Compliance · ESIGN Act

ESIGN Act Compliant
E-Signatures

Every signature collected through Zignature is legally binding under the federal ESIGN Act (Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act) and UETA — in all 50 US states.

Free plan available · No credit card required · ESIGN Act compliant

All 50
US states recognized
2000
Federal law since
Full
Audit trail & certificate
Court
Admissible evidence
Key Features

Everything You Need

Built-in features that save time and close deals faster.

Legal Compliance

What the ESIGN Act Requires — and How Zignature Delivers

The federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq.) establishes three core requirements for a valid electronic signature: (1) intent to sign, (2) consent to do business electronically, and (3) association of the signature with the record. Zignature satisfies all three requirements by design — capturing intent through the signing interface, documenting consent at the start of each session, and cryptographically associating each signature with the signed document.

  • Intent captured — signer explicitly adopts the electronic signature by clicking 'Sign'.
  • Consent documented — ESIGN consent disclosure presented and acknowledged at session start.
  • Association proven — SHA-256 hash links each signature to the specific signed document.

What the ESIGN Act Requires — and How Zignature Delivers

The federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq.) establishes three core requirements for a valid electronic signature: (...

Included on all plans
Certificate of Completion

Court-Admissible Certificate of Completion

Every Zignature-signed document generates a Certificate of Completion that documents the complete evidentiary record: signer name, email, IP address, geolocation, device information, signing timestamp, and document hash. This certificate satisfies Federal Rule of Evidence 901 authentication requirements and has been accepted in courts across all 50 US states.

  • Signer identity — name, email, IP address, and geolocation documented.
  • Timestamp precision — exact date, time, and timezone of each signature event.
  • Document integrity — SHA-256 hash proves the document was never altered after signing.

Court-Admissible Certificate of Completion

Every Zignature-signed document generates a Certificate of Completion that documents the complete evidentiary record: si...

Included on all plans
Consumer Disclosure

ESIGN Consumer Disclosure — Automatically Presented

When consumers (non-business signers) sign documents, the ESIGN Act requires that they be informed of their right to receive paper copies and their right to withdraw consent. Zignature presents the required consumer disclosure before any consumer signing session and documents the disclosure acknowledgment in the audit trail.

  • Consumer disclosure presented — all required disclosures shown before any consumer signature.
  • Paper rights informed — consumers told of their right to receive and retain paper copies.
  • Withdrawal consent documented — consumer's right to withdraw consent from electronic transactions.

ESIGN Consumer Disclosure — Automatically Presented

When consumers (non-business signers) sign documents, the ESIGN Act requires that they be informed of their right to rec...

Included on all plans
Use Cases

Works for Every Scenario

From simple agreements to complex multi-party workflows.

Business Contracts

B2B contracts of any type — MSAs, SOWs, vendor agreements, and partnership contracts — all legally binding under ESIGN.

Consumer Agreements

Consumer-facing terms, subscription agreements, and loan documents — with full ESIGN consumer disclosure requirements satisfied.

Employment Documents

Offer letters, employment agreements, and onboarding documents — ESIGN-compliant signatures accepted by FLSA, ADA, and most state employment laws.

Real Estate Contracts

Purchase agreements, lease agreements, and listing agreements — ESIGN and UETA compliant in all 50 states.

Financial Agreements

Loan documents, investment advisory agreements, and insurance applications — ESIGN compliance documented for regulatory examinations.

Healthcare Consent

Patient consent forms and HIPAA authorizations — ESIGN-compliant when combined with HIPAA's BAA and security requirements.

How It Works

Up and Running in Minutes

No training required. Send your first document today.

1

Choose Your Template

Pick from pre-built compliant templates or upload your own document — our system applies the right compliance rules automatically.

2

Configure Compliance Settings

Enable HIPAA BAA, GDPR DPA, identity verification, or QES as required for your regulatory environment.

3

Send to Signers

Recipients get a secure link and are guided through the signing process with all required disclosures and consent flows.

4

Archive with Full Audit Trail

Every transaction is sealed with a tamper-proof certificate of completion — ready for audits, regulators, and legal proceedings.

ESIGN-Compliant Signatures on Every Document

Join businesses relying on Zignature's ESIGN-compliant e-signatures. Free plan available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know.

What is the ESIGN Act?

The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN) is a federal law enacted in 2000 (15 U.S.C. § 7001 et seq.) that establishes the legal validity of electronic signatures and records in interstate and foreign commerce. The law prohibits federal and state governments from denying legal effect to a contract solely because it was signed electronically.

Are e-signatures legally binding under the ESIGN Act?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding for virtually all commercial contracts under the ESIGN Act. Exceptions include: wills and trusts, court orders, family law documents, foreclosure notices, hazardous materials transportation documents, and certain insurance notices. For all other commercial purposes, an ESIGN-compliant electronic signature is as legally binding as a handwritten signature.

What's the difference between ESIGN and UETA?

ESIGN is a federal law that governs interstate and foreign commerce. UETA (Uniform Electronic Transactions Act) is a state law that has been adopted in 49 states plus DC — governing intrastate transactions. ESIGN preempts UETA where inconsistent. For practical purposes, an electronic signature compliant with one is generally compliant with both. Zignature satisfies both ESIGN and UETA requirements.

What are the three requirements for an ESIGN-compliant electronic signature?

Under the ESIGN Act, a valid electronic signature requires: (1) Intent to sign — the signer must intend the electronic action as a signature. (2) Consent to electronic transactions — the signer must agree to conduct the transaction electronically. (3) Association with the record — the signature must be logically associated with the document being signed. Zignature satisfies all three by design.

Is the Zignature Certificate of Completion admissible in court?

Yes. The Certificate of Completion documents signer identity (name, email, IP, geolocation), timestamp, and a cryptographic hash of the signed document. This evidence satisfies Federal Rule of Evidence 901 authentication requirements and has been accepted in courts across all 50 US states in disputes involving electronically signed contracts.

Do consumers have special rights under the ESIGN Act?

Yes. When contracting with consumers (non-business signers), the ESIGN Act requires disclosures informing them of: (1) their right to receive paper copies of electronic records, (2) their right to withdraw consent to electronic transactions, and (3) how to access and retain electronic records. Zignature presents these disclosures automatically at the start of every consumer signing session.

Which documents cannot be signed electronically under ESIGN?

The ESIGN Act explicitly excludes: wills, codicils, and testamentary trusts; adoption and divorce documents; court orders and official court documents; notices of utility disconnection or foreclosure; product recall notices; and documents related to hazardous materials transportation. All other commercial documents are covered by ESIGN.

How does Zignature document ESIGN consent?

Zignature presents an ESIGN consumer consent disclosure at the start of every signing session. The audit trail records when the disclosure was shown and acknowledged. This consent documentation is included in the Certificate of Completion and stored with the signed document — providing proof of consent in any dispute.

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