Are Electronic Signatures Legal?

Yes, electronic signatures are legally binding and legally enforceable. Compliance laws can vary by country, but e-signature platforms like jSign make it easy to maintain compliance when signing documents online.

The E-Sign Act, signed by Bill Clinton in 2000, gives electronic signatures the same legal status as handwritten signatures. This Act, alongside the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), makes e-signatures legally binding provided all parties agree to sign the document digitally.

It’s important to keep in mind, though, that a judge’s willingness to accept the validity of an electronic signature depends on whether or not it meets certain criteria. For an e-signature to be enforceable, you need to be able to prove the security of the signed document as well as the intent of the signee. If there is a realistic chance the document could have been tampered with, then the electronic signature may not be considered binding. 

For electronic signatures to be legally binding, it’s important to take steps to protect the document against tampering, prove the authenticity of the signature, and prove intent. Electronic signature platforms like jSign are designed specifically to help users comply with e-signature laws so that their documents are legally binding and enforceable.

When signing a document with jSign, users prove their intent to sign by adding their custom e-signature or clicking to accept the agreement. And to further protect against tampering and verify the authenticity of the document, jSign uses blockchain technology to create a verifiable audit trail that records any and all changes made to the document. There are also options to require signers to enter a custom passcode before signing. 

When your document is complete, you’ll receive a Certificate of Completion that includes important information, including the complete document history, to help prove the document’s authenticity.

Yes, electronic signatures have the same legal status as wet signatures in all states under state laws and the E-Sign Act. As long as you are able to prove intent, authenticity, and the security of the document, electronically signed documents are legally enforceable.

Electronic signatures are enforceable for both business and personal documents, making them a great alternative to wet signatures for many common applications.

You can use electronic signatures to sign:

– Offer letters
– Invoices
– Contracts
– Real estate transactions
– Patient intake forms
– Purchase orders
– Non-disclosure agreements
– Accounting paperwork
– And more

While e-signatures can be used as an alternative to wet signatures for most documents, there are a few exceptions outlined by the National Telecommunications Information Administration (NTIA).

Some of the documents that cannot be signed electronically include:

– Last wills and testaments
– Court orders
– Notice of default, foreclosure, or eviction
– Health or life insurance termination notices

Individuals should always review their local laws and regulations to ensure their usage of electronic signatures is legal and valid.

Yes, electronic signatures will hold up in court as long as you are able to prove the intent of the signee, the authenticity of the document, and that the document was not tampered with.

Under the E-Sign Act and the UETA Act, there are four requirements for an electronic signature to be valid, including:

– Intent to sign
– Consent to sign electronically
– Association of signatures with the record
– Record retention

jSign’s electronic signature platform meets these requirements to ensure users are able to comply with these e-signature laws.