How to guarantee a document hasn't been changed

[JMT]

I am working with an independent contractor and we have been working on a document that describes our relationship. We have now reached agreement on the document and I want to send him an electronic copy. I want him to reply that he agrees so I can keep the response. For both of our sakes, I want to be able to somehow "lock" or otherwise insure that the document he has and my copy are the same.

In effect, his reply is like an electronic signature. While I doubt it would stand up in court I want to take a few reasonable steps.

The original document was created in MS Word but the copy I send him is a "pdf". Would it make sense to checksum the file and include the checksum in the e-mail? Are there other ways to do this?

[ubu]

Call me old fashion, but even in this modern day era we are in, I send out my service contracts to my client via email in a PDF file, they print it and sign it, and either fax it or mail it back to me before they are a client of mine.

Jamie
Nothing like a signed document in court....

[Randall]

Isn't Acrobat supposed to have some sort of digital signature feature for PDFs?

Randall

[Matt]

Hello Jeff,

My company Webspace Enterprises follows a very similar model to that used by Jamie. Generally, the client can fax a copy back so that work can begin immediately, but the original must still be sent via postal mail. Your client keeps a copy for his/ her records. For contracts dealing with small sums of money, a fax document would most likely be sufficient in court.

-Matt

[JMT]

The document I am talking about is a "statement of understanding" between myself and an independent contractor. It defines our respective roles and responsibilities. Its main purpose is to just document how things will work to avoid mis-understanding.

I use signed paper contracts with my clients already. The relationship with my contractors is different, at least I am handling them less formally.