Long time reader, first time thread starter...

I have a client that has an employee log in section of their site. They want me to build HTML versions of most of the forms that they require for new employees, so that it can be electronically saved in the database.... and also to save the trees! My question comes because most of these forms have to be signed. Does anybody know the best way to do this? I have seen online services that let you sign docs between two parties, but the client requires that the forms be filled out within the company's employee area. I have used the pdf signature function on forms before, but that wont work because it is clunky and does not easily allow you to capture the data for database inclusion.

Im sure there is a third party application somewhere out there that allows you to collect a signature on a HTML form in the same manner a pdf can. If there is, what are you feelings on the legal aspects of it compared to having an actual dead tree with a signature on it? We have realized that there are certain government forms that will have to be kept in paper form. So going totally paperless is still a sci-fi movie.

Thank you all,
Eric