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Peak Sign · Guide · not yet legally reviewed

E-signatures in Germany.
What applies, and what stays open.

Which legal bases apply to electronic signatures in Germany and where the limits are. Not yet legally reviewed, not legal advice.

What questions do you have about your contract?

2 questions in the plan. First question: Is the contract free of statutory form requirements, such as a usual services or supply contract between companies?

Read the basics
As of
October 2026
Review status
Not yet legally reviewed
Status
Not legal advice · not indexed

Basics, as of October 2026

No form. Required form.

Working example · No form requirement

Is the contract free of statutory form requirements, such as a usual services or supply contract between companies?

Then what matters most is being able to prove the agreement.
Note: this page has not yet been legally reviewed and is not legal advice.
Evidential value · PEAK ATLAS / R03
The starting point

An electronic signature is not automatically the right form for every contract.

Article 25 of the EU eIDAS Regulation (No 910/2014) states that an electronic signature must not be denied legal effect solely because it is electronic. Whether it is enough for your contract, though, is decided by German form requirements. Today Peak Sign offers the simple electronic signature with evidence. That is not enough for contracts that require statutory written form. This page has not yet been legally reviewed and does not replace legal advice.

Context → question → next step

From reading to doing

Your questions. For your legal advisor.

Local working template
What questions do you have about your contract?
Your selection.
Your next step.
Your worksheet

Clarify before sending.

2 questions selected

  1. Is the contract free of statutory form requirements, such as a usual services or supply contract between companies?

    Then what matters most is being able to prove the agreement.

  2. Does the law require written form, for example when terminating an employment relationship (§ 623 BGB)?

    In some cases the law excludes the electronic form entirely. Have it checked before sending electronically.

Local worksheet · no product action
One question, up close

The three questions
behind every e-signature.

Whether an electronic signature fits depends not on the tool but on the contract: is it free of form requirements, does the law prescribe a form, and how well can the agreement be proven later?

Editorial working example
01 / No form requirement

Is the contract free of statutory form requirements, such as a usual services or supply contract between companies?

Then what matters most is being able to prove the agreement.

A

No form requirementMany business contracts under German law have no form requirement and can in principle also be concluded electronically.

B

Statutory formWhere the law requires written form (§ 126 BGB), it can only be replaced electronically with a qualified signature (§ 126a BGB), unless the law rules that out.

C

Evidential valueA court assesses a simple electronic signature freely (§ 286 ZPO). For qualified signatures, § 371a ZPO provides special rules of evidence.

The playbook

How to approach the legal question.

One learning path. Three perspectives.
From knowing to the next step

Contract, form,
evidence.

No form → Required form → Evidence in a dispute

  1. 01

    Form first. Then the tool.

    For each contract type, clarify whether it is free of form requirements or needs a statutory form. If unsure, ask a lawyer before sending.

    Example

    Mutual NDA between two companies

    Usually no form requirement, prove the agreement.
  2. 02

    Make the agreement provable.

    For contracts without a form requirement, what counts in a dispute is what you can show. Peak Sign freezes the version and records time, version, SHA-256 hash and method.

    Check the evidence

    Can the agreement be proven later?

    Version, time, hash and method in the audit trail.
  3. 03

    Know the limits.

    Advanced and qualified signatures with identity verification are planned in Peak Sign and not yet available. Contracts that need them are concluded another way today.

    Say it honestly

    Signed electronically, so valid in every case.

    Signed electronically, form checked beforehand.

Your quality check

Have you settled the form question?

Tick what you have checked. Your selection stays in this view only.

00/ 04your checkpoints

0 of 4 points checked

Have you settled the form question?
Sources & context

What this article is based on.

Note: not yet legally reviewed, not legal advice. As of October 2026. The general legal bases named (BGB, ZPO, eIDAS Regulation) come without any warranty of completeness or currency. Today Peak Sign offers the simple electronic signature; AES and QES are planned.

  • Evidence pending

    Not yet legally reviewed. Not legal advice. The page is built but not indexed and not in the menu.

  • Editorial demo

    Editorial example with made-up sample data. Only features Peak Sign has today are described; everything else is marked as planned or example.

The next step

Contracts without form requirements, with evidence.

For contracts without a statutory form requirement you can use Peak Sign with evidence and an audit trail. Settle the form question beforehand.

Go to Peak Sign

Frequently asked questions

Is this page legal advice?

No. The page is not yet legally reviewed. For your case, ask a lawyer.

Do all contracts need a signature?

Many contracts need no particular form. For some, the law requires a specific form, such as written form.

Which signature type does Peak Sign offer today?

A simple electronic signature with a recorded process. Advanced and qualified signatures are planned and not yet available.

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