Signature-page redaction is the removal of signatory and witness PII from an execution block. CA 2006 s.44(2) lets a company sign through two authorised signatories, or through one director whose signature a witness attests. A deed adds delivery under s.46. For an individual, LP(MP)A 1989 s.1(3) requires a witness to attest the signature, so a second person's details land on the page.
When this applies
Execution blocks carry signatures, printed names, titles, and witness details. Electronic signatures are admissible under Electronic Communications Act 2000 s.7, and the Law Commission confirmed in 2019 that they can execute a document. A deed still needs a witness who is physically present. Either way the page fills with personal data.
How anonym.plus handles it
- Load the file into anonym.plus on your device.
- Local OCR reads scanned signatures and attestations.
- The tool flags printed names, titles, and attestation lines.
- Confirm the flags and keep the block layout.
- Black out the signatures and swap the printed IDs.
- Save the clean copy on your machine.
What you need to provide
- The execution block (PDF, DOCX, or scan).
- An operator (Redact for signatures, Replace for names).
- Optional role map for [SIGNATORY] labels.
PII entity types detected
| Category | anonym.plus entity type | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Names | PERSON | printed name → [SIGNATORY] |
| Title | ORGANIZATION | title/role → [TITLE] |
| Names | PERSON | attesting party → [WITNESS] |
| Names | PERSON | second attesting party → [WITNESS_2] |
| Dates | DATE_TIME | execution date → [DATE] |
| Location | LOCATION | attestor address → [ADDRESS] |
Compliance achieved
- Clears the names CA 2006 s.44(2) puts in a company execution block.
- Handles deeds delivered under CA 2006 s.46, and individual deeds attested under LP(MP)A 1989 s.1(3).
- Works on electronic signatures, admissible under Electronic Communications Act 2000 s.7.
- Local OCR reads scanned signatures and attestations.
- On-device AES-256-GCM guards the working files.
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Limitations & cautions
Hand-signed scans lean on OCR, and a stylised signature can resist it. Review the block the tool found before you export. A unique title at a small firm can still hint at the signer after the name goes.
Frequently asked questions
Who ends up named on a UK execution block?
Under CA 2006 s.44(2) a company signs through two authorised signatories, or one director whose signature a witness attests. Where an individual executes a deed, LP(MP)A 1989 s.1(3) adds an attesting witness. A witness name, address, and occupation are commonly written in by convention.
Can a hand-signed scan be cleaned?
Yes. Local OCR reads the printed names and attestation lines, and the Redact operator blacks out the signature images themselves. Check the result, since a stylised signature can defeat OCR.
Does an electronic signature change anything?
Not for redaction. Electronic Communications Act 2000 s.7 makes electronic signatures admissible, and the Law Commission confirmed in 2019 that they can execute documents, including deeds where the attesting party is physically present. The audit trail still names people, so it is treated like any other block.