2-minute read Updated on June 10, 2021 Published on May 13, 2021

Does typing your name on a document count as a legally binding signature? We have the answers you’re looking for.

Back in the day, there was one way to sign a document: by putting pen to paper. Today, things have changed, and knowing when a document is properly signed can be confusing. One question we see a lot is: are typed signatures considered “legal?” In a word, yes, but there’re more to it than that. Read on to learn why.

Will typed signatures hold up in court?

Most eSignature solutions, including ours, allow users to draw or create a stylized signature that looks handwritten. Users then add it to the documents they need to sign. Signing this way seems to make all parties feel secure, combining the old (handwritten signatures) with the new (electronic documents and forms). But signatures don’t have to look like handwriting to hold up in court.

According to the definition provided in the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce (E-Sign Act), the federal law that regulates electronic signatures in nearly all 50 states, an eSignature is an electronic sound, symbol, or process, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record. This is a very legal way of saying that an eSignature can take a variety of forms, provided it meets certain criteria. These include:

  • A name typed at the end of an email
  • A name or initials typed into a field on a webpage or electronic form
  • A checkbox or radio button corresponding to a phrase such as “I Agree” or “I Accept” for terms and conditions on an e-commerce site
  • A signature drawn on a screen using a finger or stylus
  • A signature created using an electronic signature solution

So, typed signatures are legally binding, as long as the other E-Sign Act requirements, which we covered in a previous blog post, are followed.

An eSignature solution for peace of mind

That said, why let there be any doubt about the validity of your electronic signatures when you can rely on the best eSignature solution in the industry? With Constellation1 eSign, you can sign and send documents with complete confidence. Our eSignature solution is secure, trustworthy, and lets you apply non-repudiable signatures to your important documents and send documents for signature from anywhere using your smart devices.

The best electronic signature for any industry

Do you have specific questions about whether eSign will stand up to the electronic signature requirements in your industry?

Get in touch and our dedicated eSignature team will be happy to tell you about our industry-leading features in greater detail.

You can read our previous post on the legality of eSignatures here.

Constellation1 eSign Security and Legal Overview

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Disclaimer: The Constellation1 team are not lawyers and this blog post does not constitute legal advice.