United States

Yes.

In the United States, there are two acts designed to validate electronic signatures: ESIGN and UETA. Both acts define an electronic signature as “any electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a record and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record.”

• Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN) can be accessed here.
• There is a uniform state law, the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), which can be accessed here. UETA governs electronic signatures at the state level and is in effect with slight variations in 49 states. New York has an electronic signature act similar in most respects to UETA.

The key requirements for an electronic signature to be recognized as valid under U.S. law include:

• Intent to sign: As with handwritten signatures, electronic signatures are valid only if each party intended to sign.
• Consent to do business electronically: The parties to the transaction must consent to do business electronically.
• Association of signature with the record: In order to qualify as an e-signature under ESIGN and UETA, the system used to capture the transaction must keep an associated record.
• Record retention: U.S. laws on e-signatures require that electronic signature records be capable of retention and accurate reproduction for reference by all parties or persons entitled to retain the contract or record.

Cases:

In Barwick v. GEICO 1, the Arkansas Supreme Court held that an electronic signature on an electronically generated record met the requirement of the Arkansas insurance statute requirement that a rejection of no-fault coverage must be in writing.

In Newton v. American Debt Services, Inc.2 the federal court in California, citing ESIGN, found that the plaintiff was bound by a contract executed using an electronic signature. The court went on to refuse to enforce the arbitration clause on the grounds of unconscionability.

Yes.

ESIGN and UETA's recognition of the validity of electronic signatures does not apply to the following types of documents: 

• Wills, codicils, and testamentary trusts
• Adoption, divorce, and family law documents
• Court orders, notices, and official court documents
• Cancellation/termination of life or health insurance benefits
• Product recalls
• Transportation of hazardous materials

Each state may also add additional documents where an electronic signature would not be recognized. 
 

No.

Local laws do not govern use of digital certificates.

Qualified Electronic Signatures are not required. Both ESIGN and UETA are technology-neutral in their approach to the validity of electronic signatures.