UETA and ESIGN Act compliance

Last updated: September 01, 2026

Electronic signatures created with Clistahr are legally binding in the United States under both the federal ESIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA).

Under these laws, a contract, signature, or record can't be denied legal effect just because it's electronic. What counts is how the signature was captured and how the record is kept. Clistahr takes care of both, on the web and in the Clistahr mobile app.

How Clistahr meets each requirement

Both laws rest on the same core conditions. Here's what each one asks for, and what Clistahr does about it.

Consent

All parties agree to do business electronically.

Before signing, every recipient sees our electronic records and signature disclosure and must accept it to continue. They can decline, withdraw consent later, and ask the sender for a paper copy. The acceptance is recorded in the audit trail.

Intent to sign

The signer means to sign.

Signers take a clear, deliberate action: they draw, type, or upload their signature and confirm it. Clistahr never applies a signature on someone's behalf.

Association

The signature is tied to the record it signs.

Each signature is bound to the exact version of the document that was signed. The completed document is sealed, so any later change can be detected.

Retention

The record can be kept and accurately reproduced.

Completed documents are stored securely, and every party can download, print, or share them at any time.

Frequently asked questions

The ESIGN Act is a U.S. federal law enacted in 2000. It makes electronic signatures and records valid in interstate and international commerce, and sets consent and disclosure rules for transactions with consumers.

UETA is a model law that gives electronic records and signatures the same legal standing as paper within a state. It's been adopted by 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. New York, the only state that hasn't adopted it, recognizes electronic signatures under its own Electronic Signatures and Records Act.

Yes. Signatures captured with Clistahr meet the requirements of the ESIGN Act and UETA, so documents signed with Clistahr are valid and enforceable across the United States, as long as the document type isn't excluded by law.

Four conditions need to be met:

  • the signer intended to sign;
  • all parties agreed to transact electronically;
  • the signature is logically associated with the signed record;
  • the record is kept in a form that can be accurately reproduced later.

Clistahr's signing flow is built around all four.

A few. Both laws exclude wills, codicils, and testamentary trusts; certain family law matters such as adoption and divorce; court orders and official court documents; and some notices, including utility shut-offs, foreclosure or eviction, cancellation of health or life insurance, and product recalls.

Rules can also differ from state to state, so check with legal counsel for these cases.

Yes. Signatures made in the Clistahr mobile app go through the same consent, signing, and audit trail steps as signatures made on the web.

Every completed document comes with a certificate of completion that includes the full audit trail. It shows who signed, when, and how, and can be used as evidence.

See also: Data Residency · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

This page is for general information only and isn't legal advice. For questions about a specific transaction, talk to a qualified attorney.