The signature field allow your clients to digitally sign directly within a request, no printing, scanning, or third-party tools required.
What Does the Signature Field Do?
The signature field add a dedicated signing area to your Gatheroo request.
Your client can either draw or type their signature directly within the request, on any device.
The signed output is captured and stored in the request in your Gatheroo account.
This makes Gatheroo a complete end-to-end solution for situations that currently require a signature step, such as engagement letters, consent forms, declarations, and agreements.
Who Benefits From the Signature Field?
The signature field is particularly valuable for:
- Accountants and bookkeepers collecting signed engagement letters
- Conveyancers and legal professionals requiring client declarations
- Any business that currently has to send documents to a separate e-signature platform
- Anyone collecting consent or authorisation as part of onboarding
Is a Signature Collected in Gatheroo Legally Binding?
In Australia, an electronic signature can carry the same legal weight as a handwritten one, provided it meets the requirements of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) and its state equivalents.
These laws are technology-neutral, the signature doesn’t have to be a wet ink mark, as long as it identifies the person, indicates their intention to be bound, and is collected in a reliable way.
Gatheroo is designed to support these requirements.
When a client signs a request, Gatheroo captures:
- Identity: the client accesses the request via a unique magic link tied to their email address, connecting the signature to a specific, identifiable person
- IP address: recorded at the point of signing as part of the audit trail
- Audit trail: a log of activity on the request, including when it was opened and when it was signed
- Field lock: once signed, all fields on the request are locked. If the request needs to be re-opened for any reason, the client must sign again — meaning the signature always reflects the final, agreed state of the document
Strengthening enforceability further
For requests where identity verification matters most, you can enable Secure access with Passcode on the request.
This requires your client to enter a passcode before they can access and sign, adding a layer of identity confirmation on top of the magic link.
Suggested field label wording
If you want to make the client’s intent explicit at the point of signing, consider labelling the field something like:
“By signing below, I confirm that the information provided in this request is accurate and that I agree to the terms set out above.”
A note on legal advice
While Gatheroo is built to support the conditions for a valid electronic signature, the enforceability of any specific signature depends on the nature of the transaction, the parties involved, and your jurisdiction.
For high-stakes documents, contracts, statutory declarations, deeds, we recommend seeking legal advice to confirm the appropriate signing method for your situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gatheroo signature field?
The Gatheroo signature field is a feature that allows your clients to sign directly within a request, eliminating the need for printing, scanning, or separate e-signature tools.
Can I get clients to sign documents online as part of onboarding?
Yes, electronic signatures are increasingly common in professional client onboarding.
Many tools offer a dedicated signature field where clients draw or confirm their signature digitally.
Gatheroo’s Signature field to support this directly within a client request, so you can collect acknowledgements and sign-offs without needing a separate e-signature tool.
Is an electronic signature legally valid?
In most jurisdictions, electronic signatures are legally valid for a wide range of document types under laws such as the eSign Act (US), the Electronic Transactions Act (Australia), and eIDAS (EU).
The key requirements are usually that the signer consented, intended to sign, and the signature is attributable to them.
Always check the specific requirements for your industry and jurisdiction.