Both Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat Reader allow a signer to sign with an electronic signature (a.k.a. digital signature) that makes use of a digital certificate. The fact that the document was signed is displayed in various ways in the program, but isn’t shown on the virtual sheets of paper that make up what we traditionally think of as the document. Also, if the document were printed, the signature wouldn’t show up.
If a notary signed this way, would it be lawful in your state? I believe the wording of the emergency rules in Vermont would make it lawful, but I’m not sure if the people writing the rules know what their rules really mean.
Directions to create an “invisible” electronic signature:
Microsoft Word (do a browser search for “invisible” within the web page)