How to Send Signature Requests to Two Signers Who Share an Email Address (Adobe eSign)

Overview

Some clients — particularly married couples or joint filers — share a single email address. Since Adobe eSign requires a unique email address for each signer, you won't be able to add the same email address twice on a signature request.

This article explains a workaround using plus addressing that works for most email providers (eg. Gmail, iCloud, etc). Not all providers support this. 

Please keep in mind  IRS E-sign law requirements. 

There are currently five requirements of the E-Sign law which we propose to implement:

1. The signature must be under the sole control of the individual. Password based signatures should be used in conjunction with PKI, signature stamps, electronic seals as well as simple click-wrap. For IVES we are requesting use of an electronic signature.
2. The signature must be verifiable. Electronic signature technology will verify in real time using complex algorithms or through forensic analysis of the signature dynamics or measurements.
3. The signature must be unique to the individual. Each signature gathered must be unique to an individual regardless of whether it is a physical measurement like a fingerprint or virtual measurement like the click of a mouse.
4. The signature must establish the individual’s intent to be bound to the transaction. Signatory must be fully aware of the purpose for which the signature is being provided, regardless of underlying technology.
5. The signature must be applied in a tamper-evident manner. Industry standard encryption must be used to protect the users’ signatures and the integrity of the documents to which they are affixed.

The Workaround: Plus Addressing

Most major email providers (including Gmail, Outlook, and others) support a feature called plus addressing (also known as subaddressing). This allows you to add a +tag to an email address and it will still deliver to the same inbox — but the system treats it as a unique address.

How it works:

If your clients share [e-mail], you can enter the two signer addresses as:

• [e-mail] — delivers to their shared inbox
• [e-mail] — also delivers to the same inbox, but registers as a unique address

Both signature requests will arrive in the same inbox, and each signer can open and complete their own request.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Navigate to the document you want to send for signature in Firm360.
    
2. Click the Action Dropdown and select 
   
    
3. For the first signer, allow the shared email address as-is (e.g., [e-mail]).
    
4. For the second signer, enter the same address with a + tag before the @ symbol (e.g., [e-mail]).
    
5. Complete the rest of the signature request setup and send as normal.

What the Client Will See

Both signature request emails will arrive in the shared inbox. Each email will be addressed to a different signer, and each contains a unique signing link. The clients simply open each email and complete their individual signature.

Important Notes

• This workaround works for most email providers, including Gmail and Outlook/Microsoft 365, but it is not universally supported. If a client's email provider does not support plus addressing, this workaround will not work and the emails may bounce.
• The + tag can be anything — +jane, +spouse, +2, etc. Use whatever is clear and easy to remember.
• If you're unsure whether a client's provider supports plus addressing, you can suggest they test it by sending themselves an email to [e-mail] and confirming it arrives.