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Electronic Signature Laws and Regulations - US


Overview


Electronic signatures facilitate faster and more secure document signing, with the flexibility to choose the option that is most efficient for each organization, department, or project. The U.S. Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act in 2000 legislated that electronic signatures are legal in every state and U.S. territory where federal law applies. Where federal law does not apply, most U.S. states have adopted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), which Congress passed in 1999. ESIGN is the default federal law that applies in states that have not adopted the UETA or another statute providing alternative procedures for the use of electronic signatures consistent with ESIGN. ESIGN was passed to resolve disputes between different state laws and says that each state may accept or reject guidelines in the UETA, but that each state must have some laws that validate electronic signatures and records. In other words, no state can outright deny the authenticity of electronic signatures, but they don’t necessarily have to use the UETA in its entirety. The net effect of these laws is that every jurisdiction in the United States has substantially the same rules for the use of electronic signatures.


In the United States, there are two primary types of electronic signatures:


  • Electronic signature (e-signature) refers to any electronic process that indicates acceptance of an agreement or record. Most electronic signature solutions in the United States fall into this broad category. Electronic signatures use a wide variety of common electronic authentication methods to verify signer identity, such as email, corporate ID, password protection, or a PIN sent to a mobile phone. Proof of signing is demonstrated via a secured process that often includes an audit trail and a final tamper-evident digital certificate embedded into the completed signed document.


  • Digital signature uses a digital certificate from a trust service provider (TSP), such as a certificate authority (CA), to authenticate a signer’s identity. The digital certificates demonstrate proof of signing by binding the digital certificate associated with each signature to the document using encryption.


The information provided is intended to assist in understanding the legal framework of electronic signatures for U.S. states and territories. Laws pertaining to electronic signatures are constantly evolving, so this page should not serve as a substitute for professional legal advice.


Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (ESIGN) Act.


The ESIGN Act granted electronic signatures the same legal status as handwritten signatures throughout the United States, greatly simplifying and expediting how organizations gather, track, and manage signatures and approvals on agreements and documents of all kinds. In the ESIGN Act, an electronic signature is defined as “an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.” In simple terms, electronic signatures are legally recognized as a viable method to indicate agreement to a contract.


The ESIGN Act:


  • Provides that any law with a requirement for a signature may be satisfied by an electronic signature
  • Allows electronically executed agreements to be presented as evidence in court
  • Prevents denial of legal effect, validity, or enforceability of an electronically signed document solely because it is in electronic form


For an electronic signature to be legally binding under the ESIGN Act, it is recommended that all electronic signature workflows include the following elements.


Intent to sign.

As with a handwritten signature, a signer must show clear intent to sign an agreement electronically. For example, signers can show intention by using a mouse to draw their signature, typing their name, or clicking an “Accept” button that is clearly labeled.


Consent to do business electronically.

Most electronic signature laws also require some form of consent to do business electronically. Many enterprise electronic signature solutions ask signers to “click to accept” a standard consent clause or provide an option to customize a consent clause such as:


The parties agree that this agreement may be electronically signed. The parties agree that the electronic signatures appearing on this agreement are the same as handwritten signatures for the purposes of validity, enforceability, and admissibility.


Opt-out clause.

If a signer elects to opt out of signing an agreement electronically, clear instructions on how to sign an agreement manually should be easily accessible as part of the signature workflow.


Signed copies.

All signers should receive a fully executed copy of the agreement. Many electronic signature solutions automatically provide executed copies of agreements to signers as part of the approval workflow.


Record retention.

Record retention requirements are addressed via the ESIGN Act, which legitimized the validity of electronic records as long as they accurately reflect the agreement and can be reproduced as required. Often this requirement is met by providing a fully executed copy to the signer or permitting the signer to download a copy of the agreement.


Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA).


In 1999, the Uniform Law Commission drafted the model UETA to provide a legal framework for the use of electronic signatures in each state. UETA has since been adopted by 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, one state—New York—has not adopted UETA, but instead has implemented its own statute pertaining to electronic signatures. For more information regarding New York’s Electronic Signature and Records Act (ESRA), please see below.

The following fundamental principles are outlined in UETA:


  • A record or signature can’t be denied legal effect or enforceability simply because it’s in electronic form.
  • A contract can’t be denied legal effect or enforceability simply because an electronic record was used in its formation.
  • If a law requires a record to be in writing, an electronic record satisfies the law.
  • If a law requires a signature, an electronic signature satisfies the law.


In all states that have adopted UETA, the law generally does not apply to birth, wedding, or death certificates, and wills, codicils, and testamentary trusts are also often exempt.


New York


As noted above, the State of New York has not adopted UETA. However, since 2000, electronic signatures have been legally binding in New York under the Electronic Signatures and Records Act (ESRA). This law broadly established the legal equivalence of electronic and handwritten signatures. ESRA also created the role of the “electronic facilitator” within the New York Office of Information Technology Services. This department oversees all technology used to promote government efficiency and effectiveness, including electronic signatures, and publishes a comprehensive best practices guide for those wishing to implement electronic signatures under ESRA.


In New York, electronic signatures have the same legal validity as handwritten signatures. They are admissible in a court of law as long as they comply with the rules of evidence. However, just as with all other electronic signature laws, no government organization or citizen is required to use electronic records or signatures. Additionally, ESRA does not apply to any document that provides for the disposition of an individual’s person or property upon death or incompetence, or to any document that appoints a fiduciary of an individual’s person or property. This includes wills, trusts, and “do not resuscitate” orders as well as powers of attorney and health care proxies.

Related developments.


Nearly two decades after adopting UETA, a handful of states, including Arizona, Nevada, and Tennessee, have amended their respective UETAs to address the emergence and adoption of newer technologies, particularly blockchain. For example, Arizona amended its Arizona Electronic Transaction Act (AETA) to include Arizona Revised Statute § 44-7061, which ensures that electronic signatures and smart contract terms secured through blockchain technology fall under the scope of AETA. Blockchain distributed ledger technology was defined by the state to mean a decentralized ledger technology that is protected with cryptography. Specifically, the Arizona amendment deems:


  • A “signature secured through blockchain technology” to be an electronic signature;
  • A “record or contract secured through blockchain technology” to be an electronic form or record; and
  • A “smart contract” to be legally valid and enforceable.


Resources


To learn more, refer to the following resources:



Note: TAXDAI is pleased to provide information that can help businesses understand the legal framework of electronic signatures. However, TAXDAI cannot provide legal advice. Any information provided here is not intended as legal advice and should not serve as a substitute for professional advice. You should consult an attorney regarding your specific legal questions.


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