When a signing package is completed in GoSignHere, two things are generated: the signed document itself, and a certificate of completion. Most people focus on the signed document — but the certificate is often the more important record. Here's what it is, what's in it, and when you'll actually need it.
A certificate of completion is a separate PDF document that serves as the audit trail for a signing event. It's generated automatically when all required signers have completed a package. It is not appended to the signed document — it's a standalone record that you keep alongside the signed contract.
Think of it as the chain of custody documentation for your signature. The signed document proves what was agreed to. The certificate of completion proves how, when, and by whom it was agreed to.
GoSignHere's certificate of completion includes the following for each signer and for the overall package:
This distinction matters. The signed document is the PDF with signature images overlaid at the positions you specified. It looks like a signed contract. But if someone disputes a signature — "I never saw that version" or "that signature isn't mine" — the signed document alone doesn't give you much to work with. Anyone can put a signature image on a PDF.
The certificate of completion is what provides the evidentiary chain. It answers: who was asked to sign (email address), who actually signed (same address authenticated via email access), when they signed (timestamp), from where (IP address), and what they signed (document hash linking the certificate to that specific version of the document).
These records are captured by GoSignHere at the time of signing and included in the certificate. They can't be backdated or modified after the fact.
Legally valid audit trail, SHA-256 document hash, full signer timeline — generated automatically on every signed package.
Try GoSignHere FreeThe ESIGN Act requires that electronic signatures meet four criteria: intent to sign, consent to transact electronically, association between the signature and the record, and attribution — the ability to identify who signed. The certificate of completion is the evidence that all four criteria were met.
Intent: The signer took affirmative action — they opened the link, navigated to each field, and clicked to sign or drew their signature. The timestamp records when this happened.
Consent: By accessing the document via the signing link (sent to their email) and proceeding to sign, the signer demonstrated consent to transact electronically.
Association: The document hash in the certificate proves that the certificate refers to exactly this version of this document — not a modified version, not a different document with the same name.
Attribution: The email address, IP address, and timestamp together identify who signed, from where, and when. The email address is particularly strong: access to the signing link required access to that email inbox.
If a signed document is ever challenged in a legal proceeding, the certificate of completion is the exhibit that answers the most important questions.
When a package is completed, GoSignHere emails both the signed document and the certificate of completion to all parties. You can also download both at any time from your dashboard.
Best practice is to store them together. When you file or archive a completed contract, keep the certificate of completion alongside the signed PDF. If you use a document management system, attach both. If you store contracts in a folder structure, put both files in the same folder.
You do not need to send the certificate to the other party — they receive it automatically as well. But it's good practice to confirm the other party has retained their copy, especially for contracts that may have a long life (leases, ongoing service agreements, licensing deals).
No — they're different mechanisms providing similar assurance. A PKI-based digital signature is embedded cryptographically inside the PDF itself. GoSignHere's certificate of completion is a separate PDF document containing the audit trail. The SHA-256 document hash in the certificate links it to the signed PDF and provides tamper detection. For most U.S. business contracts, the certificate of completion approach is legally sufficient and practically simpler.
The SHA-256 hash can be independently verified — you can compute the hash of the signed PDF yourself and compare it to the hash in the certificate. If they match, the document hasn't been altered since signing. GoSignHere also maintains records that can be used to verify the authenticity of a certificate if needed.
Completed packages and their certificates are available in your GoSignHere account for as long as you maintain an account. GoSignHere retains documents for 30 days after completion by default — download and archive your certificates promptly for anything with a long shelf life.
Yes. When a package is completed, GoSignHere automatically emails the signed document and the certificate of completion to all parties — the sender and every signer. All parties have the same record.
You can re-download it from your GoSignHere dashboard at any time while the package is within the retention window. This is another reason to archive important certificates to your own storage system soon after completion rather than relying on GoSignHere as your primary archive.
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