Attorneys
E-Signature for South African Attorneys
Get mandates, settlement agreements, and client authorities signed from anywhere. Legally valid under the ECT Act. Your clients sign on any device with no account required.
How Attorneys use SignZA
Legal practices need client signatures for almost every matter — initial mandates before any work can begin, settlement agreements, consent to proceed, authority to negotiate, costs disclosures, and acknowledgements of debt. In a busy practice, chasing signatures by email, printing and scanning, or physically meeting clients adds hours to every matter and delays proceedings unnecessarily.
SignZA lets you send a signing link directly from your browser and receive a signed PDF with a complete audit trail within minutes. You can share the link via email or WhatsApp — most South African clients respond faster via WhatsApp than any other channel. The signer does not need to create an account or download an app; they open the link in their browser, review the document, and sign.
The audit certificate captures the signer's full name, IP address, timestamp, device information, and explicit consent declaration, satisfying the evidentiary requirements of South African courts for standard commercial and civil documents. This is particularly valuable for mandates and settlement agreements, where evidence of the client's unambiguous consent is essential.
Small and medium practices use the Pro plan at R99/month for 50 documents — far more affordable than the R560–R2,000/month cost of DocuSign, which is billed in USD and carries no South African compliance advantage over SignZA for standard commercial documents.
Documents commonly signed by attorneys
All of the below can be signed electronically under the ECT Act 25 of 2002.
- Client mandate / letter of engagement
- Settlement agreement
- Authority to negotiate
- Deed of sale (standard commercial)
- Consent to act
- Costs disclosure
- Acknowledgement of debt
- General power of attorney
ECT Act Compliance Note
Most legal documents can be signed electronically under the ECT Act 25 of 2002. Important exceptions include wills and codicils, alienation of immovable property (Alienation of Land Act), and bills of exchange — these still require wet-ink signatures. For all other standard commercial and civil documents, SignZA's electronic signatures are fully legally valid.
Start sending documents today
Free plan: 5 documents per month at R0. Pro plan: 50 documents per month at R99. No USD billing. No credit card required to start.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electronically signed mandate valid in South African courts?
Yes. A client mandate is a standard commercial agreement and is fully valid when signed electronically under the ECT Act 25 of 2002. SignZA's audit trail provides court-admissible evidence of the signer's identity and intent.
Can I use SignZA for a deed of sale on immovable property?
No. The Alienation of Land Act requires wet-ink signatures for the alienation of immovable property. SignZA is not suitable for offers to purchase or deeds of sale involving the transfer of land. All other property-related documents (agency agreements, lease agreements, etc.) can be signed electronically.
Does SignZA comply with POPIA for client documents?
Yes. SignZA stores all documents and personal data in encrypted South African cloud infrastructure. We do not sell or share client data, and documents are only accessible to the sender and signer. The platform is designed to meet POPIA information officer obligations.
Can a client sign a document from their phone without creating an account?
Yes. SignZA is designed so that signers never need to create an account. You send a signing link (via email, WhatsApp, or SMS). The client taps the link, opens it in their browser, and signs using their finger or by typing their name. The signed document is delivered to you instantly with a full audit trail.