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  • Electronic Signatures

    Hi.

    Does anyone know if electronic signatures are valid and court enforceable for separation agreements?

  • #2
    Alright let's figure this out.

    S.55 of the Family Law Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. F.3 (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90f03) states:


    55 (1) A domestic contract and an agreement to amend or rescind a domestic contract are unenforceable unless made in writing, signed by the parties and witnessed. R.S.O. 1990, c. F.3, s. 55 (1).
    From the legislation a domestic contract (including separation agreements) must be:
    • in writing;
    • signed by the parties; and
    • witnessed.


    Now, the Electronic Commerce Act, 2000, S.O. 2000, c. 17 (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/00e17) provides some assitance:

    s.1. definitions -

    “electronic” includes created, recorded, transmitted or stored in digital form or in other intangible form by electronic, magnetic or optical means or by any other means that has capabilities for creation, recording, transmission or storage similar to those means and “electronically” has a corresponding meaning; (“électronique”, “par voie électronique”)

    “electronic signature” means electronic information that a person creates or adopts in order to sign a document and that is in, attached to or associated with the document; (“signature électronique”)

    s.5 A legal requirement that information or a document be in writing is satisfied by information or a document that is in electronic form if it is accessible so as to be usable for subsequent reference. 2000, c. 17, s. 5.
    This allows an electronic copy of a document to be as valid as a physical copy.

    11 (1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), a legal requirement that a document be signed is satisfied by an electronic signature. 2000, c. 17, s. 11 (1).
    This allows an electronic signature to be equal to a physical signature (subject to certain restrictions).

    So, the above covers the digital form of the document, and the digital form of the signature, but what about the witnesses?

    The Succession Law Reform Act (https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/90s26#BK5) which governs Wills, requires the witnesses (of which there must be two) to be in the presence of the testator. However, this 'presence' requirement does not appear in the Family Law Act legislation.

    As such, if you used software such as DocuSign where:

    - The domestic contract was in writing;
    - Both parties signed; and
    - Two 'witnesses' signed (who I guess are witnessing the digital signing process)

    This may meet the legislative requirements of a domestic contract.

    I would also reference Virc v. Blair, 2014 ONCA 392 from paragraphs 77-81 where the Court of Appeal affirms a more 'relaxed' standard of the witnessing requirement. (http://canlii.ca/t/g6v7z) In that case it was found acceptable that the witnesses did not sign concurrently with the parties.

    Ultimate answer: it seems digital signatures and digital witnesses are probably ok. However, it would be nice to have this affirmed explicitly by the courts.

    Naturally this is all in addition to full financial disclosure and independent legal advice.
    Last edited by Kinso; 04-04-2020, 12:45 PM.

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