MarquoElectronic signature on iPhone explained
A signature you place with Marquo is an image of your handwriting on the page: a simple electronic signature in the broad sense. It is not a certificate-based digital signature, and whether it is accepted is up to the recipient and the law that applies.
Short answer
People use electronic signature to mean many things, from a typed name in an email to a cryptographic signature backed by a certificate. Marquo makes the simplest kind: your drawn, typed or photographed signature placed on a PDF. Many people accept that for everyday paperwork, and some do not. Ask before you send.
What Marquo puts on your document
- An image of your signature or initials, drawn into the page of the PDF.
- Any text, dates and marks you added, also drawn into the page.
- Form field values, locked into the page by default at export.
- No certificate, no signer identity check, no timestamp from a third party and no audit trail.
Because everything is drawn into the page, the signed PDF looks the same in any viewer. It does not prove by itself who placed the signature. That proof, when needed, comes from how you send it and from the records both sides keep.
Electronic signature and digital signature are not the same
| Kind | What it is | Made with Marquo |
|---|---|---|
| Image of a signature | A picture of a handwritten signature placed on the document | Yes |
| Typed name | Your name typed on the document, in plain text or a handwriting font | Yes |
| Certificate-based digital signature | Cryptographic data tied to a certificate issued by a certification authority; changes to the file can be detected | No |
Source: Marquo 1.0 features, October 2026.
A certificate-based digital signature needs a certificate issued to you and software that signs the file with it. If someone asks you for a digital signature in that sense, Marquo is not the tool for it.
Who decides whether it is accepted
Two things decide it: the person or organization that receives the document, and the law of the country or state that governs it. A landlord, school or employer may accept a signed PDF by email; a bank, court or government office may have its own rules. This page is not legal advice and does not cover any specific law.
Ways to avoid disputes
- Ask the recipient beforehand whether a signed PDF is acceptable.
- Send it from your own email address, so there is a record of who sent what and when.
- Keep a copy of the signed PDF and of the message you sent it with.
- Lock the fields at export (the default) so the answers cannot be changed later.
When you need a certificate based signature
We have not yet published a list of documents that require another kind of signature, because each item needs an official source we have checked. If the recipient asks for a qualified, certified or certificate-based signature, use the method they name.
Questions
Is a signature made on iPhone a legal signature?
It depends on the recipient and the law that applies. Marquo places an image of your signature, not a certificate-based one, so ask the recipient first.
What is the difference between an electronic and a digital signature?
Electronic signature is the broad term. A digital signature usually means a cryptographic signature tied to a certificate. Marquo makes only the first kind.
Can Marquo add a certificate to my signature?
No. Marquo does not create certified or certificate-based digital signatures.
How do I show who signed the document?
Send it from your own email and keep copies. Marquo does not keep an audit trail.
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