Make legal minimum for signing and archiving contracts clear

[frabcus]

Do you need a signature on paper? Or can it be done electronically? The FAQ should say.

[frabcus]

FD says: "Signatures in English law - signatures have two jobs. Everyone confuses them. Job number 1) is evidential - my signature is unique to me and nobody else can forge it (unless they do!). The law doesn't care about that, it's a matter of evidence. What the law cares about is 2) that a signature means they have made their brain engaged enough to show that they accept the document. Any act which shows you are agreeing to a document is good enough. e.g. If I write an email, the From field isn't a signature as I haven't had to engage my brain. But if I type in my name into the email then I have signed it. So in theory you could send someone a document and them reply saying "yes I accept it" and that is enough to treat it as signed. Would be inclined to get the person to sign a paper copy because everyone knows the convention for that is, so it is definitely clear."