Consent form tattoo template
A consent form tattoo record is a signed document showing the client agrees to the tattoo, confirms their age and health details, and accepts the listed risks. Under the federal ESIGN Act, a signature on this tattoo waiver form can't be denied legal effect only because it is electronic [3].
Download the consent form tattoo template (PDF) Download the consent form tattoo template (Word)This template is a general starting point and is not legal advice. Ask your local health department what your form needs.
What goes on a tattoo consent form template?
A tattoo consent form template has 6 parts: client ID and age, design and placement, health questions, risks, aftercare and signatures. A piercing consent form uses a similar layout.
- Client ID and age: full name, date of birth and the ID you checked.
- Design and placement: the design, its size and its place on the body.
- Health questions: allergies, skin conditions and medications.
- Risks: risks such as infection and scarring, each with an initial box.
- Aftercare acknowledgement: the client confirms they got aftercare instructions.
- Signatures: client signature, date and artist countersignature.
How to fill out a tattoo consent form
To fill out a tattoo consent form, check ID, record the design, complete the health questions, initial the risks, confirm aftercare, then sign.
- Check photo ID and write down the date of birth.
- Record the design, size and placement.
- Have the client answer every health question.
- Have the client read each risk and initial next to it.
- Give aftercare instructions and get the client's confirmation.
- Have the client sign and date, then countersign.
State rules that change this form
In California, parental consent does not allow a tattoo for anyone under 18 [1].
- California: Tattooing or offering to tattoo anyone under 18 is a misdemeanor, so a parental consent tattoo form does not allow the work [1].
The California ban does not apply to a licensed practitioner of the healing arts acting in the course of their practice [2].
Who needs to sign
The client signs the tattoo consent form, and the artist countersigns it. For a minor client where your state permits the work, add a parent or guardian signature line.
A minor tattoo consent form also records the parent's name and ID. In California, don't use a tattoo minor consent form, because tattooing anyone under 18 is a misdemeanor there [1].
Can you sign a tattoo consent form online?
Yes, a tattoo consent form can be signed online if the signer adopts the electronic signature with the intent to sign, because a signature can't be denied legal effect only because it is electronic [3]. An electronic signature is a sound, symbol or process attached to a record and adopted by a person with the intent to sign it [4].
Where a law requires 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 [5]. Under Louisiana's Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, an electronic signature is attributable to a person if it was that person's act [6]. That act can be shown in any manner, including by showing that a security procedure worked to identify the signer [7].
Okayform's online signing is in early access. Read about our online waiver signing software and join early access.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tattoo consent form?
A tattoo consent form is a signed record that the client agrees to the tattoo, confirms their age and health details, and accepts the listed risks. The client signs it and the artist countersigns it. Under federal ESIGN rules, the signature can't be denied legal effect only because it is electronic [3].
What states allow parental consent for a tattoo?
California is the only state this page covers, and California does not allow a tattoo for anyone under 18 with parental consent, because tattooing or offering to tattoo a person under 18 is a misdemeanor there [1]. For any other state, ask your local health department before you accept a minor client.
In California, can a minor get a tattoo with parental consent?
No. In California, tattooing or offering to tattoo anyone under 18 is a misdemeanor, so a parent's signature does not change the answer [1]. The ban does not apply to a licensed practitioner of the healing arts acting in the course of their practice [2].
What goes on a tattoo consent form template?
A tattoo consent form template has 6 parts: client details and ID, the design and placement, health questions, a risk acknowledgement with initial boxes, an aftercare acknowledgement, and signatures. Our free template has a section for each part, and you can download it as a PDF or Word file to edit for your studio.
Do you need a piercing consent form for a minor?
A piercing consent form for a minor is outside the scope of this page, which covers tattoo consent and cites California tattoo rules only. Before you pierce a minor, ask your local health department what your form needs, and use a form with a parent or guardian signature line.
Sources
- California Penal Code section 653, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=653, fetched 2026-10-27
- California Penal Code section 653, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=PEN§ionNum=653, fetched 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 records, https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2023-title15/html/USCODE-2023-title15-chap96-subchapI-sec7001.htm, fetched 2026-10-27
- Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:2609, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=107135, fetched 2026-10-27
- Louisiana Revised Statutes 9:2609, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=107135, fetched 2026-10-27
Related templates
- General consent form template: for consent to a service or activity.
- Medical consent form for a minor: when a parent authorizes medical care for a child.
- Minor travel consent form: when a child travels without both parents.
- Hold harmless agreement template: when a client agrees not to hold the studio responsible.
- Liability waiver template: instead, for activities with physical risk.
- Photo release form template: alongside this form, to post photos of the finished tattoo.