# Verifying a Completed Verdocs PDF Signature (/docs/guides/tutorials/verifying-a-completed-verdocs-pdf-signature)






A completed Verdocs PDF should be verified directly within the **desktop version of Adobe Acrobat** or **Adobe Acrobat Reader**. The [European Commission DSS web site](https://ec.europa.eu/digital-building-blocks/DSS/webapp-demo/validation) is not the appropriate validation method for this document, because the PDF uses an embedded document-signing certificate trusted through the **Adobe Approved Trust List (AATL)**.

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## How to verify the document [#how-to-verify-the-document]

### 1. Open the original PDF in Adobe Acrobat [#1-open-the-original-pdf-in-adobe-acrobat]

Download the original PDF and open it locally in Adobe Acrobat or Acrobat Reader. Do **not** rely on an in-browser PDF preview.

### 2. Open the Signatures panel [#2-open-the-signatures-panel]

In Acrobat, open the **Signatures** panel.

### 3. Expand the Verdocs signature entry [#3-expand-the-verdocs-signature-entry]

Expand the entry labeled:

> Rev. 1: Signed by Verdocs, Inc. [support@verdocs.com](mailto:support@verdocs.com)

### 4. Confirm the validation results [#4-confirm-the-validation-results]

Acrobat should display a green checkmark and confirm that:

* The signature is valid
* The document has not been modified since the signature was applied
* The signer's identity is valid
* The signature includes an embedded timestamp
* The signature is LTV enabled (Long-Term Validation)

### 5. Review the certificate details [#5-review-the-certificate-details]

Select **Certificate Details** to review the certificate and its complete trust chain. Acrobat should show that the certificate path is valid and was issued through the **Sectigo** document-signing chain.

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## Expected verification results [#expected-verification-results]

The screenshots below show the expected Adobe verification results for this document.

### Signatures panel [#signatures-panel]

Adobe Acrobat Signatures panel showing a valid Verdocs signature

<img alt="PDF Signatures" src="__img0" />

### Certificate details [#certificate-details]

Adobe Acrobat Certificate Viewer showing a valid Sectigo-issued Verdocs certificate path

<img alt="Certificate Viewer" src="__img1" />

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## Understanding the signature model [#understanding-the-signature-model]

Individual signer fields should **not** be expected to appear as separate certificate-backed signatures in the DSS validator.

For this document, the cryptographic verification point is the **Verdocs digital certificate** applied to the completed PDF. That certificate confirms:

* The **authenticity** and **integrity** of the final document
* Whether the document has been **altered** since certification

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## Important: use the original downloaded PDF [#important-use-the-original-downloaded-pdf]

Make sure the supplier is reviewing the **original downloaded PDF**.

Printing the document to PDF, flattening it, or resaving it through another application can remove or disrupt the embedded validation information. Any of these actions may cause verification to fail even when the original document is valid.

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## Troubleshooting [#troubleshooting]

If the supplier does not see the same verification results shown above, please send us:

1. The exact PDF they are reviewing
2. Their Adobe Acrobat version

We can then investigate further.