UETA
The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) is a U.S. model law enacted in 1999 that grants electronic records and signatures the same legal effect as their paper and handwritten counterparts.
What it means
UETA has been adopted by 49 U.S. states and establishes that a contract or signature cannot be denied legal effect solely because it is in electronic form. The law applies to transactions between parties who have agreed to conduct business electronically. It works alongside the federal ESIGN Act to create a consistent legal framework across the country.
Why it matters for e-signatures
UETA is the foundational state law that makes your e-signed documents enforceable in court. When you send a document for signature through SignOwl, UETA compliance ensures that agreement is legally binding in virtually every U.S. state.
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Is UETA a federal law?
No. UETA is a model state law proposed by the Uniform Law Commission and adopted by individual states. The federal equivalent is the ESIGN Act, which fills gaps in states that have not adopted UETA.
Does UETA apply to all types of contracts?
Most commercial contracts are covered, but UETA explicitly excludes wills, codicils, and testamentary trusts, as well as certain family law documents like adoption and divorce agreements.
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