Sign a mortgage loan file online
Mortgage loan offer between a bank and a borrower (and co-borrower, guarantor), electronically signed with precise respect of the 10-day legal reflection period (Scrivener law). Compliant with article L313-14 of the Consumer Code, advanced signature recommended, multi-signatories, 10-year archiving included.
- Legal framework
- Art. L313-14 Consumer Code · Scrivener
- Signature level
- AES eIDAS recommended
- Legal archiving
- 10 years included
What is a mortgage loan file?
The mortgage loan file brings together all contractual acts of a mortgage loan: loan offer (art. L313-24 Consumer Code), amortization schedule, European Standardised Information Form (ESIF), borrower insurance notice, possible guarantee deed. Article L313-14 requires a written loan offer delivered to the borrower, who has an irreducible 10-day reflection period before being able to accept it (Scrivener law 2 of July 13, 1979). The period runs from receipt of the offer — hence the importance of RFC 3161 timestamping.
Why sign electronically?
Scrivener period timestamped to the second
The 10-day reflection period (art. L313-34 Consumer Code) runs from receipt of the offer. Certyneo advanced signature precisely timestamps this moment with RFC 3161 timestamp — a verifiable date in case of non-enforceability dispute.
Multi-signatories (co-borrowers, guarantor)
Primary borrower + co-borrower(s) + possible guarantor. Our workflow handles sequential or parallel signature, each signatory receives an individual secure link protected by SMS OTP. Compatible with unmarried couples, civil partnerships, co-ownership.
10-year compliant archiving
Article L312-1-3 of the Monetary and Financial Code and ACPR requirements mandate preservation of loan files for 10 years after full repayment. Certyneo automatically archives the signed offer + its eIDAS audit trail for this duration.
Enforceable audit trail
Each file is delivered with a proof PDF: identity of each signatory verified by OTP, RFC 3161 timestamp, SHA-256 hash, IP. Enforceable in case of dispute over the Scrivener period, compliance of pre-contractual information or loan terms.
Procedure in 4 steps
From preparation to legal archiving, in less than 5 minutes.
1. Prepare the loan offer
Upload your loan offer compliant with art. L313-24 Consumer Code (amount, rate, duration, APR, total cost, amortization schedule). Include the ESIF, insurance notice and possible guarantee deed.
2. Send for receipt
Sending triggers RFC 3161 timestamping of receipt by the borrower. The 10-day period begins to run precisely from this timestamp.
3. 10-day reflection period
The borrower cannot sign before day 11. Certyneo technically blocks any early signature and automatically notifies expiration of the period.
4. Sign and release funds
On day 11, each borrower signs with SMS OTP. The finalized file + audit trail are archived for 10 years. Fund release can occur in accordance with the offer.
Frequently asked questions
- Can a mortgage loan offer be electronically signed?
- Yes, without restriction. Scrivener law (art. L313-14 et seq. Consumer Code) requires a prior written document but prescribes no specific form. Certyneo advanced signature + RFC 3161 timestamp allow satisfaction of formalities while accelerating processing.
- How can we be sure the 10-day reflection period is respected?
- Certyneo precisely timestamps receipt of the offer by the borrower (with RFC 3161 timestamp). The period runs from that moment. The platform technically blocks any signature before day 11 and provides the audit trail proving compliance with the period — enforceable in case of non-enforceability dispute (art. L313-39 Consumer Code).
- Can an offer be signed by a couple or multiple borrowers?
- Yes. Certyneo natively handles co-borrowers (married, civil partnership, unmarried cohabiting, joint ownership). Each receives a personal secure link protected by OTP SMS on their own number. All must sign before the offer is definitively accepted.
- Must the guarantor also sign electronically?
- Yes. Since 1 January 2022, Article 1175 of the Civil Code no longer excludes deeds relating to security interests from electronic signature: the guarantee deed is attached to the file and electronically signed by the guarantor(s). The commitment statement required by Article 2297 of the Civil Code must be affixed by the guarantor personally; in electronic form, the process must ensure that only the guarantor can affix it (Article 1174). Certyneo has the guarantor type it within their own signing flow, timestamped and recorded in the audit trail.
- What signature level for a mortgage?
- Advanced signature (AES) recommended: strong DSP2 authentication via OTP SMS, single certificate, RFC 3161 timestamp. Compliant with article 26 of the eIDAS regulation and ACPR requirements for credit operations.
- How long must the file be kept?
- 10 years minimum after full loan repayment (art. L312-1-3 CMF, and loan duration + 10 years according to ACPR requirements). Certyneo automatically archives the file + audit trail for this period.
- What happens if the borrower wants to withdraw?
- Mortgage credit does not benefit from the 14-day withdrawal period (reserved for consumer credit). However, the borrower can refuse the offer within 10 days of reflection without reason. Beyond that, only the suspensive clauses of the purchase agreement allow cancellation.
- Is an electronically signed file enforceable in court?
- Yes — French case law recognizes electronic signatures compliant with eIDAS. Advanced signature (AES) is admissible as evidence (art. 1366 and 1367 Civil Code); its reliability is demonstrated by the audit trail, the presumption of reliability being reserved for the qualified signature.
Also read
Sign your first mortgage online
Permanent free plan (5 envelopes for 14 days, then 2/mo), no credit card. Compliant with Scrivener law and eIDAS. Scrivener audit trail and 10-year archiving included.