Not all electronic signatures are legitimate. To be legitimate, a sign or set of signs must adhere to regulatory standards. A valid electronic signature is one that consists of the following:
- The sign that has been typed; or
- When a signature inserts a sign/picture in an acceptable location on a document
the signatory intended that mark to authenticate the document.
Electronic signatures can be typed in a variety of ways. While an electronic signature, like any signature, may appear to be absolute gold nuggets of the legal world, they are more flexible than you may think. If you’re simply interested in learning how to type an electronic signature, scroll to the bottom; otherwise, read on for more background information.
To create your signature, you may type, touch, draw, or upload an image. Your signature may be a checkmark or a touch scribble of an ‘X’ (so long as you always reliably did that for your signature). It is possible that this is a cryptographic ‘key’.
All of these can be used to sign a document.
However, even if you do use a signature,’ this is not necessarily the case. Even if you use a docage electronic signature, it may imply nothing (signing an e-card), but a short click of a checkbox may indicate you have just concluded a contract…
The distinction between an ‘electronic signature’ that implies something and one that means nothing relies on the circumstances.
In the United Kingdom, the first electronic contract was an email that was signed by a name entered at the bottom, or in other words, signed off exactly like any other email ever sent. However, the content qualified as a contract, and the typed name in that context constituted the individual’s electronic signature.
Your signature is a reflection of you, and the way you write it or apply it demonstrates your intent. A genuine electronic signature requires proof of your intent.
That is why you may scrawl an ‘X’ or mark a box at the bottom of a document and still be considered to have signed it.
1. Use your pen, paper, and phone to create a basic signature – this is the ‘classic’ electronic signature approach. Sign your name on a sheet of paper, picture it, and then crop it into a nice image using a desktop photo editor. Numerous individuals will accept these if they are included in a paper and returned to them.
2. Create a simple signature using Adobe Reader. The reader includes a built-in signature function. Along the top bar, you’ll see a little fountain-pen icon; select that and then the ‘Sign’ option that comes below. Your signature should be typed or scrawled and then placed on the page. Save your PDF and return it to the sender via email.
3. Electronic signatures that are qualified. The European Regulation on Electronic Signatures (eIDAS) specifies a ‘qualified’ signature as the highest degree of authentication. You can obtain a qualified signature that is cryptographically secure. Each will approach the document uniquely. In some European nations, the qualified signature is linked to your identity card. If the document does not require a qualified signature and you do not already possess one, you may be better off utilising an ‘advanced’ electronic signature.
4. Electronic signatures with advanced features. It’s simple if someone sends you a paper to sign using Legalesign. Click the link supplied through email, complete any extra verification (perhaps SMS validation), and then sign the paper using the choices provided by the sender. This might be a signature generated with a touch/mouse, a written signature, or an uploaded signature (even if you created an image using method 1 and submitted it to Legalesign, it becomes an ‘advanced electronic signature’ in our context). Complete any remaining form fields and make any necessary final confirmations. You’ve just completed an ‘advanced’ electronic signature. If you wish to sign a document that has been provided to you or if you want to send a document to be signed, sign up for a free account now and receive five complimentary electronic signatures.
FAQs
1. Q: Do both parties have to use the same manner of signing? What happens, for example, if one party executes electronically while the other party executes on paper?
A: The signs are valid — the parties are not required to use the same technology.
2. Q: What is the distinction between an electronic and a digital signature?
A: An electronic signature is a digital symbol linked to a document or other record that is utilised by a person intending to sign. Digital signatures, on the other hand, ensure the authenticity of an electronic document. Electronic and digital signatures can both be legally binding.
3. Q: Are electronically signed documents admissible in court as evidence?
A: Yes, electronic signatures are accepted by courts in England and Wales. Banks in England should accept e-signatures as well. It should be noted that if the document is not governed by English law, the jurisdiction may refuse to recognise electronically-signed documents.
4. Q: Can I Type An Electronic Signature?
A: The Text Typed signature is amongst the most often used electronic signatures nowadays; it means that the signatory used a keyboard to type their name with the intention to sign “something.” Although text typing is the most popular way, electronic signatures are not restricted to this.