If you’ve seen “/s/ John Smith” at the bottom of a legal document and wondered what it means, you’re not alone. The /s/ notation is one of the oldest forms of electronic signature, and it’s still widely used today — especially in legal and government documents.
What Is a /s/ Signature?
The /s/ signature (pronounced “slash-S”) is a conformed signature — a typed representation of a person’s name preceded by the notation “/s/” to indicate that the document has been electronically signed.
Example:
By: /s/ Jane Doe
Name: Jane Doe
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Date: February 16, 2026The “/s/” tells the reader: “A signature was applied here, but because this is an electronic or printed copy, the handwritten signature has been replaced with a typed name.”
History and Origin
The /s/ convention originated from federal court electronic filing systems in the 1990s. When courts moved from paper to electronic filings:
- Paper filings had handwritten signatures
- Electronic filings needed a way to represent signatures in plain text
- The /s/ convention was adopted as the standard representation
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure (Rule 5(d)(3)(C)) and local court rules formalized this practice.
Where Is /s/ Signature Used Today?
Federal Courts (PACER/ECF)
All electronically filed court documents use /s/ signatures. Attorneys register for an ECF account and their login credentials authenticate their /s/ signature.
SEC Filings
The Securities and Exchange Commission accepts /s/ signatures on:
- 10-K and 10-Q reports
- 8-K current reports
- Proxy statements
- Registration statements
- Officer and director certifications
Patent Applications
The USPTO accepts /s/ signatures on patent applications, Office action responses, and declarations.
Government Forms
Various federal and state agencies accept /s/ signatures on electronic forms and filings.
Legal Correspondence
Attorneys routinely use /s/ signatures in emails, letters, and electronic memoranda.
/s/ Signature vs. Modern E-Signatures
| Feature | /s/ Signature | Modern E-Signature |
|---|---|---|
| Authentication | ❌ No verification | ✅ Email/identity verification |
| Audit trail | ❌ None built-in | ✅ Timestamps, IP, device |
| Tamper detection | ❌ None | ✅ Document hash integrity |
| Visual signature | ❌ Text only | ✅ Drawn, typed, or uploaded |
| Identity proof | 🔓 Anyone can type /s/ | 🔒 Unique signing links |
| Court acceptance | ✅ In authorized filings | ✅ Broadly accepted |
When Should You Use /s/ vs. a Full E-Signature?
Use /s/ when:
- Filing documents in courts that require it
- Submitting SEC or government filings
- Following specific regulatory formatting rules
Use a full e-signature platform when:
- Signing business contracts
- You need an audit trail for legal protection
- Identity verification is important
- You want tamper detection
- You need proof of signing for potential disputes
Better Than /s/: Sign with WPsigner
For business documents, WPsigner provides everything a /s/ signature lacks:
- Identity verification — Unique signing links for each signer
- Audit trails — Complete evidence chain
- Tamper detection — Document integrity hashes
- Professional appearance — Drawn or typed signatures that look polished
- Self-hosted — Your data on your WordPress server