Consent Form Template
A consent form is a signed record that a person agreed to a specific action, such as treatment, a background check or a child's activity. The signer should understand what they agree to. Under the federal ESIGN Act, an e-signed consent form in an interstate transaction can't be denied legal effect only because it is electronic [1].
Download the consent form (PDF) Download the consent form (Word)This template is a general starting point and is not legal advice. For medical, research or privacy consent, ask a lawyer in your state before you use it.
The template has these parts: signer details, what is being agreed to, scope and duration, the right to withdraw, and a signature with date. It also has a parent or guardian line for a signer under 18.
What goes on a consent form?
A consent form shows who is asking, who is agreeing, what is agreed to, how long it lasts, how to withdraw, and a signature with date. Our consent form templates put each part on its own line:
- Who is asking: the name and contact details of the person or organization that asks for consent.
- Who is agreeing: the full name of the person who gives consent, and their date of birth if they are a minor.
- What exactly is agreed to: one clear description of the action, such as a check, a treatment or an activity.
- How long it lasts: a start date and an end date, or the event that ends the consent.
- How to withdraw: the steps the signer can take to cancel their consent, and who to tell.
- Signature with date: the signer's signature, their printed name and the date they signed.
A minor consent form uses the same 6 parts and adds a line for the parent or guardian.
How to fill out a consent form
To fill out a consent form, state the purpose, describe what the signer agrees to, set the duration, add the withdrawal line, and collect the signature and date. Follow these 5 steps:
- State the purpose. Write one sentence that says why you ask for consent. For a consent form for a background check, name the check and who will do it.
- Describe what the signer agrees to. List each action in plain words. Keep out anything the signer has not seen or discussed.
- Set the duration. Write a start date and an end date. If the consent covers one event, name that event.
- Add the withdrawal line. Tell the signer how to cancel their consent and who to contact.
- Collect the signature and date. Ask the signer to read the form, then sign and date it. A parental consent form template has a guardian line for a parent or guardian.
Who needs to sign
Put the consenting person's name and signature line at the end of the consent form. For a consent form for a minor, fill in the parental guardian consent form line in the template.
The person or organization that asked for consent keeps the signed copy. Give the signer a copy too, so both sides have the same record.
Can you sign a consent form online?
Yes, you can sign a consent form online when it is part of a transaction that affects interstate commerce, because the federal ESIGN Act says a signature or record can't be denied legal effect only because it is electronic [1]. Online signing on Okayform is in early access, so today you download, print and sign on paper.
Under the federal ESIGN Act, a signature, contract or record in a transaction that affects interstate commerce can't be denied legal effect only because it is electronic [1]. ESIGN defines an electronic signature as a sound, symbol or process attached to a record and adopted by a person with the intent to sign it [2].
Where a law calls for a contract in writing, an electronic record of it can be denied legal effect if it can't be retained and accurately reproduced for later reference [3]. Keep each signed consent form in a file that you can store and print later, so you can show it again if someone asks.
Under Louisiana's Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, an electronic signature or record is attributable to a person if it was that person's act [4]. The signer's act can be shown in any manner, including by showing that a security procedure worked to identify the signer [5].
Online signing on Okayform is in early access and is not available yet. Join the early-access list above to hear when you can send the consent form for signature online, or read about online waiver and consent signing software to compare options.
Frequently asked questions
What information should be on a consent form?
A consent form names who is asking and who is agreeing. It says exactly what the signer agrees to, how long the consent lasts and how the signer can withdraw. The form ends with the signer's signature, printed name and date, plus a parent or guardian line when the signer is under 18.
What is an example of written consent?
A signed consent form is a common example of written consent. A parent who signs a form that lets their child join a school trip gives written consent for that one activity. The form names the trip, the dates and how the parent can cancel, so both sides keep the same record.
What are the 5 components of consent?
Consent on this template has 5 parts: who is asking, who is agreeing, what is agreed to, how long it lasts and how to withdraw. A signature and date then record the agreement. Write each part in plain words, so the signer understands what they agree to before they sign.
What is a consent form in a loan application?
A consent form in a loan application is a signed record that the applicant agreed to a specific action, such as a background check. The form names the lender, the check and how long the consent lasts. The applicant signs and dates it, and the lender keeps the signed copy.
Does a parental consent form notarized carry more weight?
A notarized parental consent form is outside what this page covers, because we hold no verified rule on notarized consent forms. Use the parent or guardian line in the template for a signer under 18, and ask a lawyer in your state before you rely on a notarized form for a specific purpose.
Sources
The sources below hold the legal claims on this page, each fetched on 2026-10-27.
- 15 U.S.C. 7001, ESIGN Act, General rule of validity, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title15/html/USCODE-2023-title15-chap96-subchapI-sec7001.htm, fetched 2026-10-27
- 15 U.S.C. 7006, ESIGN Act, Definitions, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title15/html/USCODE-2023-title15-chap96-subchapI-sec7006.htm, fetched 2026-10-27
- 15 U.S.C. 7001(e), ESIGN Act, Accuracy and ability to retain contracts and other records, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title15/html/USCODE-2023-title15-chap96-subchapI-sec7001.htm, fetched 2026-10-27
- La. R.S. 9:2609, Louisiana Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, Attribution of electronic record and signature, https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=107135, fetched 2026-10-27
- La. R.S. 9:2609, Louisiana Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, Attribution of electronic record and signature, https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=107135, fetched 2026-10-27
Related templates
Use a related template when your agreement is more specific than a general consent form, or alongside it.
- Medical consent form for a minor: use it instead when a parent lets another adult approve medical care for their child.
- Minor travel consent form: use it instead when a child travels without one or both parents.
- Tattoo consent form: use it instead when a client agrees to a tattoo or piercing.
- Hold harmless agreement: use it alongside the consent form when one side agrees not to hold the other responsible for a loss.
- Liability waiver template: use it alongside the consent form when a participant accepts the risks of an activity.
- Photo release form: use it alongside the consent form when you also want to use photos of the signer.
Written by Vinay Koshy. Legal claims on this page last checked on 2026-10-27.