Guide
Are Electronic Signatures Legal?
Yes — in most countries, electronic signatures carry the same legal weight as a handwritten one. Here's the law behind that answer.
United States: the ESIGN Act and UETA
The federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act, 2000) gives electronic signatures and records the same legal standing as their paper equivalents in interstate and foreign commerce. Most U.S. states additionally adopt the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), which does the same at the state level. Together, they mean a typed, drawn, or clicked signature is generally enforceable as long as both parties intended to sign and consented to do so electronically.
European Union: eIDAS
The EU's eIDAS Regulation defines three tiers — simple, advanced, and qualified electronic signatures — with increasing levels of identity verification and legal weight. A simple electronic signature (the kind SignScribe creates) is valid for most everyday contracts; certain high-stakes documents may require an advanced or qualified electronic signature with additional identity verification.
Elsewhere
Most other major economies, including Canada, the UK (post-Brexit, via its own retained version of eIDAS), Australia, and much of Asia, have similar frameworks recognizing electronic signatures for ordinary business use.
What typically still requires a wet-ink or notarized signature
- Wills and testamentary trusts, in most jurisdictions
- Certain court orders and filings
- Some real-estate transfer documents, depending on jurisdiction
- Documents requiring notarization or a witnessed physical signature by local law
Common questions
Is a typed or drawn signature as valid as my handwritten one?
For the vast majority of everyday contracts and agreements, yes, under laws like the ESIGN Act and eIDAS.
Does the signing platform matter legally?
Generally the law focuses on intent to sign and consent to do so electronically, not the specific tool used to create the signature image itself.