Electronic Signature in California
Under California Civil Code § 1633.7 — the operative section of the California Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) — an electronic signature has the same legal effect as a handwritten one, and an electronic record satisfies any law that requires a writing. The federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. § 7001) applies alongside it. The signature must show intent to sign, the parties must consent to do business electronically, and the signed record must be retainable and reproducible.
Last reviewed against current law: 2026-08-30
How California law treats electronic signature
Civil Code § 1633.7 provides that "a record or signature may not be denied legal effect or enforceability solely because it is in electronic form" and that "if a law requires a record to be in writing, an electronic record satisfies the law." The UETA applies to transactions where parties have agreed to conduct business electronically — explicit or implied from the circumstances.
Statutory exclusions exist. Civil Code § 1633.3 excludes wills, codicils, testamentary trusts, family-law matters governed by certain Family Code provisions, and a handful of consumer-protection statutes from UETA coverage. Real estate transactions are covered, but California's recording statutes require additional steps to record electronically-signed deeds.
For commercial contracts, click-to-sign and typed-name e-signatures are generally valid provided there is evidence of intent and association of the signature with the record. Courts in California also accept signatures made on platforms like DocuSign and HelloSign as a matter of routine.
Primary sources
- California Civil Code § 1633.7 (official text)
- California Civil Code § 1633.1 et seq. (UETA)
- Federal ESIGN Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001
Frequently asked questions — California
Are typed-name signatures valid in California?▾
Yes, as long as the typed name is associated with the record, the typer intended to sign, and the parties consented to do business electronically. The UETA does not require any specific signing method — only intent plus association.
What is excluded from UETA in California?▾
Wills, codicils, testamentary trusts, certain family-law matters, and a handful of consumer-protection statutes (e.g., specific Civil Code notices for utility shut-offs).
Do California courts accept DocuSign signatures?▾
Yes. California courts routinely accept platform-mediated electronic signatures from DocuSign, Adobe Sign, HelloSign, and similar services, treating them as satisfying UETA and ESIGN.