Standard land contract in Queensland goes digital

The use of electronic communication as part of the contract formation and performance process has gained widespread acceptance by commercial parties. Email is now the common method of communication between parties to a transaction and many lawyers acting for property developers have moved to electronic forms of contracts which are signed in electronic form using electronic signing tools such as DocuSign. One of the added attractions of using an electronic signing tool is the ability of the software to facilitate the signing process by all parties automatically in accordance with the instructions of the originator of the document. This article outlines the legal requirements for a valid electronic contract in Queensland and highlights the matters practitioners should consider when preparing or reviewing a standard contract