Free Permission Slip Template (Parents Sign from Their Phone)
A permission slip is a short form in which a parent or guardian allows a child to take part in an activity and gives you the information you need if something goes wrong. Below is a complete, ready-to-use template for schools, sports teams, scout troops, churches and camps, plus a way to collect every signature without chasing paper.
In 30 seconds
- A good permission slip names the activity, date, place, transport, cost and supervision, and collects emergency contacts and medical information.
- It should be signed by a parent or legal guardian, not by the student.
- Electronic signatures on permission slips are valid under the federal ESIGN Act and your state's version of UETA.
- Copy the template below, or download it as a Word file, then send one copy to every family at once and get each one back signed.
What a permission slip should include
Most slips that come back half-filled are missing a field, not a signature. A complete permission slip answers six questions for the parent and gives you five pieces of information back:
- The activity: what it is, the date, start and end times, and the exact location.
- Transport: school bus, chartered coach, parent drivers or walking. Parents care about this more than anything else.
- Supervision: who is in charge and the adult-to-student ratio.
- Cost and what to bring: fee, lunch, clothing, money.
- Emergency contacts: at least two phone numbers that will be answered during the activity.
- Medical information: allergies, medications, conditions and health insurance, plus an authorization for emergency treatment if the parent can't be reached.
Optional but useful: a photo consent checkbox, a pickup authorization (who else can collect the child), and a short assumption-of-risk line for physical activities. For overnight trips or high-risk activities, use a full liability waiver as well.
Permission slip template
Replace the blanks, delete what doesn't apply, and keep the wording simple. Parents read this on a phone, often in a hurry.
PERMISSION SLIP
Organization: ______________________________ (school, club, team or group)
Activity: ______________________________
Date(s): ______________ Departure: ______ a.m./p.m. Return: ______ a.m./p.m.
Location / address: ______________________________
Transportation: ☐ School bus ☐ Chartered bus ☐ Parent or volunteer drivers ☐ Walking ☐ Parents drop off and pick up ☐ Other: ______________
Supervising adult in charge: ______________________________ Phone during the activity: ______________
Adult-to-student ratio: 1 adult for every ______ students
Cost: $ ________ ☐ No cost Due by: ______________
Students should bring: ______________________________
1. Student information
Student's full name: ______________________________ Date of birth: ______________
Grade / class / team: ______________ Teacher or coach: ______________
2. Emergency contacts
Parent or guardian: ______________________________ Phone: ______________ Email: ______________
Second contact: ______________________________ Relationship: ______________ Phone: ______________
3. Medical information
Allergies (food, medication, insects): ______________________________
Medications the student will need during the activity, with dose and time: ______________________________
Medical conditions staff should know about (asthma, diabetes, seizures, other): ______________________________
Health insurance provider and member number: ______________________________
Doctor's name and phone: ______________________________
4. Emergency medical treatment
If my child is injured or becomes ill and I cannot be reached, I authorize the supervising staff to obtain emergency medical care, including transport to a hospital and treatment by a licensed physician. I understand I am responsible for the cost of that care. ☐ I agree ☐ I do not agree (please call me first at: ______________)
5. Photos
☐ My child may appear in photos or videos of this activity shared by the organization. ☐ Please do not photograph my child.
6. Pickup
Besides me, the following people may pick up my child: ______________________________ ☐ My child may leave on their own at the end of the activity.
7. Behavior and risks
I understand that my child must follow the rules and the instructions of the supervising adults, and that a student who does not may be sent home at my expense. I understand that this activity involves ordinary risks, such as minor injuries, and I have told the organization about anything that could affect my child's safety.
8. Permission
I am the parent or legal guardian of the student named above. I give permission for my child to take part in the activity described on this form, and I confirm the information I have given is true and complete. I will tell the organization if anything changes before the activity.
Parent or guardian name: ______________________________
Signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________
Fill it in and sign it free⬇ Download as Word (.docx)Free, no account.
Planning a trip off campus? There is a version with bus, chaperone and lunch details in our field trip permission slip template.
How to send it to every parent and get it back signed
Paper slips get lost in backpacks. With MultiDocs you send one link per family and see who has signed. Parents don't need an account or an app: they open the link and sign with a finger.
- Upload the slip. Fill in the activity details, save it as a PDF and upload it, or take a photo of a printed copy.
- Place the fields. Add a signature and date for the parent, text fields for the student's name and phone numbers, checkboxes for the medical and photo choices, and an "ask for a document" field if you need a copy of an insurance card.
- Send it to the whole class at once. Choose "a copy for each person" and paste the parents' emails or phone numbers. Each family gets its own copy by email, text message or WhatsApp. The free plan sends up to 20 copies in one go; the Team plan sends up to 500.
- Get it back with the audit trail. Families who haven't signed get an email reminder every two days (up to three). You get the signed PDFs with a certificate showing the date, time, device and the email or phone each slip was sent to.
Is an electronically signed permission slip valid?
Yes. The federal ESIGN Act says a signature or record relating to a transaction may not be denied legal effect solely because it is in electronic form, and every state has a similar rule (49 states, D.C., Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands through UETA, New York through its own Electronic Signatures and Records Act). A permission slip is not one of the documents those laws exclude, such as wills or court papers.
“A signature, contract, or other record relating to such transaction may not be denied legal effect, validity, or enforceability solely because it is in electronic form.”
15 U.S.C. § 7001(a)(1) · Official source
What matters in practice is proving that the parent, and not the child, signed. That is why the link should go to the parent's own email or phone, and why the certificate records where it was sent. A slip a student "signs" at the kitchen table on paper is far weaker evidence. More in are electronic signatures legally binding.
State and district rules to check
No federal law prescribes the content of a permission slip. The rules that matter usually come from your school district, your state education department or your league's insurer. Before you use this template, check:
- District forms: many districts require their own field trip or medication form. You can still collect it electronically by uploading the district's PDF.
- Medication: most states and districts require a separate authorization, often signed by a doctor, for staff to give prescription medication.
- Separated parents: unless a court order says otherwise, one parent's signature is normally enough for ordinary activities. For travel or high-risk trips, you can ask both parents to sign the same slip.
- Waivers for minors: whether a parent can waive a child's injury claims varies widely by state, so a permission slip should not be relied on as a waiver.
This is general information, not legal advice. For your specific situation, ask a lawyer licensed in your state.
FAQs
Can parents sign a permission slip on their phone?
Yes. With MultiDocs they open the link from an email or text message and sign with a finger. They don't need an account or an app, and they get a copy of the signed slip.
Is a typed name or e-signature on a permission slip legal?
Yes. Under the ESIGN Act and state UETA laws, an electronic signature has the same effect as a handwritten one for documents like permission slips. An audit trail helps you prove who signed.
Who should sign a permission slip?
A parent or legal guardian. A student who has reached the age of majority (18 in most states; 19 in Alabama and Nebraska) can sign their own. A coach, teacher or babysitter can't sign on the parent's behalf.
Does a permission slip protect the school from lawsuits?
Not by itself. It proves the parent knew about the activity and agreed. Protection from negligence claims is a separate question, and many states limit a parent's ability to waive a child's claims.
How long should I keep signed permission slips?
Follow your district's record retention schedule. Many organizations keep them at least until the end of the school year, and longer if there was an incident. Download the signed PDFs, since MultiDocs deletes files 30 days after completion.
Can I send one slip to a whole class?
Yes. Bulk send creates a separate copy for each parent. On the free plan you can send to up to 20 people at once, and it counts as one request.
What if a parent doesn't have email?
Send the link by text message or WhatsApp instead. Anyone with a phone can sign.
Official sources
- Cornell LII: 15 U.S.C. § 7001 (ESIGN Act, general rule of validity)
- Uniform Law Commission: Uniform Electronic Transactions Act
We checked each source on November 6, 2026. If you spot an out-of-date fact, write to us at info@multidocs.es.