Various embodiments of a system and method for long-term digital signature verification utilizing light weight digital signatures are described. Embodiments may include a verifying entity system that receives digitally signed data including a portion of data, signing time, and digital signature. The verifying entity system may receive a digital certificate that includes information for verifying the digital signature and an expiration time for the certificate. The verifying entity system may receive CRL that persists revocation information corresponding to ones of the revoked digital certificates that have already expired. The verifying entity system may utilize the CRL to determine that the digital signature is valid subsequent to its expiration time. The verifying entity system may evaluate the CRL to determine that the digital certificate was not revoked at the signing time. The verifying entity system may determine the digital signature is a valid digital signature and generate a corresponding result.