Electronic signatures and the law

Documents are signed in Pagyra under the U.S. Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) as adopted by each state, which give electronic signatures the same legal effect as handwritten ones for most agreements.

Outside the United States, these are simple electronic signatures. They can be used for most contracts in the EU and the UK, but they are not qualified electronic signatures, and some documents need more.

Before signing, each signer agrees to sign electronically and can read what that means: it covers that document only, they can ask for a paper copy, and they can withdraw their consent before they sign.

Documents that can’t be sent

Some documents must be signed on paper, or in front of a notary or witness. They can’t be sent for signature in Pagyra:

• Wills, codicils and trusts.
• Powers of attorney, health care proxies, medical directives and DNR consents.
• Adoption, divorce and other family law documents.
• Court documents.
• Notices of default, foreclosure, eviction, repossession or utility cut-off.
• Notices cancelling health or life insurance.
• Product recalls and documents that go with hazardous materials.
• Checks, promissory notes and other negotiable instruments, and documents of title.
• Anything that needs a notary or a witness in person.

If Pagyra recognizes one of these, it won’t send it. You can send contracts and agreements, NDAs, offer letters, leases, consent forms, purchase orders and policy acknowledgements.

What Pagyra does and doesn’t do

Pagyra sends each signer their own link, can add an access code, and keeps a record of every step. It doesn’t check signers’ identity, it isn’t a party to your documents, and it doesn’t give legal advice. You are responsible for what you send. If you aren’t sure a document can be signed electronically, ask a lawyer.