In-Person Signing
Some signatures happen face to face: handing over keys, delivering a car, enrolling a student, closing a sale at a trade show. The usual answer is to pass the customer your tablet. It works, but the record then says the signature was made on a device you control. Letting them sign on their own phone, by scanning a QR code, keeps the convenience and strengthens the proof.
Signing on the seller's tablet invites doubt
When a customer signs on your device, you hold both the document and the signing hardware. If a dispute comes later, the customer can say they did not read it, that the screen was rushed, or that their signature was reused. Shared tablets also mean wiping the screen between customers and hoping nobody walks off with it.
What the template covers
A QR code the camera reads instantly
Tap "In person" and a full-screen, high-contrast QR code appears. The customer points their camera at it and the document opens on their own phone.
Your screen stays awake
While the code is displayed, the app keeps your screen from dimming so the customer has time to scan.
NFC tags for repeat setups
From Chrome on Android you can write the signing link to an NFC sticker; customers tap their phone, iPhone included, to open it.
Every signer on their own device
With several signers, each scans their own code. The audit trail shows each signature came from that person's device.
Why the signer's own device helps
The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001, provides that a signature, contract or record may not be denied legal effect solely because it is in electronic form, and every state except New York has adopted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act; New York reaches the same result through its Electronic Signatures and Records Act. Under UETA § 9, a signature is attributable to a person if it was their act, which may be shown in any manner, including the efficacy of a security procedure. A signature made on the signer's own phone, with its own device and network details in the audit trail, is a cleaner showing of attribution than one made on the seller's equipment.
A car dealer's delivery desk
A used-car dealer in Ohio delivered vehicles with a stack of paper forms and a shared tablet for the purchase agreement. Now the salesperson completes the paperwork and shows a QR code at the delivery desk; buyers sign on their own phones while the car is being detailed. The signed packet is in the buyer's inbox before they drive away.
Setting up in-person signing
- Prepare the document fully before the meeting so only signatures remain.
- Turn your screen brightness up so the QR code scans easily.
- Decide in advance whether you will require ID or biometric confirmation.
- Give each signer their own code when several people sign.
Questions people ask about this
What is in-person signing?
Signing a document with the signer physically present. Here, the signer uses their own phone by scanning a QR code you display.
Does it work with any phone?
Yes. Any phone with a camera can scan a QR code; no app is needed.
Can I still verify identity in person?
Yes. Require a selfie with ID or Face ID / fingerprint confirmation on the signer's phone.
Is in-person e-signing different from remote signing legally?
No. The same ESIGN and UETA rules apply; what changes is the convenience and, when the signer uses their own device, the strength of the evidence.
What happens if the customer has no data plan?
They need an internet connection to open the link and record the signature. Offering your Wi-Fi network is usually enough.
Can I use in-person signing at events?
Yes. Print the QR code on a sign at your booth or registration table so each attendee signs their own copy on their phone, without waiting in line for a shared tablet.