Get it signed
Get a consent form signed online
Short answer
Upload the consent form to Sign PDF, check the signature, date and checkbox fields it places, and send it to each person to sign on their phone. E-signed consent forms are widely used and valid for activities, data use and many services, but healthcare providers handling protected health information should note that Sign PDF is not HIPAA certified and does not sign business associate agreements.
Updated 25 October 2026
Who signs
- Participant or patient
- Parent or guardian (for a minor)
- Witness
- Practitioner or organiser
Boxes we place for you
- Signer signature and date
- Checkbox for each separate consent
- Parent or guardian signature and relationship to the child
- Witness signature and name
- Printed name of the person giving consent
What makes consent valid
A consent form records that someone agreed to something after being told what it involved: a treatment, taking part in research, having their data used, joining an activity. The signature is evidence of the agreement, but it is not the consent itself. Consent depends on the person understanding what they agreed to, being able to decide, and agreeing freely.
That is why good consent forms are short, plain and specific. A signature at the end of four pages of small print proves less than a one-page form with a clear explanation and separate checkboxes for each thing the person is agreeing to.
Separate boxes for separate consents
Under the UK GDPR and the EU GDPR, consent to use personal data must be specific, informed and unambiguous, and it can be withdrawn at any time under Article 7(3). Bundling consent to marketing emails with consent to a service makes the marketing consent hard to rely on. Give each purpose its own unticked checkbox.
Note that consent is only one lawful basis for using personal data, and often not the best one. Employers, for instance, are generally advised not to rely on consent because of the imbalance of power.
Medical and research consent
Electronic consent is common in healthcare. In the US, the HIPAA rules allow electronic signatures on authorisations, provided the signature is valid under applicable law. The catch is the platform: a provider that sends protected health information through a vendor generally needs a business associate agreement with that vendor. Sign PDF is not HIPAA certified and does not sign BAAs, so US healthcare providers should use a platform that does.
Clinical research regulated by the US FDA uses electronic consent systems that meet 21 CFR Part 11, and Sign PDF is not validated for that. For a physiotherapy practice in the UAE or UK taking a treatment consent, the signature method is less regulated, but patient records still carry data protection duties. Not legal advice; check the rules for your profession.
Minors, guardians and witnesses
Children usually cannot give legal consent for most purposes, so a parent or guardian signs. Record their relationship to the child and their name. Where only one parent is available, check whether your organisation's policy requires both for the activity in question.
Witnesses are rarely needed by law for consent forms, but some organisations ask for one for higher-risk procedures. Sign PDF can place a witness block, and the witness signs from their own email link.
How to collect consent with Sign PDF
Upload the form and Sign PDF places signature, date and name boxes, and keeps any checkboxes already built into the PDF. Ask the assistant to 'add a checkbox beside each consent' or 'add a parent signature and relationship field' if the form needs them.
Each signer confirms a six-digit code from their email and signs in the browser. The certificate records when they agreed to sign electronically and when they signed. If you need to collect hundreds of forms from a public link, this is the wrong tool: Sign PDF has no web forms or bulk send, and a form builder will suit you better.
Questions people ask
Is an e-signed consent form legally valid?
Generally yes. Electronic signatures are recognised for consent forms in most countries. What matters more is that the person understood what they agreed to and agreed freely.
Can I use Sign PDF for HIPAA patient consent forms?
We do not recommend it. Sign PDF is not HIPAA certified and does not sign business associate agreements, which US healthcare providers usually need when a vendor handles protected health information.
Can parents sign consent forms for children on their phones?
Yes. A parent opens the email link on their phone, confirms a code and signs. You can add a field for their relationship to the child.
Can someone withdraw consent after signing?
Often yes. Under the GDPR, consent to data use can be withdrawn at any time. For treatment or activities, a person can usually change their mind before it happens. The signed form records what was agreed at the time.
Can I send one consent form to a whole class or group?
Each form goes to a named signer by email, one document per person. Sign PDF has no bulk send or public form link, so for large groups a form builder is a better fit.
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