Scan Documents and Create PDFs Using Your Smartphone

Unlock the power of technology to streamline your legal matter! In today's digital age, tools like Smartphones (texting and email) and Zoom have revolutionized communication. As lawyers, we frequently request essential documents from our clients. Many clients resort to capturing photos of these documents and emailing them, however, the quality is usually poor and the documents are difficult to read complete with shadows and uneven edges. Third parties often reject these versions of documents.

Did you know your smartphone has an invaluable feature that could significantly enhance your document-sharing experience? Many people are unaware that their iPhone comes equipped with a scanner capable of transforming any document into a polished PDF. This seamlessly converts your documents into a professional format, allowing easy sharing via text or email. Embrace this hidden gem and elevate your efficiency in handling legal documentation. If you have an Android device you can use a third-party app such as Google Drive or Microsoft Lens.

Below are seven easy steps to use your smartphone’s built-in capability without downloading another app.

How to scan Documents on your IPhone or IPad

You can use the Notes app to scan documents and add signatures on your iPhone or iPad.

1.     Open the Notes app (standard on IPhones) and select a note or create a new one.

2.     Once in the Notes app, Tap the Camera button, then tap Scan Documents.

3.     Place your document in view of the camera.

4.     If your device is in Auto mode, your document will automatically scan. If you need to manually capture a scan, tap the Shutter button or press one of the Volume buttons. Then drag the corners to adjust the scan to fit the page, then tap Keep Scan.

5.     You have the option of dragging the corners of the document to adjust the edges if necessary

6.     Tap Save or add additional pages to the same document by taking another photo before Saving

7.     Tap the Share button  to share the document via e-mail or text

How to scan Documents on Android

The Google Drive and Microsoft Lens apps can convert photos of documents into PDFs. Simply snap a photo of a document with your Android phone, adjust the borders, and save it as a PDF.

1.     Open Google Drive and tap the floating Plus (+) button in the bottom right corner

2.     Select Scan from the menu options

3.     The camera will immediately open---you may need to grant the app permission to use your camera first.

4.     Position the document so that it's entirely in the frame and take a picture.

5.     You will be asked to confirm that you want to use the photo. Tap the Checkmark button

6.     You will have the option to edit, or click Next if everything looks good

7. Name the file and choose which folder to save it. The document will be saved as a PDF in the desired folder where you can then share the document.

The quality of documents produced by these methods is comparable to using a scanner. Whether you need to digitize a document for a lawyer or a receipt for reimbursement, scan a form, or save business cards, if you have a smartphone you have the power!

If you have a legal question, please don’t hesitate to contact Carter Simpson at 902-444-7227 or info@cartersimpson.ca