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Evidence Act 2006

Trial process - Documentary evidence and evidence produced by machine, device, or technical process - General and special rules

136: Proof of signatures on attested documents

You could also call this:

"How to prove someone signed an important document"

Illustration for Evidence Act 2006

When you need to prove that someone signed a document, you can do this in any way that is satisfactory. You might need to prove that someone signed a special kind of document, like a will, or any other document that needs to be signed in a certain way. The law says that you can prove the signature in any way that works.

If someone saw the person sign the document, they do not have to come to court to say that they saw it happen. The document can be proved to be genuine even if the person who saw it being signed does not have to talk about it. This is true whether the document was signed by hand or by using a computer or some other method.

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View the original legislation for this page at https://legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1986/0120/latest/link.aspx?id=DLM393978.

Topics:
Crime and justice > Courts and legal help
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135: Translations and transcripts, or

"Using documents or recordings in court that aren't in English or need to be translated"

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137: Evidence produced by machine, device, or technical process, or

"Using evidence made by machines or computers in court"

Part 3Trial process
Documentary evidence and evidence produced by machine, device, or technical process: General and special rules

136Proof of signatures on attested documents

  1. The signature, execution, or attestation of a document (including a testamentary document) that is required by law to be attested may be proved by any satisfactory means.

  2. An attesting witness need not be called to prove that the document was signed, executed, or attested (whether by handwriting, digital means, or otherwise) as it purports to have been signed, executed, or attested.