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Electronic signatures under UK eIDAS

Doc2 eSigning operates within the UK electronic signature framework. Every document signed through Doc2 carries a Simple Electronic Signature backed by a step-by-step audit trail and a certificate of completion, giving you clear evidence of who signed, when and how.
The requirements

How Doc2 meets the definition of a Simple Electronic Signature

UK eIDAS defines an electronic signature as data in electronic form, attached to or logically associated with a document, which the signatory uses to sign. In practice that comes down to three questions: who signed, what they signed with, and what it is attached to. Here is how Doc2 answers each one.

Who signed

A link sent only to the signer

Each signatory receives their own signing link by email. Opening that link and signing shows that the person with access to that email address signed the document.

What they signed with

A typed name, recorded with its evidence

The signer types their name to sign. Doc2 records that name together with the email address the link was sent to, the IP address used and the exact time. This is the signature data that UK eIDAS refers to.

What it is attached to

Embedded in the signed document

The typed signature is placed into the final PDF, and the certificate of completion is issued with it. The signature stays attached to the document it was applied to, rather than sitting in a separate record.

A signer opening their unique Doc2 signing link and typing their name to eSign
What we record

A unique signing link for every signatory

Each person you send a document to receives their own link, identified by its own hash code and delivered to their email address. There is no shared link and no account for them to create.

  • Ties each signature to the person the link was sent to
  • Signers type their name to sign, on any device
  • The link, email address and IP address are recorded
What we record

A step-by-step audit trail

Every stage of the document's life is time-stamped and logged against an IP address: created, sent, viewed, signed and completed. The full history is searchable in your Doc2 account.

  • Every step from sending to completion is logged
  • Logins, documents sent and times of signature are searchable
  • Available whenever a signature needs to be evidenced
Doc2 audit logs showing each step of a document being created, sent and signed with timestamps and IP addresses
What we record

A certificate of completion with every document

When the last signature is added, Doc2 locks the document and issues a certificate of completion alongside it. It records every signer and every step, so the evidence behind the signature is kept with the document it supports.

  • Delivered with the signed document
  • Stored with the document in Doc2
The certificate records
  • Signer name
    As typed at the point of signing
  • Email address
    Where the unique signing link was sent
  • IP address
    For each viewing and signing event
  • Timestamps
    Sent, viewed, signed and completed
  • Document reference
    Linking the certificate to the final signed PDF
The legal framework

The UK law behind electronic signatures

Since the UK left the EU, the eIDAS Regulation has continued to apply in the UK as retained (now assimilated) UK law, commonly called UK eIDAS. It works alongside domestic legislation.

Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, as it applies in UK law

UK eIDAS

Defines what counts as an electronic signature and provides that one cannot be denied legal effect or admissibility as evidence solely because it is in electronic form.

Electronic Communications Act 2000, section 7

Admissible in evidence

Confirms that electronic signatures, and certification of them, are admissible in legal proceedings as evidence of the authenticity or integrity of an electronic communication.

Law Commission, Law Com No 386 (2019)

Electronic execution of documents

Concluded that, in England and Wales, an electronic signature is capable of meeting a statutory requirement for a signature where the signatory intends to authenticate the document, subject to any formalities for the document type.

Across the UK

England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

UK eIDAS and the Electronic Communications Act 2000 apply UK-wide. Rules on the formal execution of documents differ between the three legal systems.

Jurisdiction Position for everyday commercial documents
England and Wales Electronic signatures are generally valid where the signatory intends to authenticate the document, as confirmed by the Law Commission in 2019. Deeds carry additional formalities, including witnessing, so take advice before executing a deed electronically.
Scotland Under the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 and the Electronic Documents (Scotland) Regulations 2014, documents that must be in writing (such as contracts relating to land) have their own electronic authentication requirements. A Simple Electronic Signature is not enough for these, so a Doc2 signature should not be relied on for them.
Northern Ireland Broadly similar to England and Wales for everyday commercial documents. Specific execution formalities can differ, so take local advice for deeds and land transactions.

Frequently asked questions

An electronic signature made through Doc2 is a Simple Electronic Signature under UK eIDAS. UK law provides that it cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is electronic, and the Electronic Communications Act 2000 makes it admissible in evidence. Whether a particular contract is binding also depends on the usual rules of contract law and any formalities that apply to that type of document.

Doc2 provides Simple Electronic Signatures (SES) backed by strong evidence of who signed and when: a unique signing link for each signatory, IP-tracked audit logs, a step-by-step audit trail and a certificate of completion. This is the type of signature used for most everyday commercial documents.

Yes. Doc2 offers identity verification (IDV) and anti-money laundering (AML) checks. These checks are linked to the individual by their email address. They are not bound to the signed document itself, so a Doc2 signature remains a Simple Electronic Signature even where an identity check has been completed.

Yes. The eIDAS Regulation was retained in UK law with amendments and continues to apply as UK eIDAS, separately from the EU version. The legal position of Simple Electronic Signatures in the UK is unchanged.

Yes. Every completed document comes with a certificate of completion recording each signer's name, email address, IP address and the timestamp of each step. The full audit log is also available in your Doc2 account.

No. This page explains how Doc2 operates within the UK electronic signature framework. It is not legal, regulatory or financial advice. You remain responsible for deciding whether an electronic signature suits each document you send.

This page is provided for general information. It is not legal, regulatory or financial advice. Last reviewed 27 October 2026.

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