Are electronic signatures legally binding?
Short answer: in the United States, yes — for most documents. Two laws make that so, and knowing what they require helps you pick a signing process that will hold up if a signature is ever challenged. (This is general information, not legal advice.)
The ESIGN Act and UETA
The federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act), passed in 2000, says a signature or contract can't be denied legal effect just because it's electronic. The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) does the same at the state level and has been adopted by almost every state. Together, they cover most everyday agreements: leases, NDAs, sales contracts, engagement letters, consent forms, and more. Outside the U.S., the EU's eIDAS regulation plays a similar role.
What makes an e-signature enforceable
- Intent to sign — the person meant to sign, for example by drawing or typing their signature and clicking a clear "sign" button.
- Consent to do business electronically — signers agree to use electronic records and signatures.
- Association with the record — the signature is tied to the specific document.
- Record retention — every party can keep an accurate copy of what was signed.
Documents that are usually excluded
ESIGN and UETA carve out some documents, which may still need ink or other formalities. Common examples include wills and testamentary trusts, certain family-law documents, court orders and filings, notices of foreclosure, eviction, or utility shutoff, and documents that must be notarized or recorded under state law. Rules vary by state.
Why the audit trail matters
If a signature is disputed, the question becomes: can you show who signed, when, and that the document wasn't changed afterward? A good e-signature tool captures that evidence automatically. Every document signed with RootSign includes a Certificate of Completion listing each signer's name, email, IP address, and timestamps, plus their consent to sign electronically. The final PDF is sealed with a digital signature, so any later edit shows up as a broken seal in standard PDF readers. How the seal works.
Need a signature that holds up? Upload a PDF, place the fields, and send it for signature — $1 per document, no account, no subscription. Signers sign free.
Send a PDF for Signature →Frequently asked questions
Are electronic signatures legal in the US?
Yes. The ESIGN Act and UETA give electronic signatures the same legal effect as handwritten signatures for most documents.
Which documents can't be signed electronically?
Common exceptions include wills, certain family-law and court documents, some eviction and foreclosure notices, and documents that must be notarized or recorded. Rules vary by state.
What proves who signed an electronic document?
An audit trail: a record of each signer's identity details, timestamps, IP address, and consent, tied to a tamper-evident copy of the document.