[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.25.4″ background_image=”http:\/\/www.humetaylor.com.au\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/banner-about.jpg” custom_padding=”64px|||||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25.4″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25.4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”content” text_font=”Montserrat||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”60px” text_line_height=”1em” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” text_orientation=”center” text_text_align=”center”]@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90aXRsZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7ImJlZm9yZSI6IiIsImFmdGVyIjoiIn19@[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#B50038″ divider_weight=”5px” _builder_version=”3.25.4″ width=”80px” module_alignment=”center”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.25.4″ custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” _builder_version=”3.25.4″ use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_color_gradient_start=”#ffffff” background_color_gradient_end=”#fafafa” background_color_gradient_direction=”135deg” background_color_gradient_start_position=”35%” background_color_gradient_end_position=”35%” width=”100%” max_width=”2560px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|0px|0px|0px” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|||” custom_padding_phone=””][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25.4″ custom_padding=”|4%|50px|12%||false” custom_css_main_element=”margin:auto;”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” _builder_version=”3.25.4″ width=”16%” custom_margin=”||”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Section1 – Content” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ text_font=”||||||||” hover_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n
Requirements to self-isolate, quarantine and social-distance in response to the COVID-19 pandemic have made the physical signing of documents (and witnessing of such signatures) impractical, if not impossible, in many cases.\u00a0 This has led to some significant short-term legislative reform.<\/span><\/p>\n The Victorian and New South Wales Governments instituted special new measures which allow documents such as deeds, wills and powers of attorney to be signed electronically and witnessed remotely using audio-visual technology.\u00a0 These measures have been extended with the possibility of them becoming permanent.<\/span><\/p>\n The South Australian government introduced the <\/span>COVID-19 Emergency Response Act 2020<\/span><\/i> (SA)\u00a0 which empowers the Governor to suspend or modify any requirements relating to the preparation, signing, witnessing, attestation, certification, stamping or other treatment of any document in response to COVID-19.\u00a0 The classes of persons who may witness statutory declarations were also extended to include police officers, full-time teachers, accountants, engineers and health practitioners. However, witnesses are still required to be physically present.<\/span><\/p>\n What is an electronic signature?<\/b><\/p>\n An electronic signature is a visible representation of a person\u2019s name, initials or associated mark, which is placed on a document by electronic means.\u00a0 Examples of electronic signatures include:<\/span><\/p>\n Are electronic signatures binding?<\/b><\/p>\n Under the <\/span>Electronic Communications Act 2000<\/span><\/i> (SA) and the <\/span>Electronic Transactions Act 1999<\/span><\/i> (Cth), electronic signatures are considered to be legally binding if:<\/span><\/p>\n Electronic signatures cannot be used for:<\/b><\/p>\n What type of document can be signed electronically?<\/b><\/p>\n Contracts<\/b><\/p>\n As contracts can be verbal or written, individuals and companies have some flexibility when it comes to signing contracts using electronic signatures.<\/span><\/p>\n Court documents<\/b><\/p>\n South Australian Courts generally accept electronic signatures but affidavits are still required to be signed and witnessed in person, with appropriate safety precautions in place.\u00a0 However, if for health or logistical reasons this is not possible, a solicitor should exhibit the deponent\u2019s unsworn affidavit to his\/her affidavit with an undertaking to file the sworn original once it is possible to have it sworn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Deeds<\/b><\/p>\n There are legal requirements for deeds to be in writing and witnessed, which may not be able to be satisfied by electronic signatures. It is therefore recommended that deeds are not executed electronically.\u00a0 If it is not possible to sign and witness the execution of a deed in person, we recommend you seek legal advice before applying an electronic signature on a deed as there are risks that the deed would not be valid.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n COVID-19 has made many of us re-think and re-imagine how technology can assist in enabling documents to be executed while social distancing or in isolation. In South Australia, electronic signatures are generally accepted unless a witness is required to be present.\u00a0 NSW and Victoria have already moved towards remote witnessing using audio-visual technology.\u00a0 Depending on the success of our Eastern state counterparts, South Australia may follow suit. \u00a0 Some of these changes may remain to assist vulnerable or remote people long after the pandemic.<\/span><\/p>\n While we at Hume Taylor & Co endeavour to accommodate face-to-face witnessing where it is safe to do so, there are a number of situations where face-to-face contact would not be appropriate in the current climate.\u00a0 In those circumstances, our team will endeavour to work out a solution.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”3.25.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”background_image” background_image=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@” custom_padding=”300px||300px||true” custom_padding_tablet=”240px||240px||true” custom_padding_phone=”” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop”][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ module_class=”contact” _builder_version=”3.25.4″ background_color=”#fafafa” custom_padding=”0px|0px|0px|0px” global_module=”173″ saved_tabs=”all” locked=”off”][et_pb_row custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”3.25.4″ module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”|||||false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”” module_alignment_tablet=”center” module_alignment_phone=”center” module_alignment_last_edited=”on|phone”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25.4″][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.3.2″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font=”||||||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_2_font=”|600|||||||” header_2_text_color=”#000000″ header_2_font_size=”36px” header_3_font=”|300|||||||” header_3_text_align=”center” header_3_text_color=”#000000″ header_3_font_size=”24px” background_layout=”dark” custom_margin=”50px||20px|||”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#B5003B” divider_weight=”5px” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”3.25.4″ width=”16%” custom_margin=”||10px”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.2″ custom_margin=”0px|||||” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone”]<\/p>\n\n
\n
\n
Contact us<\/h2>\n