Electronic signatures in United States
Any form of electronic signature can be legally valid. Evidential weight is decided case by case on the facts.
Are electronic signatures legal in United States?
Yes. Electronic signatures are broadly valid and enforceable across federal and state law.
Recognised signature types
| Type | Standing and typical use |
|---|---|
| Simple electronic signature | Valid for most commercial and employment agreements |
| Verified signature | Used where identity assurance matters commercially |
| Certificate-based | Used in regulated filings and some federal contexts |
Commonly signed electronically
- Employment and contractor agreements
- Sales contracts, NDAs and service agreements
- Procurement and supplier documents
- Consumer agreements, subject to disclosure rules
Generally excluded
- Wills, codicils and testamentary trusts
- Family law matters including divorce and adoption
- Court orders and official court documents
- Certain notices such as utility termination, foreclosure and eviction
- Some Uniform Commercial Code categories
Exclusions differ in detail. Docsliy blocks these at the drafting step rather than producing a document that fails later.
Local formalities
No stamp duty on general commercial contracts. Consumer transactions have specific consent and disclosure requirements under ESIGN.
Identity verification
No national identity scheme for signing. Identity is established commercially, typically by document and liveness verification.
What Docsliy supports in United States
- Simple and verified signature tiers
- US clause libraries for employment and commercial agreements
- State-aware handling where requirements differ
This is general information, not legal advice.
It describes how electronic signature law generally operates in United States and is not advice on any specific agreement. Agreements carrying significant risk should be reviewed by qualified local counsel.