Audit Trail
Every signature includes a verifiable audit trail.
When a contract is signed through QuickContract, the system automatically records a detailed audit trail. This creates a verifiable record of who signed, when they signed, and the circumstances of the signing — information that's essential if a signature is ever questioned or needs to be verified in a legal proceeding.
What the audit trail captures
Each signature event records the following data points automatically:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Signer name | The full name provided by the signer at the time of signing. |
| Email address | The email the signature link was sent to, confirming the intended recipient. |
| IP address | The public IP address of the device used to sign, providing geographic context. |
| Timestamp | The exact date and time the signature was confirmed, recorded in UTC. |
| User agent | The browser and operating system used to sign (e.g., Chrome on macOS, Safari on iPhone). |
| Signature method | Whether the signer drew their signature or typed it. |
This data is captured at the moment of confirmation and cannot be modified after the fact. The audit trail is immutable once created.
The signed PDF
After all parties have signed, QuickContract generates a finalized PDF that includes:
- The full contract text exactly as it appeared to the signer at the time of signing.
- All signatures embedded in the document at their respective positions.
- An audit trail summary appended to the final page, listing each signer's name, email, IP address, timestamp, and user agent in a structured format.
This PDF serves as the definitive signed copy. Both the sender and the signer receive it — the signer by email and the sender within QuickContract, where it can also be downloaded at any time.
Viewing the audit trail
In QuickContract, open any signed contract and navigate to the Signatures tab. You'll see the complete audit trail for each signer, including all recorded data points. This view is available as long as the contract exists in your workspace.
The audit trail is stored in your local database alongside the contract. Use Backup & Restore to ensure you don't lose signed contracts and their audit data. For team workspaces, Cloud Sync keeps everything backed up automatically.
Legal standing
Electronic signatures captured through QuickContract are legally recognized under the ESIGN Act (United States) and the eIDAS Regulation (European Union), which establish that electronic signatures carry the same legal weight as handwritten ones when certain conditions are met — including intent to sign, consent, and a verifiable record. The audit trail provides the verification record.