Signatory
Definition
Who can be a signatory? Any legally competent natural person: an adult individual for their own commitments, or an authorized representative for a business — director, employee with a delegation of signature, or proxy. Verifying the signatory's authorization is an essential control point: a contract signed by an unauthorized person can be challenged.
Signatory, cosignatory, approver: the cosignatory is an additional signatory of the same document (co-signature), committed equally; the approver, on the other hand, validates the document in an approval workflow without affixing a legally binding signature. The order of signatories can be sequential (each signs in turn, with automatic reminders) or parallel (all at once) — this is the signature workflow.
How is the signatory's identity verified? According to the signature level: in simple signature (SES), via the unique email link; in advanced signature (advanced signature), via strong authentication — SMS OTP code; in qualified signature (QES), via identity document verification with a qualified trust service provider.
On Certyneo: the signatory receives a unique link by email, views the document, authenticates and signs from their mobile or computer, without creating an account. Each of their actions (opening, OTP, signature, refusal) is timestamped and recorded in the audit trail attached to the signed PDF — it is this that legally links the document to the signatory. Understand signature levels →
Frequently asked questions
What is a signer (signatory)?
The signer is the natural person who applies their signature to a document and commits to its content — as opposed to the sender, who prepares and sends the document. In electronic signing, each signer is identified by their email (and often their mobile number), receives an invitation to sign and leaves a timestamped trace of each of their actions in the audit trail.
Who can be the signatory of a contract?
Any natural person with legal capacity: an adult individual for their own commitments, or an authorised representative for a legal entity (director, employee with delegated authority, agent). Verifying the signatory's authority is essential on the company side: a contract signed by an unauthorised person can be challenged.
What is the difference between a signatory and a co-signatory?
A co-signatory is simply an additional signer of the same document: each one is legally bound in the same way. Co-signing refers to situations where several people must sign — in a set order (sequential signing) or in parallel. Electronic signature platforms handle both modes and automatically remind pending signers.
Does a signer need to create an account to sign?
No. With Certyneo, the signer receives an email, opens the document and signs from their phone or computer, without creating an account. Depending on the signature level chosen by the sender, they may have to enter an OTP code received by email or SMS before validating their signature.
How is the signer's identity verified?
It depends on the chosen eIDAS level: with the simple signature (SES), identification relies on the email address; with the advanced signature (AES), the signer is authenticated by SMS OTP and every action is timestamped; with the qualified signature (QES), their identity is verified against an ID document, face to face or remotely, by a qualified trust service provider before signing.
Associated guides
Related terms
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