UETA
The model state law that puts electronic records on equal footing with paper — adopted almost everywhere, and the perfect partner to the federal ESIGN Act.
UETA — the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, published in 1999 — is a model law that states adopt to give electronic records and signatures the same legal effect as paper and ink. Nearly every U.S. state has adopted it; New York and Illinois have their own equivalent statutes. Together with the federal ESIGN Act, UETA makes electronic signatures valid nationwide.
This is general information, not legal advice.
What UETA does
UETA settles a simple question: does going electronic change whether an agreement counts? Its answer is no. If a transaction would be valid on paper, it's valid in electronic form too, as long as the parties agreed to do business electronically. The act is deliberately technology-neutral— it doesn't pick winners among signing methods or vendors, so a typed name, a drawn signature, or a click can all qualify.
Because it's a uniform act, each state passes its own version. That keeps the rules consistent from state to state, which matters when a contract crosses state lines — your customer in one state, your business in another.
UETA's core principles
A handful of rules do all the work. They're refreshingly readable.
A record isn't invalid just because it's electronic
UETA's core rule: you can't deny a record or signature legal effect simply because it's in electronic form.
An e-signature satisfies a 'signature' requirement
Where a law calls for a signature, an electronic signature meets it. Where it calls for a writing, an electronic record meets it.
It only applies when both parties agree
UETA covers transactions where the parties have agreed to conduct business electronically — agreement that can be shown by the context and conduct.
Attribution comes from the facts
A signature is attributed to a person if it was their act — proven by any evidence, including the security procedures and logs around the signing.
UETA + ESIGN: belt and suspenders
People sometimes ask which law governs their signature — and the honest answer is usually “both, working together.” Here's the division of labor:
- UETAis the state-level rulebook, adopted by nearly every state, that makes e-records and e-signatures valid in that state's law.
- ESIGNis the federal statute that backs the same principle nationally and fills the gap where a state hasn't adopted UETA consistently.
- The result: ESIGN (federal) + UETA (state) = valid nationwide.
Both laws share the same exception list — wills, certain court and family-law documents, and a few specific notices may still require paper. For everything else, your e-signature carries the same weight as a wet one.
Technology-neutral, by design
UETA doesn't lock you to a vendor. Use the $3/month tool that works for you — the law cares about intent and attribution, not your invoice.
Attribution you can prove
Our audit trail logs the security procedures, timestamps, and verification UETA looks to when attributing a signature to a person.
UETA FAQ
The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act is a model law published in 1999 by the Uniform Law Commission. It gives electronic records and electronic signatures the same legal effect as their paper counterparts. It's a 'uniform' act, meaning states adopt it individually to keep their laws consistent — and the great majority have.
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