For many people, the first thing that comes to mind when you mention “e-signatures” is an e-mail with a digital signature attached. However, there are actually two different types of e-signatures: one type that’s used in business transactions and another type that’s used for personal use. In this post, they’ll discuss the differences between those two types of e-signatures and whether or not they have any legal value.
What IS an e-signature?
An e-signature is an electronic version of a handwritten signature. It’s usually generated using a stylus, keyboard, mouse or touchscreen.
E-signatures are legal in some jurisdictions but not others and are the subject of much debate amongst lawyers and businesses.
You can request signature on PDF or e-signature instead of a paper one because it’s supposed to be more reliable than traditional penmanship. Adobe Acrobat states, “The Request Signatures tool lets other people sign PDF documents online quickly.”
What ISN’T an e-signature?
- An e-signature isn’t the same as a digital signature. A digital signature is more secure than an e-signature, and it’s required by law for some transactions.
- An e-signature is not equivalent to a handwritten signature. While they may look similar, they’re actually very different processes.
So are e-signatures valid on legal documents?
Yes! E-signatures are valid on legal documents. But there are a few caveats:
- Not all documents are eligible for e-signing. Some types of legal documents cannot be e-signed, such as court orders and subpoenas.
- Not all jurisdictions allow it. There may be some areas where your state or country will not accept e-signatures on certain kinds of documents, sometimes called “sealed” records like wills and trusts, that require a signature in the presence of witnesses or officials. You should check with a lawyer specialising in your jurisdiction to find out if that area accepts electronic signatures before completing any transactions requiring them to legally bind you or another party (such as contracts).
- The person signing must have access to technology capable of reading their digital signature file; otherwise, they will need to print out their document and sign it manually instead!
E-Signatures and the Law
The law is not crystal clear about the validity of electronic signatures on legal documents. It’s an evolving area, and it varies by state and industry. Some types of e-signatures are more legally valid than others, depending on the jurisdiction in which they’re used.
For example, some states recognize a digital signature as being equivalent to a handwritten signature in terms of validity under the law; other states do not. The same goes for whether your standard email signature counts as an authentic signature versus one that uses advanced technology like biometric authentication (fingerprint scanning).
E-Signatures in Business
In business, e-signatures are used to save time and money. Businesses can use e-signatures for legally binding documents, such as contracts and leases. E-signatures may also be used in place of paper signatures on other business documents. For example, if you work at a company that uses an online application process, you could submit your resume using an e-signature instead of printing it out and mailing it back in via snail mail.
This article must have helped you understand e-signatures and their place in the world of legal documents. It’s important to remember that e-signatures are not a replacement for handwritten signatures—they’re just another way of signing a document. They have their pros and cons, just like any other signature method.