed afterwards? · Does the signer receive a copy of the signed document?
Does the signer receive a copy of the signed document?
Not automatically. After signing, the signer sees a confirmation page, and HawkOpen emails only you. If the signer needs a copy, send them the PDF and the evidence report yourself.
The signer has no HawkOpen account where the document would be kept, and after signing the link no longer opens the document.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Can I download the signed PDF and the evidence report, and is the signature placed on the PDF? · How does signing work for the signer, and do they need an account?
How can someone verify the evidence report without a HawkOpen account?
The report contains a verification link that anyone can open without an account. The page checks HawkOpen’s Ed25519 signature on the record and shows only the document’s SHA-256 fingerprint, the key ID and the time of signing; it shows no name, email address or IP address of the signer.
A valid result shows only that the record has not changed since HawkOpen signed it with that key. It does not prove that the events happened as recorded, who the signer was, or that the document was read. HawkOpen publishes its public key, so the check can also be done without the page.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: How do I know a signed PDF was not changed afterwards? · What does the e-signature evidence report (audit trail) contain?
How do I know a signed PDF was not changed afterwards?
Compare fingerprints. The evidence report contains the SHA-256 fingerprint of the original PDF; compute the fingerprint of your copy with any SHA-256 tool (for example certutil on Windows or shasum on a Mac) and compare. If even one byte changed, they differ.
The report itself is signed by HawkOpen with an Ed25519 key, and the public verification page shows whether the record is intact. Matching fingerprints show that the file is the one recorded; they do not prove who was at the keyboard.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: How can someone verify the evidence report without a HawkOpen account? · Can I download the signed PDF and the evidence report, and is the signature placed on the PDF?
Does the evidence report use a qualified timestamp?
No. The times in the report come from HawkOpen’s server clock at the moment of each event. They are not a qualified electronic timestamp from a trust service provider.
The record with those times is signed by HawkOpen with an Ed25519 key, so a later change to the record would show. If you need a qualified timestamp, a qualified trust service provider issues one.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Is the HawkOpen e-signature advanced or qualified? · What does the e-signature evidence report (audit trail) contain?
Does HawkOpen verify the signer’s identity with an ID, SMS or video?
No. HawkOpen checks only that the signer can read emails at the address on the request, by sending a one-time code there. That shows access to the mailbox, not who the signer is or whether they may sign for a company; HawkOpen does not check ID documents, phone numbers or faces.
The report records the signer’s email address, IP address and browser; these are signals, not proof of identity. If you need a verified identity, use a qualified signature or a separate identity check.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Is the HawkOpen e-signature advanced or qualified? · What does the e-signature evidence report (audit trail) contain?
What personal data of the signer does HawkOpen store?
The signer’s email address and name (if you entered one), the IP address and browser seen when they sign or decline, their consent, the drawn signature or typed name, and the time of each step. The signed record keeps only a hash of the email address, and the public verification page shows no address at all.
The evidence report you download shows the name and email address in full. HawkOpen does not claim that its e-signature meets the requirements of the GDPR for your use, and its hosting region is not published yet. You can delete a request and its document from your dashboard.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: In which country or region is my data stored? · How long are signed documents and reports kept, and does a signature expire?
How long are signed documents and reports kept, and does a signature expire?
HawkOpen has not published how long it keeps signed documents and evidence reports. Download the report after signing and keep it with the original PDF, so your evidence does not depend on HawkOpen.
Only the signing link has an end date (at most 7 days); it limits when someone can sign, not how long a completed signature counts. What effect a signature has over time depends on the applicable law and the document.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Can I download the signed PDF and the evidence report, and is the signature placed on the PDF? · How long does a signing link stay valid, and can it expire?
What is the difference between a signature request and accepting a proposal?
A signature request asks one person to sign a PDF with a drawn or typed signature and produces an evidence report. Accepting a proposal is a button on a proposal link that records the client’s decision as a confirmation signed by HawkOpen, without a drawn or typed signature.
Use a signature request when the document itself must be signed; use proposal acceptance to record a yes to an offer.
A proposal link can also offer signing on the proposal page itself, as a simple electronic signature; as with the other actions, the client first confirms their address with a one-time code, and the signed confirmation goes by email to the client and to you.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: How do I know whether a client read my proposal or quote? · How do I ask someone for a signature by email?
How do I sign a document electronically in a secure way?
First check which signature your document needs, which depends on the country, the type of document and the form required; for a qualified signature, use a qualified trust service provider. When you sign, use only a link you expected, check the sender and the document, and keep the evidence report.
With HawkOpen the signer confirms a one-time code sent to their email, ticks the consent box and signs in the browser; HawkOpen records the document’s SHA-256 fingerprint and signs the record with an Ed25519 key. A signing page never needs your passwords or bank details.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Which level of e-signature do I need for my contract? · What does the e-signature evidence report (audit trail) contain?
Can an electronic signature be notarized, typed or forged?
Typed: yes, a typed name is one of the two ways to sign in HawkOpen. Notarized or apostilled: not through HawkOpen; a notary or a public authority does that under its own rules. Forged: any simple signature can be imitated, which is why HawkOpen records how it was made.
HawkOpen ties the signature to a code sent to the signer’s email, records the IP address and browser, and fingerprints the document with SHA-256, so later changes to the file or the record show. This makes forgery harder to hide, but the code shows access to the mailbox, not the signer’s identity.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Does HawkOpen verify the signer’s identity with an ID, SMS or video? · How do I know a signed PDF was not changed afterwards? · Is a typed name or an email enough to count as a signature?
Is the signing page accessible to screen reader users?
HawkOpen has not published an accessibility statement for the signing page. A signer who cannot draw can type their name instead of drawing a signature.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Can the signer draw or type their signature?
Can I sign as a company with an electronic seal or stamp?
No. HawkOpen collects a simple electronic signature from a person; it does not offer electronic seals or stamps for companies. An eIDAS electronic seal, advanced or qualified, comes from a trust service provider.
The Ed25519 signature on the evidence report belongs to HawkOpen and protects the record; it is not a seal of your company or a qualified seal. For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Is the HawkOpen e-signature advanced or qualified? · What is the difference between an electronic and a digital signature?
Can I reuse signature templates or send documents for signature in bulk?
No. Each signature request is created on its own, for one PDF and one signer; there are no templates or bulk sending for signatures.
For now this is a preview: HawkOpen accepts documents only once external file scanning is switched on, and it is not switched on yet.
Related questions: Can I send one document to several signers or set a signing order?
Is a simple electronic signature enough for an employment or rental contract?
This information is general and concerns the features of HawkOpen (TriStiX S.L.). It is not individual legal advice or an assessment of whether a specific campaign or document complies with the law. Customers make their own decisions about their activities and, where needed, consult a qualified specialist. This does not limit any rights they have under mandatory law. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
It depends on the country, the type of contract and the form the law requires for it. Some countries require written form or a qualified electronic signature for certain employment or tenancy documents; in those cases a simple signature like HawkOpen’s may not be enough.
For example, in Germany a qualified electronic signature can replace a written form required by law (§ 126a BGB) unless a rule excludes the electronic form, as § 623 BGB does for ending an employment relationship. Check the rules for your country and contract, and ask a lawyer when unsure. HawkOpen offers only a simple signature.
Related questions: Which level of e-signature do I need for my contract? · Is an electronic signature legally binding?
Can someone refuse, contest or cancel an electronic signature?
This information is general and concerns the features of HawkOpen (TriStiX S.L.). It is not individual legal advice or an assessment of whether a specific campaign or document complies with the law. Customers make their own decisions about their activities and, where needed, consult a qualified specialist. This does not limit any rights they have under mandatory law. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
In HawkOpen the signer can always decline instead of signing. Whether a counterparty must accept an electronic signature, and how a signature can be contested, depends on the contract and the applicable law. In the EU an electronic signature cannot be denied legal effect or refused as evidence only because it is electronic; how much weight it gets depends on the law and the circumstances.
A bank, insurer or authority may set its own requirements, such as a qualified signature or its own procedure; then use what they ask for. If a signature is disputed, the evidence report shows what HawkOpen recorded; ask a lawyer about the procedure.
Related questions: What happens if the signer declines to sign? · Is an electronic signature legally binding? · Will an electronic signature hold up as evidence in court?
What is the US ESIGN Act, and is the HawkOpen signature valid in both the EU and the US?
This information is general and concerns the features of HawkOpen (TriStiX S.L.). It is not individual legal advice or an assessment of whether a specific campaign or document complies with the law. Customers make their own decisions about their activities and, where needed, consult a qualified specialist. This does not limit any rights they have under mandatory law. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
The ESIGN Act of 2000 is a US federal law under which a signature or contract may not be denied legal effect only because it is electronic; most states have similar rules based on UETA. That does not make every contract valid. HawkOpen describes its signature under the EU eIDAS Regulation as a simple electronic signature and has not analysed US law for it.
ESIGN also has rules on consumer consent to electronic records and excludes some documents, such as wills and certain notices. Whether a HawkOpen signature fits a US transaction is for you and your lawyer to assess.
Related questions: Is an electronic signature legally binding? · What is an electronic signature?
Can I terminate a contract or insurance by email or with an electronic signature?
This information is general and concerns the features of HawkOpen (TriStiX S.L.). It is not individual legal advice or an assessment of whether a specific campaign or document complies with the law. Customers make their own decisions about their activities and, where needed, consult a qualified specialist. This does not limit any rights they have under mandatory law. Last reviewed: November 11, 2026.
It depends on the country, the type of document and the form required, and on what the contract says. If the contract or the law asks only for text form, an email can be enough; if it requires written form, check whether and how an electronic form can replace it. Read the termination clause first.
In Germany, for example, the law distinguishes text form (§ 126b BGB), which an email meets, from written form (§ 126 BGB), which a qualified electronic signature can replace unless a rule excludes it (§ 126a BGB). HawkOpen’s signature is simple, not qualified.
Related questions: Which level of e-signature do I need for my contract? · Is a simple electronic signature enough for an employment or rental contract?