Electronic signature
An electronic signature (e-signature) is an electronic sound, symbol or process that a person attaches to a record with the intent to sign it.
Updated October 13, 2026 · 1 min read
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What counts
US law defines it by intent, not technology. A signature drawn with a finger, a typed name, a picture of a handwritten signature or a click on a sign button can all be electronic signatures when the person means to sign. The federal ESIGN Act and state UETA laws say one can't be denied legal effect just because it's electronic.
What makes one hold up
The signature itself proves little. The record around it does the work: how the signer got the document, whether they agreed to sign electronically, and when each step happened. That's what an audit trail and a certificate of completion are for.
In SignMaster, signers draw, type or upload their signature, then select Adopt and sign, which states that it's their electronic signature. It isn't the same as a certificate-based digital signature.
Questions? Answers.
Is a typed name an electronic signature?
It can be. If you type your name intending to sign, it fits the legal definition.
Is an electronic signature as valid as a handwritten one?
For most agreements in the US, yes. The ESIGN Act and UETA say a signature can't be denied legal effect just because it's electronic. A few documents, like wills, still need ink.
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 7006, ESIGN Act definitions (govinfo) · govinfo.gov
- Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (1999), final text (Uniform Law Commission) · uniformlaws.org