Electronic signatures are validated under the federal ESIGN Act and state UETA adoptions, which give them the same legal effect as handwritten signatures for most purposes. Platforms record signer identity, timestamp, and audit trail.
Certain documents including wills and some court filings are excluded.
Alternative Names:
E-Signature, Digital Signature
Why it Matters?
The audit trail is what makes electronic execution more provable than wet signature, since the platform records identity verification, IP address, and timestamp for each signer. Exclusions matter for planning: wills, certain family law documents, and some court filings still require original signatures in many jurisdictions. Verifying the exclusion list before relying on electronic execution avoids a defective document.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Are electronic signatures legally sufficient?
What makes them provable?
