Electronic Signatures & Signature Levels

The description of the Service referred to in our Terms (published at squigggle.io/e-signatures-and-the-law)  |  Version 2.0  |  Effective from 11 July 2026

This page describes the electronic-signature service Squigggle provides and the Signature Levels available. It is the description of the Service referred to in our Terms. It is information about our Service, not legal advice — you are responsible for deciding whether an electronic signature, and which Signature Level, is appropriate for your document (see "Documents not suitable for the Service" in our Terms).

1. Electronic signatures and the law (UK and EU)

Electronic signatures are legally recognised in the United Kingdom (the Electronic Communications Act 2000 and the UK eIDAS regime) and in the European Union (Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, "eIDAS"). An electronic signature is not denied legal effect or admissibility merely because it is in electronic form. eIDAS recognises three levels of assurance — a (simple) electronic signature, an advanced electronic signature (AES), and a qualified electronic signature (QES) — and a QES has, under eIDAS, the equivalent legal effect of a handwritten signature.

2. Our Signature Levels

AES (Standard).

An Advanced Electronic Signature.

Signer verification is by email one-time passcode (OTP). This confirms that the signer has control of the email address to which the document was sent. It does not, by itself, verify the signer's identity — for identity verification, use AES + IDV.

Each signature is recorded in a tamper-evident audit trail, and the completed document is issued as a signed PAdES B-LT PDF with an evidence bundle.

AES + IDV (AES with Identity Verification) — coming soon.

Everything in AES, plus verification of the signer's identity using a government-issued document such as a passport or driving licence.

Use this where you need assurance of who the signer is, not only that they control an email address.

QES (Qualified Electronic Signature) — coming soon.

A qualified electronic signature supported by a qualified certificate issued by a qualified trust service provider, meeting the eIDAS requirements for a QES.

A QES carries the highest level of assurance and, under eIDAS, the equivalent legal effect of a handwritten signature.

3. The audit trail and evidence

Every completed document includes an audit trail and certificate of completion, recording for each signer the email address used, the OTP verification events, timestamps, IP address and user agent, and a cryptographic hash of the signed document. Documents are cryptographically sealed (ECDSA P-256 signing and SHA-256 hashing) so that any later alteration is detectable. Audit trails and certificates of completion are retained as evidential records for 7 years from completion (and up to 12 years for deeds). Signed documents are retained while your account is open and for 2 years after it closes (and longer where the law requires), so you should keep your own copies. See our Terms and Privacy Policy for full detail.

4. Choosing the right level — and documents that are not suitable

You are responsible for deciding whether an electronic signature, and which Signature Level, is appropriate for your document, including under any law that applies to it. Some documents are not suitable for electronic signature, or need additional formalities the Service does not provide — for example wills and codicils, lasting or enduring powers of attorney, statutory declarations and affidavits, certain HM Land Registry documents, and deeds that must be witnessed. See "Documents not suitable for the Service" in our Terms. This page is information about our Service and is not legal advice.

Document control

• Version 1.0 — March 2026 (superseded)
• Version 2.0 — 11 July 2026 (current version)