Is Your Digital Signature Legally Valid? Check These 3 Things
Is Your Digital Signature Legally Valid? Check These 3 Things
Digital signatures have become everyday practice for most businesses. But when it really matters – if an agreement ends up in a dispute – your electronic signature needs to hold up in court. How do you know if your solution meets the requirements? Here are three things you should check.
1. Identification of the Signer
The most important factor for a legally valid digital signature is being able to prove who signed. A simple typed signature or an image of a signature provides no real certainty about identity.
MitID signing is the strongest form of identification in Denmark. When a person signs with MitID, their identity is verified through the national digital infrastructure. This means there's no doubt about who has put their signature on the document. This type of secure digital signature meets the requirements of the eIDAS regulation as a qualified electronic signature.
2. Document Integrity
It's not enough to know who signed. You also need to prove that the document hasn't been altered afterwards. If the other party claims the contract has been manipulated, you're in a weak position without documentation.
A reliable e-signature solution uses cryptographic sealing that locks the document the moment it's signed. Any subsequent changes will break the seal and be visible. ePact uses 256-bit AES encryption to ensure your documents remain intact and unaltered.
3. Timestamp and Audit Trail
In legal contexts, timing is often crucial. When was the agreement made? Who signed first? Was the deadline met? Without reliable timestamps, these questions can become difficult to answer.
A complete audit trail documents the entire signature process: when the document was sent, when each party opened it, and exactly when they signed. This documentation can be decisive if the agreement is later disputed.
What Does This Mean in Practice?
Not all digital signature solutions are equally secure. Some only offer simple signatures without real identification, while others – like ePact – integrate MitID and meet the highest standards for electronic signatures.
Before choosing a solution for your business, you should ask these questions: Can I prove the signer's identity? Is the document protected against changes? Do I have a complete log of the entire process?
With ePact, you can answer yes to all three. Our platform combines MitID verification, cryptographic security, and detailed audit trails, so you can sign online with full confidence that your digital contracts are legally binding.
