How does iContract create agreements?

iContract offers fixed agreement templates that use the facts you provide and do not require AI. For specialty agreements without a fixed template, iContract can offer clearly labeled optional AI-assisted drafting.

Does iContract guarantee that an agreement is enforceable?

No. iContract is software, not a law firm, and it does not provide legal advice or guarantee that any agreement is valid or enforceable in a particular jurisdiction. Consider qualified legal review for high-stakes or jurisdiction-specific matters.

How much does a contract generator cost?

iContract offers a free tier for basic contract generation. Premium plans start at affordable rates for unlimited contracts, e-signatures, and advanced features like risk scanning and compliance monitoring.

What is an Electronic Signature? Complete Guide

Everything you need to know about e-signatures: legal validity, types, and how to use them.

Published 2026-04-15 · 9 min

Definition

An electronic signature (e-signature) is any electronic process that indicates intent to sign and is associated with a specific record. This includes typed names, drawn signatures on a touchscreen, clicked 'I Agree' buttons, and uploaded scanned signatures.

Legal Validity

E-signatures are legally binding in the US under the ESIGN Act of 2000 and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), adopted by 49 states. Internationally, they're recognized under eIDAS in the EU, PIPEDA in Canada, the Electronic Communications Act in the UK, and equivalents in 60+ countries.

Types of E-Signatures

What Makes E-Signatures Enforceable

Four elements must be present: (1) intent to sign, (2) consent to do business electronically, (3) association of signature with record, (4) record retention. Reputable e-signature platforms (iContract, DocuSign, Adobe Sign) handle all four automatically through audit trails.

Choosing an E-Signature Platform

Key features to look for: legal compliance (ESIGN, UETA, eIDAS), audit trail (timestamp, IP, device info), multi-party signing (sequential or parallel), mobile support, template library, API access for integrations, storage of signed documents. iContract offers all of these in a free tier; DocuSign and Adobe Sign offer them in paid tiers ($10-65/month).

FAQ

Are e-signatures as legal as wet signatures?

Yes, in nearly all cases. The ESIGN Act explicitly states e-signatures cannot be denied legal effect solely because they're electronic. Exceptions: some wills, divorce decrees, and specific real estate deeds in certain states.

Do I need a special platform to use e-signatures?

Strongly recommended. Platforms like iContract create the audit trail courts require: timestamp, IP address, signer authentication, document hash. A typed name in a Word doc is technically an e-signature, but the missing audit trail makes it hard to enforce.

Can I use a typed name as an e-signature?

Yes — it's legally valid under ESIGN. For higher-value contracts, use a drawn signature on a touchscreen or a platform that adds verification (email confirmation, SMS code, etc.).

Get unlimited free e-signatures

Generate, sign, and store contracts with full audit trails. Free forever. Start free →