Intent to Sign
Intent to sign is the demonstrated willingness of a party to be bound by a document, and it is a prerequisite for any signature — electronic or handwritten — to be legally enforceable.
What it means
Under UETA and the ESIGN Act, an electronic signature must result from a deliberate act by the signer. Courts assess intent by examining the signing workflow: did the signer click a clearly labeled 'Sign' button? Were they informed of the consequences? Was there an option to decline? A well-designed signing ceremony provides strong evidence of intent.
Why it matters for e-signatures
SignOwl's signing UI is built around capturing clear intent: prominent action buttons, plain-language disclosures, and the ability to decline. Each of these elements is evidence if a signature is ever challenged in court.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
How does SignOwl capture proof of intent?
SignOwl records a timestamped event log showing when the signer viewed the document, accepted the electronic signature disclosure, and clicked the signature field, creating a clear record of intentional action.
Can intent be implied rather than explicit?
Courts have found implied intent in some cases, but explicit demonstrated intent — clicking a 'Sign' button after a disclosure — provides far stronger legal protection.
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