AI Typing for Legal Contracts — Turn Scans into Editable DOCX in Minutes

What an English Legal Contract Typically Contains

An Indian commercial supply or works contract, the kind you might encounter in infrastructure procurement for a transmission line or a substation, follows a predictable structure. The first page carries the title, date, and place of execution (for example, Lucknow or Noida). The recitals then set out the background, naming the parties as “Employer” and “Contractor” (often an SPV under a tariff-based competitive bidding framework). Core clauses define the scope of equipment supply, payment terms including GST treatment, liquidated damages, and dispute resolution. A non‑judicial stamp paper of the appropriate value is affixed to the first page in many states. The document ends with execution blocks, witness signatures, and schedules that detail technical specifications and milestone dates. Knowing this anatomy helps you appreciate what the AI typing service reproduces from a scan.

Why People Type Out a Scanned Legal Contract

A scanned PDF of a contract is essentially a photograph of paper, you cannot search it, copy clauses, or redact commercially sensitive figures without retyping. In‑house legal teams, procurement managers, and due‑diligence analysts routinely convert signed scans into editable DOCX so they can extract payment schedules, track obligations across multiple projects, or prepare amendments. Law firms typing out a supply contract before a merger review or an arbitration are equally common. The manual alternative, having a junior associate retype 80 pages, is error-prone and slow. AI typing delivers a clean, searchable DOCX in minutes, freeing professionals for higher‑value work while preserving the original text faithfully.

What Lekhak’s AI Typing Produces

Lekhak’s instant AI typing takes your scanned contract, a PDF, JPG, or PNG, and returns an editable DOCX file within minutes. The output preserves the body text, headings, clause numbering, and basic layout of the original. It is a practical, best‑effort reproduction intended for internal review, contract analytics, or creating a working draft. Because the process is fully automated, there is no human sign‑off and no certificate of accuracy attached. The typed DOCX is not a certified copy; for a submission that requires a notarised duplicate or a document bearing a fresh stamp, you will need to follow the separate government‑led procedures outlined below. Most internal workflows, however, do not require that level of formality.

When You Need Notarisation, Stamping, or Apostille for a Typed Contract

The typed DOCX from any AI typing platform is a derivative of the scan, it does not carry the original wet‑ink signatures, the embossed notary seal, or the fiscal stamp that give a contract its evidentiary value. If you plan to file the document before a court, present it to a bank, or use it overseas, you will often need a notarised copy (where a notary public attests to the signature), stamping (payment of stamp duty as required by the Indian Stamp Act, 1899), or an apostille for Hague Convention countries. These are separate legal acts performed by a notary, the state revenue authorities, and the Ministry of External Affairs. Lekhak does not carry out notarisation, stamping, or apostille, the reader arranges them directly with the relevant authority.

State‑Wise Variations in Stamp Paper and E‑Stamping for Indian Contracts

Stamp duty rates and the physical‑vs‑electronic form of stamp paper differ from state to state in India. In Uttar Pradesh, which includes the Noida and Lucknow industrial corridors, e‑stamping through Stock Holding Corporation of India (SHCIL) is common for high‑value supply and works contracts. Other states, such as Maharashtra and Karnataka, use their own e‑stamping portals, while some still issue traditional non‑judicial stamp paper over the counter. The Indian Stamp Act, 1899 provides the central framework, but each state prescribes the duty and methodology. When you receive a scanned contract, the stamp paper or e‑stamp certificate will be visible in the image; the AI‑typed DOCX will reproduce that visible text but cannot revive the legal effect of a consumed stamp.

Key Statutes and Regulations Behind Indian Commercial Contracts

Indian commercial contracts, especially those in procurement and infrastructure, derive their force from a handful of central statutes. The Indian Contract Act, 1872 defines offer, acceptance, consideration, and enforceability. The Registration Act, 1908 mandates registration for certain classes of documents, including leases and sale deeds. Stamp duty is governed by the Indian Stamp Act, 1899, while the Goods and Services Tax regime determines how GST is charged on works contracts and supply components. When typing a contract scan, the text referencing these statutes is faithfully reproduced, giving you a searchable record of the legal foundation.

How to Get a Duplicate of a Lost Original Contract

If the signed original is misplaced, you have two practical routes. First, if the contract was registered with the Sub‑Registrar under the Registration Act, 1908, a certified copy can be obtained from that office by applying with the relevant details and paying the prescribed fee. Second, the counterparty, the Employer or Contractor, may still hold an original or a conformed copy. Once you secure a scan of the duplicate, Lekhak’s AI typing can convert it into an editable DOCX in minutes, restoring your ability to search, excerpt, and repurpose the contract text without manual retyping. The typed file remains an unofficial reproduction; for legal proceedings, you would use the certified copy directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is AI typing and how does it differ from manual retyping?

AI typing uses optical character recognition and layout‑aware models to extract text from a scanned contract and produce a formatted DOCX. It is faster, minutes versus hours, and eliminates typing errors that are common when a person retypes dense legal clauses. The output is a digital reproduction, not a translation.

Can I use the typed DOCX as evidence in court?

No. The typed DOCX is an unofficial copy without the original signatures, stamp, or seal. Courts and tribunals require certified copies or originals. Use the typed file for internal preparation, contract management, and sharing with counsel, not for formal submission.

Does Lekhak offer notarisation or stamping of the typed contract?

Lekhak does not provide notarisation, stamping, or apostille services. Those are separate government‑driven processes that you arrange through a notary public, the state revenue department, or the Ministry of External Affairs. Lekhak’s role ends with delivering the editable DOCX.

What file formats can I upload for AI typing of a legal contract?

You can upload scanned PDFs, DOCX, DOC, JPG, PNG, WebP, and TXT files. Most users submit a PDF scan of the signed contract. Image quality should be reasonably clear to ensure the best text extraction.

How quickly will I receive the typed DOCX?

The AI typing engine processes files in minutes, and you can download the DOCX immediately from your Lekhak dashboard. There is no queue, no overnight batch, and no human involvement, the output is ready before you would finish a manual retype.

Does Lekhak handle contracts in Indian languages other than English?

Yes. Lekhak’s typing service supports all 22 scheduled Indian languages. If your scanned contract is in Hindi, Marathi, Tamil, or any other Indian script, the AI typing produces a typed DOCX in the same language, preserving the source script faithfully.

Will the typed DOCX include the stamp paper or e‑stamp certificate text?

The AI typing reproduces visible text, including the details printed on a non‑judicial stamp paper or an e‑stamp certificate, as it appears in the scan. However, the hologram, foil, or QR code of the stamp is not carried over into the DOCX, and the typed copy does not revive the legal value of the consumed stamp.

How much does Lekhak’s AI typing cost?

Typing is charged at 25 credits per page. New users receive 250 free credits at signup, which allows you to test the service with several pages without entering a credit card. For the most current pricing, see the Lekhak pricing page.

Can Lekhak provide a certified translation if my contract is in a foreign language?

While the AI typing service handles documents in the same language, Lekhak also offers certified translation on‑demand for official submissions. This is arranged directly with the Lekhak team and is not part of the self‑serve typing flow.

Is the layout of the typed DOCX identical to the original scan?

The AI typing service reproduces the body text, clauses, and basic paragraph structure with high accuracy. Complex formatting such as multi‑column tables, embedded stamps, and marginal notes may be simplified. The result is clean and editable, suitable for review and repurposing.