Conformed copy meaning

A conformed copy is a replica of an executed document in which every handwritten element—signatures, initials, dates and manuscript amendments—is shown in typed form or by clear annotation (for example, “Signed by [name]” and “[handwritten amendment]”). It is a descriptive practice term, not generally defined by legislation or case law in England & Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Ireland, and is used across transactional, corporate and litigation contexts. Typical uses include deal/transaction bibles, due diligence, disclosure, and court or arbitration bundles where the original or a certified copy is unnecessary or unavailable. A conformed copy records what was executed but, by itself, does not prove due execution. Where evidential status is required (for example, for enforcement, registration or regulatory filing), parties usually rely on the original, a wet‑ink counterpart, an e-signed original, or a certified copy. A conformed copy is distinct from: - a certified copy, which includes a formal certification by an authorised person that the copy is a true copy of the original; and - an electronic signature, which is a method of signing, not a reproduction of a signature. Usage is broadly consistent across the UK and Ireland, though registries and some regulators typically require originals or certified copies.