Consent to Electronic Process
Consent to electronic process is a signer's affirmative agreement to conduct a specific transaction using electronic records and signatures rather than paper documents.
What it means
The ESIGN Act requires that signers be informed of their right to receive paper copies and must affirmatively consent before electronic records carry legal weight. This consent can be obtained in the same electronic transaction and must disclose how the signer can withdraw consent, hardware and software requirements, and how to request paper documents.
Why it matters for e-signatures
SignOwl presents a consent disclosure at the start of every signing session. Capturing and logging this consent is essential — without it, the entire signature workflow may be legally unenforceable under federal law.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Does consent need to be re-obtained for every document?
Under ESIGN, consent can be obtained once for an ongoing relationship, but some interpretations recommend renewing consent for significant new transaction types.
What happens if a signer withdraws consent?
If a signer withdraws consent before signing, the transaction must revert to paper. SignOwl allows signers to decline and notifies the document sender.
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