The Signature Validity and Risk Checker estimates the annual contract value a business signs with a method that could be challenged for validity. It uses the number of contracts signed per month, the average contract value, and the current signing method (wet-ink, basic e-signature, or qualified electronic signature) to produce an illustrative risk figure, helping organisations decide whether qualified signing is justified. Qualified electronic signatures carry handwritten-equivalence and are treated as covered.
Swiss Trust Layer
Signature Validity & Risk Checker
See how much of your annual contract value sits behind a signature that could be challenged, and what qualified signing changes. Takes 60 seconds.
Common questions
What is signature validity risk?
It is the chance that a signed contract can be challenged on the grounds that the signature is not legally sufficient for that document. Basic e-signatures and wet-ink scans carry more of this risk on formal or high-value documents than a qualified electronic signature, which carries handwritten-equivalence.
How is the value at validity risk calculated?
The checker takes your contracts per month, multiplies by twelve and by the average contract value to get your annual signed value, then applies an illustrative risk factor based on your signing method. Basic e-signatures use a higher factor than wet-ink. Qualified signatures return zero. All figures are illustrative and not legal or financial advice.
Is a basic e-signature legally valid?
A basic electronic signature can be valid for many everyday agreements, but for documents that require a specific form or that are likely to be disputed it may not carry the same weight as a qualified electronic signature. Under eIDAS, only a qualified electronic signature has the legal effect equivalent to a handwritten signature.
What is a qualified electronic signature (QES)?
A qualified electronic signature is created with a qualified certificate from an accredited Qualified Trust Service Provider under eIDAS Article 25 or ZertES. It is the only signature type that carries handwritten-equivalence, and under Swiss law it meets the Code of Obligations Article 14 paragraph 2bis requirement.
Does qualified signing remove every risk?
It removes the signature-validity question by giving your signature handwritten-equivalence. It is still worth keeping an independent timestamp and proof-of-existence record per document, so you can also show when a version existed and that it was not altered afterwards.