How to Clear Electronic Signature with signNow

TL;DR

Clearing an electronic signature in signNow means removing or resetting a saved signature or clearing a signature field so a new signature can be added. This guide explains why you might clear a signature, step-by-step actions on web and mobile, required permissions, security and legal considerations (ESIGN and UETA), and common troubleshooting steps specific to signNow plans and integrations.

What clearing an electronic signature means

Clearing an electronic signature is the act of removing or resetting a previously applied eSignature so a signer can re-sign or so a document can be edited before finalizing. In plain terms: it is like erasing a pen signature on a paper form so you can correct the content and sign again. In signNow this can mean clearing a local saved signature from a user profile, removing a signature field entry in a draft, or revoking and reissuing a signing request so a document is re-signed under a new intent and timestamp.

When and why to clear an eSignature

Clearing a signature is necessary when the signed content must be corrected, when a signer changes intention, or when a document needs re-execution to meet compliance. Use signNow when closing remote sales contracts or collecting employee onboarding signatures at scale. Clearing can preserve auditability while enabling a correct, legally valid re-signature under ESIGN and UETA requirements.

Security controls and certifications

Encryption in transit: TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3

Encryption at rest: AES-256 disk-level encryption

Audit and controls: SOC 2 Type II report

Regulatory compliance: ESIGN and UETA compliant

Healthcare standard: HIPAA compliant, BAA required

International standards: ISO 27001 certified

Real scenarios of clearing and re-signing

Two short case studies show how clearing signatures helps correct forms and maintain auditability while enabling a new, valid signature cycle.

Optica Ventures example

Optica Ventures used signNow to allow clients to correct data on investor subscription forms before finalizing signatures.

• The platform allowed the team to clear a signature field, update numeric and personal fields, and re-send a signing link.
• This prevented duplicate agreements and ensured the document reflected correct investor intent.

Resulting in faster closes and a clear audit trail for compliance and internal review.

Xerox integration example

Xerox integrated signNow with NetSuite to clear and reissue signature requests when contract terms changed during renewal.

• Administrators revoked the previous signing session, cleared the signatures on the work-in-progress copy, and pushed an updated contract to the same signer order.
• That preserved the original change history while collecting a fresh eSignature.

Leading to consistent record-keeping and reduced dispute risk during audits.

Clear and reset a signature (quick steps)

Follow these practical steps in signNow to clear an electronic signature so a new signature can be applied by the same or a different signer.

• 01
  Open the document: Sign in and open the draft or completed document you need to modify.
• 02
  Remove signature field: Use the editor to select the signature field and choose Clear or Delete field.
• 03
  Save changes: Save or create a new document version so the cleared state is recorded.
• 04
  Send for signature: Use Send for signature to reassign signers and request a new eSignature.

How clearing fits into eSignature workflows

Clearing a signature is part of iterative document workflows where edits or corrected intent require a fresh signing cycle and a preserved audit trail.

• Edit then clear: Edit document content, then remove the prior signature to enable re-signing.
• Revoke and resend: Revoke previous signing session when intent changed, then send a new link.
• Version control: Save a new version to keep the prior signed copy archived.
• Audit recording: Each clear and resend is recorded in the document Audit Trail.

Core signNow features relevant to clearing signatures

Several signNow capabilities support controlled clearing and re-signing while maintaining legal evidence and administrative oversight.

Editable templates

Create reusable templates that let admins clear fields before sending, enabling corrected content and consistent field placement while preserving template history and avoiding repeated manual setup for common forms.

Audit Trail

Detailed event logs record clears, edits, re-sends, and signatures with timestamps and IP addresses, giving legal teams a traceable history of intent and actions for each document.

Role-based signing

Assign signer roles and ordering so only authorized parties can clear or edit a signature field, ensuring changes are controlled and documented in multi-party workflows.

Mobile signing

Use mobile apps to clear and re-sign offline; local changes sync securely when online, allowing field agents and remote users to complete corrected workflows from any device.

Best practices when clearing electronic signatures

Follow these guidelines to keep cleared signatures auditable and avoid legal or operational disputes when reissuing signing requests.

Record the reason for clearing

Document why a signature was cleared in an internal note or version comment and include that note in the signNow audit trail or file metadata to preserve context for future review.

Use versioned documents

Create a new version rather than overwriting the signed file so prior signed copies remain archived and retrievable for compliance, audits, and potential dispute resolution.

Limit who can clear signatures

Restrict clearing permissions to admins or legal approvers within signNow to prevent unauthorized modification and ensure responsible governance over signed records.

Notify all parties

When you clear and resend a document, notify previous signers of changes and the need to re-sign to maintain transparency and reduce confusion or rejection rates.

Where you can clear signatures

Use signNow on supported web browsers, native mobile apps, or via API to clear or reset signatures depending on permissions and plan.

• Web browsers: Chrome, Edge, Firefox
• Mobile apps: iOS and Android apps
• APIs and integrations: REST API and SDKs

The web editor is recommended for most clearing tasks; mobile apps allow field agents to clear locally and sync, and APIs allow bulk or automated clears in integrated systems like CRMs or ERPs.

Configure workflows for controlled clearing

Set up signNow workflow settings to control who can clear signatures, how re-sign requests are issued, and how notifications are sent.

Feature	Value
Authentication method	Email or 2FA
Reminder frequency	48 hours
Expiration days	30 days
Audit trail retention	Unlimited
Signer order enforcement	Sequential or parallel

Pricing snapshot and feature comparison (data date current)

Comparison of starting price and key capabilities across signNow and common alternatives. Prices reflect annual billing where noted; check vendor sites for current plan details.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$8/user/mo	$13/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial, no card	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes, on Business Premium	Yes, enterprise	Yes, enterprise	Yes, enterprise	Yes, enterprise
Audit Trail	Yes, detailed logs	Yes, detailed logs	Yes, detailed logs	Yes, detailed logs	Yes, detailed logs
HIPAA Compliant	Yes, BAA required	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Feature availability comparison

Quick feature checks showing signNow first and competitor columns for common capabilities related to clearing and re-signing workflows.

Feature	signNow (Featured)	DocuSign	Adobe Sign
Bulk send availability	yes, business premium
API access	full rest api	rest api	rest api
Mobile app support	ios & android apps	ios & android	ios & android
HIPAA support	yes, baa required	varies	varies

FAQs and troubleshooting for clearing signatures

Common issues and resolutions when removing or resetting signatures in signNow, plus plan and permission notes for administrators and end users.

• Unable to clear a signature field
  If you cannot clear a signature field, verify you have editor permissions on the document. Administrators or the document owner can clear fields in the editor; if the document is already completed, create a new version or revoke the signing session before clearing. Check signer order and lock settings that may prevent edits.
• How to revoke and resend a document
  To revoke a signing session, open the document in signNow, use the revoke or cancel signing action, and then save a new version. After revocation, clear any signed fields, make required edits, and use Send for signature to issue a new signing link to the correct signer order.
• Permissions needed to clear signatures
  Clearing signatures requires document edit privileges or administrative access depending on account settings. On enterprise plans, admins can restrict clear and edit rights; review your signNow role permissions or contact your tenant administrator to change access.
• Does clearing break the audit trail
  No. signNow records clears, edits, revocations, and re-sends in the Audit Trail. Each action is timestamped and includes user identity and IP data, preserving an auditable chain even when signatures are removed and re-collected.
• Mobile app clearing limitations
  Mobile apps allow clearing and re-signing but may have limited editing tools compared to the web editor. For complex template edits or multi-signer reorders, use the web editor or API to ensure all workflow settings and version history are preserved.
• API errors when clearing in bulk
  When automating clears via the API, ensure you use the correct endpoint and that the API key has necessary scopes. Handle rate limits and check error payloads for permission or validation messages; contact signNow support for account-specific API troubleshooting.