How to add a witness signature to a contract
Most business contracts don't need a witness at all. A few documents do, either because a law says so or because the other side asks, and a witness line left blank can be a problem later. Here's when a witness matters, who can be one, and how to add a witness to a contract you're signing electronically.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
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Does your contract need a witness?
For an everyday sales, service or employment contract in the US, usually not: the signatures of the parties are enough. Witnesses come up for wills, some deeds and powers of attorney, some statutory forms such as Georgia's lien waivers, and contracts governed by another country's law that expects one. Wills and some family law documents are excluded from the federal ESIGN Act altogether, so check your state's rules before signing those electronically.
- The witness watches the signing. A witness attests that they saw this person sign. Signing an hour later from another city isn't witnessing, unless a law specifically allows remote witnessing by video.
- Pick someone independent. Ideally an adult who isn't a party to the contract and gains nothing from it.
- Record who they are. Their printed name and often an address, so they can be found if the signature is ever questioned.
- A witness isn't a notary. A notary checks identity and keeps an official record; a witness just watches. SignMaster doesn't notarize documents.
Set up a witness in SignMaster
SignMaster has no special witness type. A witness is simply another signer with their own fields, placed in the order that matches the signing.
- 1
Add the witness as a signer
In Recipients & order, add the party and then the witness, both as Needs to sign, with In order selected so the witness signs right after the person they're watching.
- 2
Give the witness their own fields
Under the witness line, place a Signature, a Name and a Date signed field assigned to the witness. Add a Text field labeled Witness address if your form asks for one.
- 3
Sign in the same room
After sending, open the envelope and tap Sign in person next to the party, hand them the device, and take it back. Then tap Sign in person next to the witness, who signs straight after on the same device.
- 4
Let the record show it
The certificate of completion lists the witness with their name, email, IP address and the time they signed, and notes that both signed in person and who hosted. Two signatures minutes apart on one device tell the story.
If the witness can't be there
The witness can sign from their own emailed link instead, but then they didn't see the signature happen on that device. Only do this where your state's law or the other party accepts remote witnessing, and say on the document how the witnessing took place.
Two parties, two witnesses
Some forms ask for a witness for each party. Set the order as party one, their witness, party two, their witness, and give each witness fields under the right signature block. If both parties and both witnesses are in the room, run four in-person sessions one after another on the same tablet; each session is for one person.
Questions? Answers.
Can a contract be witnessed electronically?
The witness can sign electronically, as long as they actually see the person sign. Whether a remote witness over video counts depends on the state and the type of document, so check before relying on it.
Can a family member be a witness?
For many documents it's allowed, but it's weaker evidence, and for wills many states disqualify witnesses who inherit. An independent adult is the safer choice.
Do I need a witness and a notary?
Only if the document or the person asking for it requires both. A notary is a separate official step, and SignMaster doesn't provide notarization.
Does the witness need to read the contract?
No. A witness confirms who signed and that they signed, not what the contract says. They only fill in their own fields.
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 7003, ESIGN Act exceptions (govinfo) · govinfo.gov
- Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (1999), final text (Uniform Law Commission) · uniformlaws.org