In today’s fast-moving digital world, signing documents online has become a business necessity. But with convenience comes concern—How secure is an eSignature? Can you prove when and by whom a document was signed? What if your industry doesn't require a timestamp—can you still collect important data without it?

We built BoloSign to solve exactly that. Our platform ensures that your documents are not only easy to sign, but also secure, tamper-proof, and legally reliable. Whether you're a freelancer, small business owner, or part of a growing team, BoloSign gives you everything you need to sign and send documents with complete peace of mind.

Let’s walk through how BoloSign handles signature security, timestamping, and audit trails—and why it’s one of the best choices for small businesses looking for powerful eSignature tools at an affordable price.

What Happens When You Sign a Document on BoloSign?

When someone signs a document using BoloSign—whether by typing, drawing, or uploading their signature—here’s what happens under the hood:

• The signature is visibly embedded on the PDF in the exact spot designated for signing.
• The final document is locked to prevent any further changes.
• A timestamp is recorded (if enabled) to indicate the exact time the signer took action.
• An audit trail is automatically generated and attached—complete with signer details like email, IP address, date/time, browser info, and more.

This entire process ensures your signed PDFs are secure, legally binding, and traceable—without requiring additional steps or setup.

Why Timestamp Matters (And When It Doesn’t)

One of the most important aspects of document security is proving when something happened. A timestamp provides a clear record of the time a signer completed their part of the process. This is especially important in:

• Legal contracts
• Real estate deals
• Healthcare and insurance documents
• Compliance-driven industries like finance or HR

In these scenarios, the timestamp can serve as proof of execution and protect your business from potential disputes or compliance issues.

But Not Every Business Needs a Timestamp

We understand that not all industries require strict timestamping. Some organizations prioritize speed and simplicity over audit details. For example:

• Internal memos
• Non-binding agreements
• Informal client approvals

For those users, BoloSign offers the flexibility to disable the visible timestamp, while still keeping all the necessary data collected, recorded, and accessible in the audit trail.

So whether your industry demands strict compliance or not, BoloSign ensures you always have the option to keep your processes lightweight—without compromising on transparency.

Secure, Tamper-Proof PDF Locking

After a document is signed in BoloSign, it is automatically locked and converted to a final PDF. This locked file cannot be altered without invalidating the digital signature—ensuring that what was signed is what is stored.

This feature is particularly valuable in preventing:

• Unauthorized edits post-signing
• Accidental overwrites or revisions
• Signature duplication or forgery

This level of document integrity is typically found in enterprise-level solutions—but we’ve made it standard for everyone on BoloSign, including small teams and freelancers.

Detailed Audit Trail: Full Transparency at Every Step

Every signed document on BoloSign includes a downloadable audit trail, giving you a detailed history of:

• Signer’s name and email
• Device IP address
• Date and time of each action
• Location metadata (when available)
• Signature type (typed/drawn/uploaded)
• Status of completion (Pending, Signed, Declined, etc.)

This audit trail can be shared with your team, attached to client records, or presented as legal proof in the event of a dispute.

✅ Pro Tip: If you're ever questioned about the validity of a signature, this audit trail gives you everything you need to back it up—with confidence.

Optional Timestamp—All the Data, None of the Clutter

We built BoloSign to be flexible, especially for small businesses that don’t want to be bogged down by features they don’t need.

That’s why the timestamp is optional. If your workflow doesn’t require it, you can turn it off for your recipients. But even then, we continue to:

• Record the exact time of action
• Log all metadata securely
• Store the information in your audit trail

So even if the timestamp isn’t visible on the document, you still retain full data visibility behind the scenes.

This strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and compliance.

Built-in Trust: Legally Binding and Fully Compliant

All signatures collected via BoloSign are legally binding and globally compliant with major eSignature regulations, including:

• ESIGN Act (USA)
• UETA (USA)
• eIDAS (EU)

This means your signed contracts, agreements, and waivers are enforceable in court—just like wet-ink signatures.

We also implement advanced encryption and secure cloud storage to protect your documents from end to end. Learn more about BoloSign security.

Who Can Benefit from BoloSign’s Secure Signature Workflow?

🏢 Small Businesses
Professional-grade eSignatures without the cost or complexity. Send, sign, and track contracts quickly and securely.

💾 Freelancers and Consultants
Close deals faster, send client agreements in seconds, and prove your signatures are legitimate with built-in timestamps and audit logs.

🏥 Healthcare and Compliance Teams
Maintain clear, tamper-proof records and meet regulatory standards effortlessly.

🏡 Real Estate Agents
Show clients that their contracts are secure, track who signed what and when, and keep your deals moving smoothly.

Bonus Features That Make BoloSign Stand Out

Beyond signatures and audit trails, BoloSign offers a rich set of features that help businesses save time and stay organized:

• Custom Templates – Reuse standard contracts with pre-filled fields.
• Team Workspaces – Collaborate, assign roles, and manage multiple signers.
• Form Filling & Data Collection – Gather structured inputs along with signatures.
• Secure Cloud Access – Access signed documents from anywhere, anytime.
• Notifications & Reminders – Never miss a deadline with automated email nudges.
• PDF Form Creation – Turn any form into a signable document in seconds.

These features work together with our strong security practices to make BoloSign a complete digital signature solution.

Why We Made Timestamp Optional (But Still Essential)

Not every business operates under the same level of scrutiny or compliance. Some industries want clean, minimalist documents, while others need detailed documentation of every move.

That’s why we made timestamp visibility optional—you choose what’s best for your workflow.

But behind the scenes, we’re still logging everything:

• Signature time
• Signer identity
• Device details
• Document status

So even if you don’t want the timestamp on the PDF, you still have the data about it whenever needed. No compromises.

FAQs

1. Are digital signatures legally valid without a timestamp?
Yes, digital signatures are legally valid even without a visible timestamp. However, having a timestamp adds an extra layer of proof regarding when the document was signed, which is useful for compliance and legal records.

2. What is an audit trail in electronic signatures?
An audit trail is a downloadable log that records every action taken on a document, including signer name, email, IP address, date, time, and type of signature. It helps verify the authenticity of the signature.

3. Can the timestamp be removed or hidden on a signed PDF?
Yes, while the timestamp is collected by default, it can be made optional or hidden from the final PDF if your business doesn’t require it. The data remains recorded for internal traceability.

4. How do I know if a digitally signed PDF has been tampered with?
Once signed, the PDF is locked and cannot be edited without breaking the digital signature. Any tampering will be flagged as an invalid or modified document, ensuring integrity.

5. Do all businesses need to use timestamped signatures?
No, timestamped signatures are not mandatory for all industries. Some use them for compliance, while others prefer a clean look without visible timestamps. Either way, backend logs ensure the data is captured.

Final Thoughts: Trust Every Signature with BoloSign

At BoloSign, we believe that signing a document shouldn’t just be easy—it should also be secure, verifiable, and trustworthy.

That’s why we built:

✅ Visible Signatures
✅ Optional Timestamps
✅ Locked PDFs
✅ Downloadable Audit Trails
✅ Tamper-proof Security

Whether you need a quick client agreement or a legally compliant contract, BoloSign has your back—with security that scales to your needs.

Ready to try BoloSign for yourself?

📅 Start your free trial here and see how easy and secure digital signing can be.