Legal validity
Are electronic signatures legally binding?
Yes — for the vast majority of commercial documents. SignLab is designed to meet the technical requirements for legally valid electronic signatures across major jurisdictions worldwide. This page explains the legal framework behind electronic signatures and how SignLab's technology satisfies those requirements.
What makes an electronic signature legally binding?
For an electronic signature to be legally valid, three core principles must generally be satisfied:
Intent to sign
The signer must demonstrate a clear intention to sign. SignLab requires each signer to actively draw a signature (or tick to agree) and click to confirm.
Consent to do business electronically
All parties must consent to transacting electronically. SignLab's signing flow includes a clear disclosure and requires the signer to agree before signing.
Association of signature with document
The signature must be linked to the document so it is tamper-evident. SignLab cryptographically seals every signed document, embedding the audit trail.
Legal validity by jurisdiction
Based in the UAE? Read our detailed guide to electronic signature law in the UAE.
United Arab Emirates
UAE Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021 on Electronic Transactions and Trust Services
Electronic signatures are legally recognised and enforceable in the UAE for commercial transactions. SignLab's audit trail and tamper-evident PDFs are designed to meet the law's authentication requirements.
Exceptions: Certain documents require wet ink signatures under UAE law, including some property transfer deeds, powers of attorney, and family/personal status documents.
Read the full United Arab Emirates guide →European Union
eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014
SignLab produces Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) as defined under eIDAS. SES signatures are legally valid across all EU member states for the vast majority of commercial agreements.
Exceptions: Certain regulated sectors (e.g. specific financial instruments) may require AES or QES. Consult your legal adviser for sector-specific requirements.
Read the full European Union guide →United Kingdom
Electronic Communications Act 2000, plus retained UK eIDAS
Electronic signatures are legally valid in the UK for most commercial purposes. The Law Commission of England and Wales confirmed in 2019 that electronic signatures are capable of executing documents where there is intent to authenticate.
Exceptions: Deeds can be signed electronically but the witness must be physically present.
Read the full United Kingdom guide →United States
ESIGN Act (2000) and UETA (adopted by nearly every state)
Electronic signatures are recognised for commercial contracts across the United States. SignLab's process is designed to satisfy the ESIGN Act and UETA requirements for valid electronic signatures.
Exceptions: ESIGN excludes wills, family-law matters, court documents and certain notices.
Read the full United States guide →Saudi Arabia
Electronic Transactions Law (Royal Decree M/18, 2007)
Electronic signatures are legally recognised in Saudi Arabia for commercial transactions. SignLab's audit trail is designed to meet the law's authentication requirements.
Other jurisdictions
Over 60 countries have enacted electronic signature legislation
SignLab's Simple Electronic Signature approach — with a full audit trail, IP logging, and tamper-evident sealing — is designed to meet the technical requirements of electronic signature laws in many jurisdictions worldwide.
SignLab's technical safeguards
Every document signed through SignLab includes:
- A unique document identifier linked to every audit event
- A SHA-256 cryptographic hash of the original document (before signing)
- A SHA-256 cryptographic hash of the final signed document
- IP address and user agent logged at every event (sent, viewed, signed)
- A UTC timestamp for every event
- The signer's name and email address as entered at signing
- A QR code embedded in every signed PDF, linking to the verification page
- A Certificate of Completion available as a separate downloadable document
All of the above is embedded permanently into the signed PDF and also stored in SignLab's secure audit database.
Documents not suitable for electronic signatures
Some document types are excluded from electronic signature validity in most jurisdictions. SignLab must not be used for:
- Wills and testamentary documents
- Property transfer deeds (where wet ink is required by law)
- Court orders and notarised documents
- Adoption, custody, and guardianship agreements
- Powers of attorney (jurisdiction-dependent — verify before use)
- Marriage and divorce documents under applicable personal status law
This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure whether electronic signatures are valid for your document type, consult a qualified legal professional.
Verify any SignLab document
Every signed PDF includes a QR code. Scan it or visit the verification page and enter the document ID to:
- Confirm the document has not been tampered with since signing
- View the complete audit trail for the signing event
- Download the Certificate of Completion
Verification is free and does not require a SignLab account.
Verify a documentSend your first legally valid document
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Get started freeJurisdiction-specific legal questions? Email legal@signlab.app — we respond within 2 business days.