Are electronic signatures legal in Utah?
Yes. Utah's Uniform Electronic Transactions Act says an electronic signature satisfies a law that requires a signature, and it has applied to records created on or after May 1, 2000. It covers transactions where both sides agreed to go electronic, with wills and most of the Uniform Commercial Code left out.
Updated October 13, 2026 · 3 min read
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Utah: at a glance
UT- E-signature law
- Utah Uniform Electronic Transactions Act
- In effect since
- 2000
- Based on UETA
- Yes
- Remote notarization
- AllowedUtah Code §§ 46-1-3.5 to 46-1-3.7
- Doesn't cover
- Wills, codicils and testamentary trusts (§ 46-4-103(2)(a))
- Title 70A, the Uniform Commercial Code, except § 70A-1a-306 and chapters 2 and 2a (§ 46-4-103(2)(b))
- County recorders aren't required to accept instruments for recording in electronic form (§ 46-4-103(5))
Utah's act at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where is it? | Utah Code Title 46, Chapter 4, §§ 46-4-101 to 46-4-503 |
| When did it start? | Records created on or after May 1, 2000 (§ 46-4-104), enacted as Chapter 74 of the 2000 General Session |
| What's the main rule? | A record, signature or contract can't be denied legal effect just because it's electronic (§ 46-4-201) |
| Who does it cover? | Parties who each agreed to transact electronically, judged from context and conduct (§ 46-4-105) |
| What's left out? | Wills, codicils and testamentary trusts, and the UCC except sales, leases and one general section (§ 46-4-103(2)) |
What the act says
Section 46-4-201 carries the four rules at the heart of every UETA: electronic records and signatures can't be denied legal effect for being electronic, contracts formed with electronic records are enforceable, an electronic record satisfies a writing requirement, and an electronic signature satisfies a signature requirement. In court, evidence of a record or signature can't be excluded just because it's electronic (§ 46-4-302).
Agreement is the gate. The chapter applies only between parties who have each agreed to deal electronically, and a party who agreed once can refuse the next time. That right can't be waived (§ 46-4-105(3)).
A Utah-specific limit, and a rule to remember
- County recorders don't have to take e-documents. Nothing in the chapter requires a county recorder to accept an instrument for recording in electronic form (§ 46-4-103(5)). If you're recording a deed or lien, ask the recorder's office what it accepts.
- Delivery rules in other laws still apply. If another law says a record must be posted, sent or formatted a certain way, you still have to do it that way (§ 46-4-202(2)). A record you stop the recipient from storing or printing isn't enforceable against them (§ 46-4-202(3)).
How it works with the federal ESIGN Act
Utah's act runs alongside the federal ESIGN Act, which validates e-signatures nationwide (15 U.S.C. § 7001). Delivering a consumer's legally required written information electronically? ESIGN's consent steps apply first (§ 7001(c)). Our plain-English guide explains how the two laws fit.
Notarization and remote notaries
When a law requires notarization, Utah's act points to the electronic notarization procedures in § 46-1-16(8) (§ 46-4-205). Since 2019, Utah has also certified remote notaries. A remote notary physically located in Utah can notarize for someone who appears by live audio and video, must verify the identity of anyone they don't personally know and must record each remote notarization (§§ 46-1-3.5, 46-1-3.6). A lawful remote notarization satisfies any Utah law that requires someone to appear in person before a notary (§ 46-1-3.6(4)). See remote online notarization. SignMaster doesn't notarize documents.
Practical notes for Utah businesses
- Say it in the contract. A clause agreeing to sign electronically documents the agreement § 46-4-105 looks for.
- Keep the final record accurate and accessible. That satisfies a retention requirement, and it can stand in for an original (§ 46-4-301).
Utah lets an accurate, accessible electronic record stand in for an original (§ 46-4-301). With SignMaster, that record is the completed PDF: signers can download it, and its certificate of completion logs every event with a time. Consent is captured first, when each signer agrees to sign electronically, and kept with the disclosure version they saw.
Questions? Answers.
Can I sign a lease electronically in Utah?
Usually. Leases aren't excluded from chapter 46-4, so once both sides agree, an electronic signature meets the signature requirement (§ 46-4-201). If a landlord-tenant law says a notice must be sent a certain way, § 46-4-202(2) keeps that rule in place.
Can I record an electronically signed deed in Utah?
It depends on the county. The e-signature act doesn't require a county recorder to accept electronic instruments (§ 46-4-103(5)), so ask the recorder's office first.
Can I get a document notarized online in Utah?
Yes, with a certified Utah remote notary who is physically in Utah. They verify your identity over live audio and video and record the session (§ 46-1-3.6).
Sources
- Utah Code Title 46, Chapter 4, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act · le.utah.gov
- Utah Code § 46-1-3.6, remote notarization procedures · le.utah.gov
- Uniform Law Commission, Electronic Transactions Act (enactment history) · uniformlaws.org
- 15 U.S.C. § 7001, ESIGN Act general rule of validity (govinfo) · govinfo.gov
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and how they apply depends on your situation. For advice about a specific document, talk to a lawyer licensed in your state.