Short answer
A locksmith can send an authorization to open, a work order or a key control agreement through Sign PDF, and the customer signs it on their phone at the door. The sealed PDF records their name, email, IP address, approximate location and the exact time they signed; you still check photo ID in person, because we do not verify identity.
Updated 25 October 2026
Why locksmiths get an authorization signed
Opening a door for someone who has no right to be inside is the risk every locksmith carries. A signed authorization does not prove the person is the owner, but it records what they told you, what you saw, and that they accepted responsibility for the request.
A good form asks for the customer's name and address, their relationship to the property (owner, tenant, landlord's agent), the ID type you checked, and the work and price. Some US states license locksmiths and set their own record-keeping rules, so check what yours requires.
Signing on the doorstep
Customers locked out of their home usually still have their phone. Send the form to their email from your phone, they enter the six-digit code, and they sign with a finger. The certificate of completion adds the time they signed in UTC, their IP address and an approximate location from it.
Be clear about the limit: we record the device and the email inbox, not the person's identity. Sign PDF does not scan driver's licences or check ID. Look at the card yourself and write the type and last digits on the form.
Landlords, evictions and key control
A lock change between tenants or after an eviction should be authorised by the landlord or their agent in writing, not by whoever is standing at the door. Send the authorization to the landlord's email; they can sign from anywhere.
For commercial master key systems, a key control agreement lists who may order cut keys and how many exist. Add every authorised signatory as a signer so the agreement shows each name.
Plan and limits
A locksmith who wants a signed form on every lockout will send dozens a month, so Full at $10 a month for unlimited documents is the plan. Save your authorization as a template and each job takes seconds. Light at $5 covers 2 documents a month, which suits a commercial locksmith who only needs master key agreements signed.
We do not send links by SMS, dispatch jobs or take payment. If a customer cannot reach their email, you will need paper for that call.
Questions people ask
Does the signed form prove the customer owns the property?
No. It records what they declared and the device they signed on. Checking ID and proof of address is still your job, in person.
Can I see where the customer was when they signed?
The certificate shows an approximate location worked out from the signer's IP address. It is usually accurate to the city or area, not the street.
Can I send the authorization to a property manager instead?
Yes. Send it to whoever has authority. They sign from their own device, and you can add the tenant as a second signer if you want both.
Is the timestamp reliable?
Each signing event is recorded in an audit trail chained by hash, and the finished PDF carries an independent timestamp from DigiCert's timestamp authority.
Send your next authorization to open and rekey for signature
Upload it from your phone or laptop. The boxes go in the right places, your client signs on their phone, and you get a sealed copy back.
Upload a document