How to verify if an electronic signature is valid?

Short answer

1. 11. Go to 4mycontracts.net and open the signed contract.
2. 22. Download the Certificate of signatures from the contract.
3. 33. Check the signing details: the signer, the IP address and the time of signing.
4. 44. Compare the SHA-256 fingerprint in the certificate with that of the downloaded file.
5. 55. If the document carries a qualified signature applied externally, validate it in Adobe Reader or DSS.

What the law says

• eIDAS Regulation (EU) 910/2014 — defines advanced and qualified electronic signatures.
• Law no. 455/2001 on electronic signatures — national legal framework in Romania.
• Civil Code art. 1240 — written form and its electronic equivalent are recognized.
• GDPR art. 5 — integrity and confidentiality of signatory data required.
• Directive 93/13/EEC — unfair clauses in electronic contracts are void.

Practical examples

• IT services contract signed electronically — validity check before litigation.
• Remote employment contract signed with qualified certificate — annual HR audit.
• NDA with external freelancer — signature validation at contract termination.
• Real estate sale agreement with advanced signature — notary electronic verification.

Common mistakes

• Accepting a simple signature as equivalent to a qualified one in high-risk contracts.
• Missing certified timestamp — the signature can be challenged as undated.
• Not verifying the certification chain of the issuing authority (EU-accredited CA).
• Ignoring the certificate revocation status (CRL/OCSP) at the time of signing.

How 4mycontracts helps

• A Certificate of signatures as PDF for every contract signed through the platform.
• The SHA-256 fingerprint of the document recorded at signing, so you can check whether the file was changed later.
• The contract’s event history: who signed and when.
• IP address and time of signing kept for each signatory.
• The option to upload to the archive a PDF signed externally with a qualified signature.