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FAQs

• What is an electronic signature?

  An electronic signature is a catch-all term for any electronic process that indicates acceptance of an agreement or a record. The UK eIDAS Regulations (amended form of the EU eIDAS Regulation) set out rules for UK trust services and establishes a legal framework for the provision and effect of electronic signatures, electronic seals, electronic time stamps, electronic documents, electronic registered delivery services and certificate services for website authentication.

  The UK eIDAS Regulations retain many aspects of the EU regulation but are tailored for use within the UK. The UK eIDAS Regulations provide for the following three levels of electronic signatures: simple electronic signaure (SES), qualified electronic signature (QES) and advanced electronic signature (QES). They are legally enforceable in most business and personal transactions worldwide. Learn more in our eSignature Legality Guide.

• What is a digital signature?

  A digital signature is a type of electronic signature generated via a digital certificate. A digital signature helps securely associate a signer with a specific document. Digital signatures form a digital “fingerprint” and can be used to validate signer identity and demonstrate that the signed document has not been tampered with.

• What’s the difference between an electronic signature and a digital signature?

  The terms “electronic signature” and “digital signature” are often conflated. For the vast majority of agreements and records, an electronic signature is sufficient. A digital signature is a subset of electronic signature that adds another layer of security to a signed document. A digital signature is supported with a digital certificate and uses Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which adds proof of signer identity and enhanced security to a legally enforceable signature.

• Are e-signatures legally enforceable?

  Yes, e-signatures are legally recognised around the world. In the UK, (amended form of the EU eIDAS Regulation) electronic signatures have been legally recognised under English law since 2002. And despite Brexit, they are also covered by the EU’s eIDAS regulation that was introduced in 2016. The creation of eIDAS helped eliminate ambiguity around the legal value of an electronic signature in the EU, allowing electronic signatures to be admitted in court as evidence and confirming that they cannot be denied legal effect because they are in electronic form. Many foreign jurisdictions also recognise the legal effect and admissibility of electronic records, such as the U.S. ESIGN Act and UETA. An electronic signature, like those supported by DocuSign eSignature, is typically all that is needed to create a legally enforceable document. There are laws that demand certain requirements for e-signatures to be deemed legally enforceable. Using a safe, secure service like DocuSign eSignature can help you meet these requirements.

  Read more about the legality of electronic signatures.

• What types of documents can be signed with an electronic signature?

  The majority of commonplace agreements and forms can be signed electronically. Examples of documents that may be signed electronically include NDAs, purchase orders, vendor agreements, insurance claims and hiring contracts.

• How do recipients sign documents with Docusign eSignature?

  With Docusign eSignature, signing is always free. Recipients click a link to open the agreement on a device of their choice, such a mobile phone, tablet or computer. Tabs and simple instructions guide the user through the signing process, even adopting an electronic signature. The recipient clicks Finish to save the signed document.

• What document formats does Docusign eSignature support?

  With Docusign eSignature, you can upload documents in formats such as Microsoft Word, PDF or other common formats. You can upload documents from your computer or popular file-sharing sites like Box, Dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive.