Using AttestWay
What you can and can’t sign with AttestWay
AttestWay is an electronic signature service. It is very good at getting agreements signed quickly, with verified identity and a tamper-evident record of who signed what and when. There are some documents it is not the right tool for, and we would rather tell you that up front than have you find out at a registry counter.
AttestWay is not a commissioner of oaths or a notary public.
Signing a document through AttestWay does not commission, notarise, certify, or witness it in the legal sense. If a document must be sworn before a commissioner of oaths, notarised, or certified as a true copy, that still has to happen in person, and AttestWay does not change or satisfy that requirement.
What AttestWay is well suited for
Most day-to-day business agreements between parties who simply need to record their consent. In Botswana, electronic signatures are widely used for exactly this kind of document.
- ✓Commercial contracts and service agreements
- ✓Non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements
- ✓Employment offers, contracts, and internal policy sign-off
- ✓Purchase orders, quotations, and supplier agreements
- ✓Consent forms, waivers, and acknowledgements
- ✓Internal approvals and sign-off workflows
For these, AttestWay gives you identity verification on every signer, a timestamped audit trail, and a cryptographic fingerprint that lets anyone check the file has not been altered since signing.
What still needs physical attestation
The following typically require a commissioner of oaths, a notary public, or an authorised official in Botswana. This list is a guide, not legal advice, and it is not exhaustive.
Affidavits and sworn statements
These must be sworn or affirmed in person before a commissioner of oaths, who witnesses the oath itself. An electronic signature cannot administer an oath.
Certified true copies
Certification requires an authorised person to physically compare the copy against the original document and stamp it.
Documents requiring notarisation
Where a notary public’s seal is required, only a notary can provide it.
Certain property and land transactions
Deeds and transfers lodged with the Deeds Registry generally have their own execution and attestation requirements.
Certain court documents and filings
Courts set their own rules for how documents must be signed, commissioned, and lodged.
Wills and testamentary documents
These commonly carry strict witnessing formalities that an electronic process does not satisfy.
If you are not sure
Check before you rely on it, not after. The organisation receiving the document — a bank, a registry, a government department, a court, or the other side’s lawyer — can tell you what form of signature they will accept. If the answer is that it must be commissioned, notarised, or certified, use a commissioner of oaths or notary and keep AttestWay for the documents around it.
Nothing on this page is legal advice. Where a document matters, or where you are unsure what the requirements are, speak to a qualified legal practitioner in Botswana.
Still have a question about whether AttestWay fits your document? See the Help & FAQ or get in touch — a real person will answer. Our Terms & Conditions also apply to your use of the service.