Legal Compliance
Electronic signatures created in Propper Sign are legally valid under major international standards. This page explains which laws apply, how Propper Sign satisfies them, and what to keep in mind for specific industries.
This page is informational and is not legal advice. For questions specific to your situation, consult a qualified attorney.
Supported Standards
| Standard | Region | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| ESIGN Act | United States | Federal legal recognition of electronic signatures for commerce |
| UETA | United States (47 states) | State-level recognition of electronic signatures and records |
| eIDAS | European Union | Electronic identification and trust services across EU member states |
Propper Sign's audit records also satisfy requirements in Canada (PIPEDA), the UK (Electronic Communications Act 2000), Australia (Electronic Transactions Act 1999), and India (Information Technology Act 2000).
How Propper Sign Satisfies These Requirements
For a signature to be legally valid, electronic signature laws require a few core things: clear intent to sign, consent to conduct business electronically, verified identity, and a tamper-evident record of the process.
Propper Sign handles all of these automatically:
- Intent to sign, signers click an explicit Sign button and see a confirmation before submitting
- Consent, signers accept an electronic signature disclosure before accessing the document; acceptance is timestamped and recorded
- Identity verification, recipients verify their identity before signing, using whichever method you configure
- Audit record, every action is recorded in a tamper-evident audit trail and included in the completion certificate
eIDAS Signature Levels
eIDAS defines three levels of electronic signature. Propper Sign currently supports the first level:
| Level | Description | Propper Sign |
|---|---|---|
| SES (Simple Electronic Signature) | Legally recognized basic e-signature | ✓ Supported |
| AdES (Advanced Electronic Signature) | Stronger identification requirements | Not currently supported |
| QES (Qualified Electronic Signature) | Highest level, requires certified hardware | Planned |
For most business agreements, SES is sufficient. If your industry or jurisdiction requires AdES or QES, contact us to discuss your requirements.
Industry Considerations
Healthcare
HIPAA doesn't specifically require or prohibit electronic signatures. Propper Sign supports compliant healthcare workflows through encrypted storage and transmission, tamper-evident audit trails, and access controls. A Business Associate Agreement (BAA) is available, contact support for details.
Financial Services
Electronic signatures are widely accepted in financial services. Propper Sign's strong authentication options and comprehensive audit trail support the identity verification and record-keeping requirements common in this sector.
Real Estate
Electronic signatures are recognized in most US states for real estate transactions. A few things to note:
- Some states require specific disclosure language in the signing flow
- Electronic signatures don't remove notarization requirements, if a document must be notarized, a notary is still required
- Check your state's rules for recorded documents, as some jurisdictions still require original signatures for recording
Best Practices
Match authentication strength to the document's risk:
| Risk level | Example documents | Recommended method |
|---|---|---|
| Low | Internal approvals, routine forms | Email link (default) |
| Medium | Contracts, NDAs | Email + access code |
| High | Financial agreements, regulated documents | Access code or SMS |
Follow applicable retention guidelines, keep signed documents for as long as the law or your organization's policy requires. Common guidance (not legal advice):
| Document type | Common retention period |
|---|---|
| Employment documents | 7+ years |
| Contracts | Duration + 7 years |
| Financial records | 7 years |
Consult your legal or compliance team for the requirements that apply to your specific documents and jurisdiction.
Common Questions
Are electronic signatures legally binding? Yes, in most countries. The ESIGN Act, UETA, eIDAS, and equivalent laws in other jurisdictions give electronic signatures the same legal weight as handwritten signatures.
Can I use electronic signatures for any document? Most documents, yes. Some jurisdictions carve out exceptions, common ones include wills, adoption papers, and certain court documents. Check the laws in your jurisdiction for a complete list.
What if someone disputes a signature? The audit trail and completion certificate provide the evidence needed: IP addresses, timestamps, authentication records, and device information. See Evidence Collection for a full breakdown.
Do I need notarization? Only if the document itself requires it. Electronic signatures don't eliminate notarization requirements.
What authentication level is appropriate? It depends on the document's risk level. Email verification is sufficient for most standard business agreements. See Identity Verification for guidance on higher-risk documents.
Related Topics
- Identity Verification: configure how recipients verify their identity
- Audit Trail: the tamper-evident signing record
- Evidence Collection: what data is captured and why
- Completion Certificate: the downloadable PDF proof of signing
- Document Validity & Trust: how to present signed documents as official evidence