Electronic signatures and the law
How squiggli signatures meet the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth), and which documents may need more.
Under section 10 of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 (Cth) and the matching state and territory Acts, an electronic signature counts when the method identifies the person and their intention, is reliable enough for the purpose, and the other party agrees to it.
| The Act asks for | squiggli does |
|---|---|
| Identify the person | A private link per signer, optionally an access code, and their IP address and device recorded. |
| Show their intention | They must open the document, agree to sign electronically, and confirm an intent statement before signing. |
| A reliable method | Document hashes checked at every signature, a tamper-evident signed PDF, and a full audit trail. |
| Consent | Senders by sending through squiggli; signers before they sign, and they can decline instead. |
Documents that may need more
Wills, powers of attorney, documents that must be witnessed, statutory declarations and land title documents may not be able to be signed electronically, or may need extra steps, depending on the state and the law that applies. Read the full page: Electronic signatures that hold up.
This is how squiggli works, not legal advice. If you're not sure a document can be signed electronically, ask a lawyer.