Guide · Not legal advice
Are electronic signatures legally recognised in the UK?
Short answer: electronic signatures can be used for many UK documents. Whether a particular document is suitable depends on the document type, intention, authentication and any required formalities.
Plain-English answer
UK law recognises that contracts can be formed electronically in many everyday business situations. The Electronic Communications Act 2000 and the UK version of the eIDAS regulation are the pieces usually cited, and the Law Commission's 2019 report confirmed that electronic signatures can generally be used to execute documents, including where there is a statutory requirement for a signature. That does not mean every document can safely use a simple click-to-sign flow.
Types of electronic signature
- Simple electronic signature. Typing a name, drawing a signature, or clicking to agree. Suitable for many commercial agreements: NDAs, proposals, statements of work, terms of business, approvals.
- Advanced electronic signature. Uniquely linked to the signatory and capable of detecting later changes, with stronger identity controls.
- Qualified electronic signature. A specific legal category using a certificate from a qualified trust service provider. Not what Bleinks offers.
What Bleinks provides
Bleinks is designed for straightforward business documents. Signers open a single-use link, confirm a one-time code sent to their email address, review the PDF and apply a drawn or typed signature captured as an image. We record the events in an append-only audit log and issue a completion certificate with the sealed PDF. That gives you evidence of who signed, when, and what they saw.
When to take advice
Deeds, documents needing a witness, documents for HM Land Registry, wills, some financial-services and regulated agreements, and anything high-value or contested. If in doubt, ask a solicitor whether a simple electronic signature is appropriate, and whether you need stronger identity verification than an emailed code.
Practical tips
- Send to the email address you already deal with, not a shared inbox.
- Keep the audit certificate with the signed PDF.
- Put the date field next to the signature so intention is clear.
- Use your own contract wording. Bleinks does not supply legal templates.
This page is general information from Vaitly Limited, not legal advice, and it may not reflect the latest guidance. Obtain advice for your own circumstances.