What is a wet signature? Use cases and alternatives

The sound of a pen scratching across paper once marked the final step in closing a deal.

But today, that ritual feels almost nostalgic. Contracts now move at digital speed — drafted, reviewed, and signed in seconds. So why do some businesses still insist on waiting for the ink to dry?

This guide explores what a wet ink signature is, when it’s still legally required, and why most modern companies are leaving it behind.

Key takeaways

• Wet signatures are physical, handwritten signatures made in ink to confirm agreement on a document.
• They’re still required in limited cases — like notarised, government, or property documents — but are rapidly being replaced by electronic signatures (eSignatures).
• Businesses that still rely on pen-and-paper contracts waste hours and introduce unnecessary risk, while modern platforms like Juro make signing and managing contracts instant and secure.

What is a wet signature?

A wet signature (also called a wet ink signature) is a handwritten mark made with a pen on a physical document. The “wet” refers to the ink — a holdover from the days when contracts could only be made official by signing them in person.

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Traditionally, both parties to a contract would sign copies of the same paper document before it became enforceable.

While not every agreement legally requires a signature, one is almost always used to prove intention and consent — whether in ink or electronically.

What does “wet sign” mean?

To “wet sign” a document means to physically sign it by hand — often with multiple parties taking turns to sign, scan, or courier pages back and forth.

Before eSignature tools existed, this was the only way to execute a contract. Meetings were scheduled, paper packets circulated, and the final document might take days (or weeks) to come together.

Today, this manual ritual has all but disappeared, instead replaced by digital workflows where signatures happen instantly.

How popular are wet ink signatures today?

There was a time where wet ink signing was the default for businesses, and senior stakeholders would need to group in a meeting room to finalize the terms with a physical signature. 

That isn’t the case anymore.

Today there’s a faster and more efficient way to sign contracts. Instead of putting pen to paper and have an in-person meeting, businesses can sign contracts electronically instead. This alternative is called an electronic signature.

In other words, parties can use software to electronically ‘sign’ a document and fulfil the requirements needed to make it enforceable. And it seems this is becoming the new default, with global eSignature transactions ramping up from 89 million to 754 million in just five years.

But wet ink signatures do still have a place in the modern world. After all, a handwritten signature of some kind is still needed in various jurisdictions and situations. Let’s explore these scenarios now. 

When is a wet signature still required on a contract?

A wet ink signature remains necessary when laws, regulators, or specific industries demand physical proof of consent. Common examples include:

• Notarised documents: Real estate transfers, wills, affidavits, and other documents witnessed by a notary public.
• Government and court filings: Some tax forms, legal submissions, and official filings must still be signed by hand.
• Powers of attorney and estate planning: Documents granting decision-making authority often require a physical signature for enforceability.

But these instances are certainly the exception, not the rule. Almost all countries accept the validity of eSignatures, and in most geographies the governments are pushing the digitization of document signing and processing due to the efficiencies it unlocks. More on that now.

The problem with wet ink signatures

Wet signatures slow everything down.

Printing, signing, scanning, and mailing paper contracts adds hours (sometimes days) to routine workflows. The friction gets worse at scale — especially for companies handling hundreds of contracts per month.

One CEO we've interviewed once spent half a working day each week signing hard-copy contracts by hand. After switching to Juro, those signatures happened digitally — dozens at a time — in seconds.

Beyond wasted time, wet signatures also come with higher risk:

• Paper documents can be lost, damaged, or intercepted.
• Scanning and uploading signed copies adds manual work and version confusion.
• There’s less visibility over who’s signed what, and when.

This is a poor use of anyone’s time, but particularly the kind of person likely to be a business’ authorized signatory - typically a CEO, CFO or similar senior figure.

Through Juro’s end-to-end contract automation solution, they were able to ditch the wet signature and sign dozens or hundreds of contracts electronically, simultaneously, with one click.

If you're looking to do the same thing, hit the button below. If not, read on to find out more about wet ink signatures.

What's the difference between wet signature and eSignature?

The main difference between a wet signature and an eSignature is that a wet ink signature involves an individual writing their signature onto a physical copy of a contract, typically in black pen.

Meanwhile, an electronic signature is created digitally on a device, without the need for pen and paper. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the key distinctions:

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a wet and dry signature?

A wet signature uses ink and paper. A dry signature is created electronically — no ink, no physical document.

Does a contract need to be signed in wet ink?

Usually not. Most contracts can be signed electronically, unless they fall under specific categories (like notarised or real estate documents).

How do I create a wet ink signature?

Simply sign a physical document with a pen. Your handwritten mark becomes the wet signature.

What is a live signature?

A live signature is a real-time signature — whether drawn digitally with a stylus, uploaded as an image, or created through an eSignature tool.

Can a wet signature be scanned?

Yes. You can sign on paper, then scan and upload it. But this adds extra steps — using an eSignature tool is far faster and more secure.

Is a wet ink signature the same as a handwritten signature?

Yes. The term “wet ink signature” just emphasises that the signature was made with pen and ink on a physical surface.

What is the wet signature rule?

The wet signature rule refers to legal or regulatory requirements that certain documents must be signed by hand — for example, property transfers or notarised contracts.