Initials or full signature? When to use each
Many contracts ask for both: your initials on each page or next to certain clauses, and your full signature at the end. They do different jobs. Here's when to use which — and how to add both to the PDF in one go.
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- 1Create your initialsDraw them or type them.
- 2Place them on every pagePut them in the corner, then use “Place on every page”.
- 3Sign the last pageAdd your full signature and the date.
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What each one does
Full signature
Agrees to the whole document. Goes in the signature block, usually at the end.
Initials on each page
Show you saw every page and that no page was swapped later.
Initials by a clause or change
Show you specifically noticed and accepted that part.
Initials and signature on one PDF
Create both once, then place them where needed.
1
Create your initials
Draw them or type them.
2
Place them on every page
Put them in the corner, then use “Place on every page”.
3
Sign the last page
Add your full signature and the date.
Why initials exist
A signature at the end proves you agreed to a document, but not which pages were in it when you signed. Initials on each page tie every page to your agreement. Initials next to a clause, or next to a handwritten change, show you accepted that specific point.
Should initials look like your signature?
They should be consistent: the same style each time, recognizably yours. Typed initials are common in electronic documents; drawn initials work too.
Where they go
Most documents have “Initials” boxes, often in the bottom corner. If there are none but the other party asks for initials, the bottom right corner of each page is the usual place.
Initials questions
- Is initialing a page the same as signing it?
- No. Initials acknowledge a page or clause; the full signature is what signs the agreement.
- Do I initial the signature page too?
- Only if there's an initials box on it — your signature already covers that page.
- Can I place initials on all pages at once?
- Yes. Place them once, then use “Place on every page”.
- What does it cost?
- Free to try. Downloading your signed PDF costs €2.99 a month or €24.99 a year, and you can cancel anytime.