The Lemon Fool

Electronic signatures can be used to execute documents, including where there is a statutory requirement for a signature, the Law Commission has confirmed. This means that, in most cases, electronic signatures can be used as a viable alternative to handwritten ones.

Businesses and individuals are already using electronic signatures on contracts every day. But despite this frequent use, the Commission has found that some parties still have doubts over whether an electronic signature can be used in particular situations.

In the report, the Law Commission has set out a simple statement of the law to end that uncertainty and increase confidence in the use of this technology.

Find out more on the Law Commission website.

Clitheroekid wrote:The only point of a signature is to show that the signatory has expressed their agreement. Consequently, you don't need a signature at all - an email from the beneficiary confirming they approve the accounts is perfectly adequate.

UncleEbenezer wrote:

Clitheroekid wrote:The only point of a signature is to show that the signatory has expressed their agreement. Consequently, you don't need a signature at all - an email from the beneficiary confirming they approve the accounts is perfectly adequate.

Presumably caveated by "so long as all parties agree the authenticity of that email"?

As a techie I'd look for evidence. Strong evidence (stronger than a signature on paper) being a verifiable cryptographic signature, other evidence ranging from worthless to a supporting role. But whereas I do have the techie knowledge to evaluate such evidence, I don't have the legal knowledge to say how a court or other arbitrator might view it.

simoan wrote:

UncleEbenezer wrote:
Presumably caveated by "so long as all parties agree the authenticity of that email"?

As a techie I'd look for evidence. Strong evidence (stronger than a signature on paper) being a verifiable cryptographic signature, other evidence ranging from worthless to a supporting role. But whereas I do have the techie knowledge to evaluate such evidence, I don't have the legal knowledge to say how a court or other arbitrator might view it.

I used to work in technology, including licensing intellectual property. I can confirm CK is correct and all you need for an effective signature is an analogue signed and scanned copy of the document for UK legal purposes.

However, I used to use Signable (signable.co.uk) to keep things as simple as possible for customers on the move without access to document scanning facilities. It’s very simple to use and the free trial may be enough for the OPs requirement.

UncleEbenezer wrote:
Either you're missing my point, or the situation is badly screwed up. An email is very easy to forge, and could be seen as broadly equivalent to a letter on paper with no signature, or no more than a typed signature.

In the case of a signature on paper, if its authenticity is challenged you might enlist the help of a handwriting expert (or somesuch) to try and authenticate it. In the case of an email, that's an area of my own expertise, and I was trying to hint at some of the issues while avoiding jargon that would be incomprehensible to a non-techie.