E-Signature

 

Electronit Signature - With Electronic Software (Adobe Acrobat DC) with Step by Step Illustration

Electronic Signature - Without E-Signature Software

Agreements such as affiliation agreements, internship agreements, standard service provider agreements, exhibition agreements, most commercial agreements, and even FERPA (education records) releases are valid when signed electronically (e-signatures).  The Michigan's Uniform Electronic Transaction Act (UETA) allows parties to conduct transactions electronically, and gives full legal effect to e-signatures if certain requirements are met.

Agreements, such as those listed, are enforceable with e-signatures if the following requirements are met:

1. The parties must agree to conduct the transaction by electronic means, and
2. Both parties are able to retain a copy of the transaction.

If you want to electronically sign an agreement without an e-signature provision it is recommended you add the following paragraphs prior to the signature line.

E-Signature.

The parties hereby agree that this Agreement may be executed with electronic signatures and shall be valid and binding on the parties.

After each signature you should add:

___ I agree.  By checking the box, I agree and certify that my printed signature is my signature and I agree to conduct this transaction electronically.

There are other ways to have a valid e-signature including using commercial software, but the above example will work.  The statue actually defines an e-signature as, "an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with a (contract, agreement) record and executed or adopted by a person with intent to sign the record.

Authentication of e-signature is important.  If there are questions about the authenticity of an e-signature, additional verification steps should be taken.  This may include confirmation through an identifiable email address or other methods of verifying the signer's identity such as sending using encryption.