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Are electronic signatures legally binding?

Last updated: June 2026

In most cases, yes. Across the United States, the European Union, and most other jurisdictions, a drawn or typed electronic signature carries the same legal weight as a pen-and-ink signature for the vast majority of everyday documents — contracts, leases, invoices, consent forms, offer letters, and NDAs.

United States: the ESIGN Act and UETA

The federal ESIGN Act (Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, 2000) provides that a signature may not be denied legal effect solely because it is in electronic form. The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), adopted by 49 states, establishes the same principle at the state level. Together they make an electronic signature valid wherever the signer intended to sign and consented to do business electronically.

European Union: eIDAS

The eIDAS regulation (EU 910/2014) recognizes three tiers of electronic signature. A drawn or typed signature is a simple electronic signature, which cannot be denied legal admissibility merely for being electronic. Some transactions (e.g., certain public-sector filings) require advanced or qualified signatures issued through certified providers — SwiftlyPDF produces simple electronic signatures.

When a drawn signature may not be enough

For anything in those categories, check the rules of your jurisdiction before relying on any electronic signature tool.

How SwiftlyPDF handles your documents

SwiftlyPDF runs entirely in your browser. Documents you sign, merge, split, compress, or rotate are never uploaded, stored, or transmitted — all processing happens locally on your device, and closing the tab removes everything except signatures you explicitly chose to save (which are stored only in your own browser's local storage).

This page is general information, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by jurisdiction; consult a licensed attorney for advice about your specific situation.