Electronic signature pattern

[robertjmccarthy]

This contribution was made by Beth Haliigan.

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Contribution purpose

My contribution allows users to legally sign a document or instrument electronically online.

The key user need for this in the case of the ‘Make and register an LPA’ service is to reduce the need for certain groups of people having to all be physically in the same room at the same time, which can be difficult for our typical demographic to organise and coordinate and it introduces asynchronicity into multiple signatures being added to the instrument.

Higher level, for any Gov service, reducing the reliance on wet signatures could contribute to the reduction of the use of paper forms which would be a big win that needs no explanation.

Security is established via an ID check underpinning the users identity, as early adopters of Gov One Login we would establish user ID via that platform.

A layer of security can be added in-service via introducing a signatory witness to the process and thus replicate a process often used on paper forms. They do have to be physically present with the signatory and are sent an SMS code to enter on a page after signing page to provide the best assurance we can that they are have witnessed the signature.

We are lucky to have policy experts embedded in our team and so we have assurance that this method of signing online is legally compliant. Our challenge is to help users, used to wet-signatures, understand that ticking a box is secure and meaningful as making a unique mark with a pen.

So far this has tested very well. In one case a lawyer (a professional user)and self confessed code-writer gave high praise to the diagnostic of assessing a users understanding of, and ability to sign online in this way. It has been surprisingly successful also with our average lay person demographic who often prefer and trust the more traditional methods for such legal processes. We have found that the guidance supporting the tickbox across multiple pages is the key in user confidence in breaking with tradition.

Members of teams in LAA have expressed an interest in introducing a way to sign online into areas of their service and I have hosted an X-profession show and tell to introduce them to the work we have done in this regard. I am confident there are many services that could benefit from allowing users to sign a document online if such a pattern was developed and available in the design system.

Examples

[robertjmccarthy]

Reuse this experimental pattern

Below is information on what artefacts are available to anyone wanting to reuse this work.

This is an experimental pattern. It is not an official part of the MoJ Design System which means it may not meet the required quality, usability, accessibility and consistency standards.

If you reuse this work, please do add to the discussion to improve this experiment.

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WCAG 2.2 compliant

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Research

• Usability testing has taken place. Information is included in the contribution.

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Code

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