Legal validity · United Kingdom
Are electronic signatures legal in the UK?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid and enforceable in the UK for the vast majority of commercial agreements, under the Electronic Communications Act 2000 and the retained UK eIDAS framework. In 2019 the Law Commission confirmed that e-signatures can validly execute documents — including deeds. This guide explains the law in plain English, plus the special rules for deeds.
The law that governs e-signatures in the UK
Two main sources govern electronic signatures in the UK. Section 7 of the Electronic Communications Act 2000 makes electronic signatures admissible as evidence in legal proceedings. Alongside it, the retained UK version of the eIDAS Regulation (kept in UK law after Brexit, with domestic amendments) continues to recognise the tiers of electronic signature.
In September 2019 the Law Commission of England and Wales published its report on the electronic execution of documents. It concluded that an electronic signature is capable in law of executing a document — including a deed — provided the signer intends to authenticate it and any required formalities are met. Importantly, the Commission found that no new legislation is needed: the existing law already supports electronic signing.
What makes an e-signature enforceable
UK courts look for the same core elements recognised in most jurisdictions:
Intent to authenticate
The signer intends their mark to authenticate the document. SignLab requires each signer to actively draw or confirm a signature and click to agree.
Consent to transact electronically
The parties agree to do business electronically. SignLab’s signing flow includes a clear disclosure the signer must accept.
Reliable link to the document
The signature is bound to the document and tamper-evident. SignLab cryptographically seals every signed PDF and embeds the audit trail.
Deeds, witnessing and documents that need care
The Law Commission confirmed a deed can be signed electronically — but it also confirmed that a witness must be physically present when the signature is made. Under current law, remote (e.g. video) witnessing of a deed is not permitted. Because SignLab is built for ordinary commercial agreements and does not manage in-person witnessing, do not rely on it for deeds without taking advice. Take particular care with:
- Deeds (require a physically present witness — SignLab does not provide witnessing)
- Wills and testamentary documents
- Certain documents that must be registered with HM Land Registry
- Documents a counterparty, lender or regulator specifically requires in wet ink
This list is not exhaustive. If you are unsure whether an electronic signature is valid for your document, consult a UK solicitor.
How SignLab meets the law’s requirements
Every document signed through SignLab carries the evidence needed to stand behind a signature:
- A tamper-evident PDF sealed with a SHA-256 hash, so any later change is detectable
- A full audit trail — sent, viewed and signed events, each with a UTC timestamp
- IP address and device captured at every event, plus approximate signer geolocation
- A QR code on every signed PDF linking to a public verification page
- A Certificate of Completion you can download and share with counterparties
Send a legally valid document in the UK
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Get started freeUK-specific legal questions? Email legal@signlab.app.