Every signature, with the record behind it
A signature is only as good as the record behind it. Every envelope SignMaster completes comes back as one PDF: the signed documents, followed by a certificate of completion and the full history of what happened.
Updated October 13, 2026 · 2 min read
On this page
What the certificate shows
An envelope is one send: one or more documents going to one or more signers. Its certificate has four parts.
| Part | What's in it |
|---|---|
| Envelope | Title, envelope ID, completion time, and each document's name, page count and original SHA-256 fingerprint |
| Each signer | Name and email, what they filled in and signed, when they viewed, consented and completed, their IP address, approximate location and browser, and the consent version they accepted |
| Changes | Corrections made after sending, and anyone who was replaced as a signer |
| Event history | Every event with its time in UTC, who did it and from which IP address |
When someone signs in person, the certificate says so and names the host. When a signer prints, signs on paper and uploads it, the certificate records that too.
What gets recorded
The trail starts when the envelope is created: sent, delivered, opened, consented, signed, declined, reminded, corrected, reassigned, voided, expired, downloaded and completed, plus access code checks and emails that bounced. You can watch it build on each envelope's activity timeline while it's still out.
How the PDF is sealed
- Fingerprints. Each original file gets a SHA-256 fingerprint, printed on the certificate. Change one character in the file and the fingerprint no longer matches.
- Every page stamped. The envelope ID and page numbers are printed on every page, so a loose page can be traced back to its envelope.
- Checked before it goes out. SignMaster checks the finished PDF before emailing it to every signer, CC and viewer, and to you.
Before anyone signs, they agree to sign electronically. SignMaster records consent against a versioned e-signature disclosure, and the version each signer accepted is on the certificate.
What it isn't
SignMaster doesn't apply a PKI digital certificate to the PDF, and there's no public page to verify a document yet. The evidence is the fingerprint, the certificate and the event history. Read electronic vs digital signatures for the difference.
Plans
The audit trail and certificate come with every envelope on every plan, including Free. On Crew and Company, your logo appears on the certificate too. Compare plans.
Questions? Answers.
Is the audit trail included on the free plan?
Yes. Every completed envelope on every plan gets the certificate of completion and full event history.
Will the certificate hold up in court?
No one can promise how a court will rule. What SignMaster gives you is a record of who signed, when, how they consented and whether the file changed. See are electronic signatures legal.
How do I get a copy of the audit trail?
It's part of the signed PDF. Everyone gets it by email when the envelope completes, and you can download it from the envelope at any time.
Does SignMaster use digital certificates?
Not on the PDF itself. SignMaster seals each envelope with SHA-256 fingerprints, page stamps and a certificate of completion rather than a PKI signature.