The use of qualified time stamps in the above areas brings a number of tangible legal and practical benefits:
Meeting formal and industry requirements. In some sectors and situations, the use of a time stamp is even necessary, to comply with regulations or standards. For example, as mentioned above, registered e-delivery platforms must attach time stamps to proofs of delivery. Also, in the financial and government sectors, it is common for internal regulations or good practices to mandate the use of time stamps (e.g., banks may require documents electronically signed by a customer to include a time stamp for acceptance). Using a qualified timestamp, ensure compliance with applicable regulations regarding the timing of documenting legal actions, which reduces the risk of challenging the document on formal grounds.
Despite its many advantages, it is worth asking whether the any An electronic document requires time stamping. The answer depends on the nature of the document and your needs.
By law, there is no general obligation The use of a time stamp when signing or sealing electronic documents. So you can make a valid electronic signature without adding a time stamp - such a document will be legally effective anyway, as long as the signature itself meets the requirements (e.g., a qualified signature by an authorized person).
In practice, however, the lack of a time stamp means that the date appearing next to the signature is from the only from the signing device (the computer's system time). Such a date may be changed or challenged because it is not authenticated by an external, independent party. Thus, if the precise moment of signing is of little importance, or the document is purely internal or work in nature, dispensing with the time stamp is possible and does not constitute a violation. For example, when signing an email with a personal certificate for your own convenience, adding a time stamp may be form over substance.
However, the risks should be considered: Could someone potentially challenge the creation date of this document? If the document will later be submitted as evidence or is required to be kept for years, the lack of independent confirmation of time weakens its credibility. If there is doubt about the date of creation, such a document may require additional treatment (such as expert opinion or other evidence) to establish when it was made. Therefore, in most business and official situations, however, it is advisable to use a time stamp - as it adds significant value. Many modern solutions automatically attach a timestamp to each signature precisely so that the user does not have to think about it. To recap - the timestamp is not formally required for every signature, but the Except for trivial or temporary documents, its omission is rarely beneficial. It is definitely better to have a „friendly” proof of time in case of possible disputes, than to regret later that you did not use it.
Electronic time stamps have become an indispensable part of the secure circulation of digital documents. They make it possible to precisely confirm the date and time when a document was prepared or submitted, and to protect its contents from changes since then. They are widely used in signing contracts and important electronic letters, in e-invoicing systems, digital archives and in sending electronic correspondence where the time is critical.
The use of a qualified timestamp brings tangible benefits: from legal certainty (date certain, presumption of the veracity of the date) and compliance with regulations, to practical security (integrity of the document, protection against future undermining of the signature). Although the addition of a time stamp is not always mandatory, in most cases it is a good practice that enhances the credibility of electronic documents. In the era of digitization of government and business, this service is simple to implement, and significantly increases the trust to electronic documents and their evidentiary value.
It is safe to say that today qualified time stamp is one of the pillars of the digital trust services, facilitating the functioning of the economy and administration in electronic form in accordance with legal requirements and security expectations.
Electronic timestamping is an indispensable part of digital workflow. It allows secure documentation of when information was created or sent and effectively protects against tampering. The use of a qualified timestamp is particularly important for documents of great legal and financial importance.
We encourage you to take a look at first part of the article, in which we discuss in detail the practical applications of the electronic time stamp in various sectors.
