e-Sign by PigeeYes. Electronic signatures are legally valid in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and can be used for most business and personal documents. A small number of documents have extra rules, most notably deeds and wills.
The law in brief
- Electronic Communications Act 2000, section 7 — electronic signatures can be admitted in court as evidence of who signed and what they agreed to.
- UK eIDAS (the EU eIDAS Regulation as kept in UK law) — an electronic signature cannot be refused legal effect just because it is electronic. It recognises three levels: simple, advanced and qualified.
- Law Commission, 2019 — its report Electronic Execution of Documents confirmed that an electronic signature can be used to sign a document, even where the law requires a signature, as long as the signer intends to sign and any other formalities are met.
What you can sign electronically
Almost everything a business sends day to day:
- Client contracts, statements of work and terms of business
- Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs)
- Employment contracts, offer letters and policy acknowledgements
- Tenancy agreements of three years or less, inventories and renewals
- Supplier agreements, purchase orders and consent forms
The exceptions
- Deeds need a witness. The Law Commission's view is that the witness should be physically present when you sign. Leases over three years must be made by deed.
- Wills must be signed on paper, in front of two witnesses.
- Land Registry deeds follow HM Land Registry's own rules.
- Some regulated or court documents have their own requirements. If a document says it must be "signed in wet ink", follow that.
What makes an e-signature hold up
If a signature is ever challenged, you need to show who signed, that they meant to, and that the document hasn't changed since. e-Sign by Pigee records all of this for every signer:
- A unique signing link sent to the signer's own email address, which they must confirm before signing
- The signature (drawn or typed), their typed full name, date and time, IP address and browser
- A tamper-evident seal (HMAC-SHA256) chaining every signature to the document
- An optional Photo ID upload for extra certainty about identity
- A full audit trail and signed record that everyone receives by email
Common questions
Is a typed name a valid signature in the UK?
Yes. A typed name, a drawn signature or a click on "I agree" can all be electronic signatures, as long as the person meant to sign. What matters is intent and being able to show who signed and when.
Can a tenancy agreement be signed electronically?
Yes. Most tenancy agreements, including assured shorthold tenancies of three years or less, are ordinary contracts and can be signed electronically. Leases over three years must be made by deed, which brings the witnessing rules below into play.
Can a deed be signed electronically?
A deed can be signed electronically, but it must still be witnessed, and the Law Commission's view is that the witness should be physically present. HM Land Registry has its own conditions for deeds it registers.
Can I sign a will online?
No. In England and Wales a will must be signed on paper in front of two witnesses.
Does it matter whether the signer is in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
Scotland has its own rules for formal documents under the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995. Most everyday contracts can still be signed electronically, but check before signing documents that need to be "self-proving".
This guide is general information, not legal advice. For a specific document, or a deed or will, speak to a solicitor. Last reviewed 23 September 2026.
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