In short
- Electronic signatures are valid in most countries for most documents.
- A standard inSigner signature is not a qualified electronic signature.
- QES for Europe and the AATL check are Enterprise options.
- Some documents still need a special form, a witness, or a notary.
What inSigner provides
inSigner lets a customer send a document, lets an invited person sign it, and keeps an evidence record of the file hash and the events the service observed. The planned mobile apps will use the same workflow and do not create a different kind of signature.
Types of signature
inSigner supports these levels:
- Standard electronic signature, on every plan. It is a simple electronic signature under eIDAS and an electronic signature under the ESIGN Act and similar laws.
- Stronger signer authentication, with the OTP by WhatsApp and SMS add-on and the KYC add-on, which help show who signed.
- Qualified electronic signature (QES) for Europe, on Enterprise. The qualified certificate is issued by a qualified trust service provider on the EU Trusted List. Nubesti is not itself a qualified trust service provider.
- AATL check, on Enterprise, which checks trust against the Adobe Approved Trust List.
Neither QES nor the AATL check decides which law applies to your document, and neither promises that Adobe or a court will accept a particular file.
The evidence record
For each completed document, the evidence record can include:
- The signers’ names and email addresses or phone numbers.
- When the document was sent, viewed, and signed, with IP addresses and device details.
- The authentication used, such as an email link, a one-time code, or an identity verification result.
- A SHA-256 hash of the final file, so any change can be detected.
Laws around the world
Electronic signatures have legal effect in most countries. These are examples of the main laws. They are not a complete list and not legal advice:
| Region | Main laws | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| United States | ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. 7001) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act in the states that adopted it | Consumers must consent to electronic records before receiving them |
| European Union | eIDAS, Regulation (EU) 910/2014, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2024/1183 | Only a QES has the same effect as a handwritten signature in every member state |
| United Kingdom | Electronic Communications Act 2000 and the UK eIDAS Regulations | Courts accept electronic signatures for most contracts |
| Switzerland | Federal Act on Electronic Signatures (ZertES) and the Code of Obligations | A QES is required where the law requires written form |
| Canada | PIPEDA Part 2 and provincial electronic commerce laws | Rules vary by province |
| Mexico | Commercial Code and NOM-151-SCFI-2016 | Conservation of data messages may be required |
| Brazil | Provisional Measure 2.200-2 of 2001 and Law 14,063 of 2020 | Some acts require an ICP-Brasil qualified signature |
| Colombia | Law 527 of 1999 and Decree 2364 of 2012 | Distinguishes electronic and digital signatures |
| Argentina | Law 25,506, as amended | Distinguishes electronic and digital signatures |
| Chile | Law 19,799 | Some acts require an advanced electronic signature |
| Peru | Law 27269 and its regulation | Recognizes digital signatures with certificates |
| India | Information Technology Act 2000 | Excludes documents such as wills, trusts, and real estate sales |
| Singapore | Electronic Transactions Act 2010 | Excludes some documents, such as wills |
| Japan | Act on Electronic Signatures and Certification Business | Presumption of authenticity for qualifying signatures |
| Australia | Electronic Transactions Act 1999 and state laws | Some documents need witnessing |
| United Arab Emirates | Federal Decree-Law No. 46 of 2021 | Recognizes trust services and qualified signatures |
| South Africa | Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 2002 | Some acts require an advanced electronic signature |
| Nigeria and Kenya | Evidence Act 2011 (Nigeria) and the Kenya Information and Communications Act | Electronic records are admissible as evidence |
Documents that often need more
In many countries these documents still need a handwritten signature, a witness, a notary, or a qualified signature:
- Wills, codicils, and testamentary trusts.
- Family law documents, such as marriage, divorce, and adoption.
- Real estate transfers and some powers of attorney.
- Court orders and official court documents.
- Some notices, such as cancellation of utilities, eviction, or health insurance.
- Negotiable instruments and some bills of exchange.
What you are responsible for
If you send a document, you are responsible for:
- Choosing whether an electronic process is appropriate for that document.
- Giving signers the disclosures and obtaining the consent the law requires, for example the consumer consent under the ESIGN Act.
- Inviting the right people and choosing the authentication the document needs.
- Keeping your own copy for as long as your retention rules require.
No legal advice
Nothing on this site is legal advice. If you need to know whether a signature will be effective for a specific document, ask a lawyer who can look at that document and the places involved.