Intent to sign
Signers take a clear, affirmative action — drawing or adopting a signature and confirming — so the intent to sign is unambiguous and recorded.
United States · Federal law
ESIGN Act compliant eSignatures
The federal ESIGN Act gives an electronic signature the same legal standing as a pen-and-ink one. BeeSign is built around the intent, consent, and record-keeping the Act requires — so your signed documents hold up.
What is the ESIGN Act?
The Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN), enacted in 2000, is the US federal law that makes electronic signatures and records legally valid across all 50 states and in interstate commerce. It establishes that a contract or signature "may not be denied legal effect, validity, or enforceability solely because it is in electronic form."
For a signature to qualify, ESIGN looks for a few things: the signer must intend to sign, the parties must consent to doing business electronically, the signature must be associated with the record, and the record must be retained in a form that can be accurately reproduced later.
How BeeSign meets ESIGN
Every BeeSign signature is designed to satisfy the four pillars the Act cares about.
Consent to do business electronically
Recipients agree to electronic signing before they sign, and the consent is captured in the audit trail alongside the electronic-signature disclosure.
Signature attribution
Each signature is bound to the signer through an email-verified link, with optional SMS OTP, authenticator TOTP, or full government-ID verification for higher assurance.
Record retention & integrity
The completed PDF is sealed with a digital signature and stored so it can be accurately reproduced. Any change after signing invalidates the seal, making tampering evident.
The evidence behind every ESIGN signature
- Timestamped audit trail of every send, view, and signature
- IP address captured for each signing event
- Certificate of completion summarizing all signers
- Consent and disclosure recorded before signing
- Tamper-evident digital seal on the final document
- Independent blockchain timestamp proof of when it was signed
Frequently asked questions
Are BeeSign signatures legally binding in the United States?
Yes. BeeSign signatures satisfy the requirements of the federal ESIGN Act and are legally binding in all 50 states, provided the transaction is one that the law permits to be conducted electronically.
What documents are excluded from ESIGN?
ESIGN carves out certain categories that generally still require paper — such as wills and testamentary trusts, some family-law documents, court orders, and specific notices like utility shut-offs or insurance cancellations. For everyday business agreements, ESIGN applies.
How does BeeSign prove a signature is valid if it is challenged?
Each completed document ships with a certificate of completion and a full audit trail — timestamps, IP addresses, and authentication events — plus a tamper-evident digital seal and an independent blockchain timestamp. That is the evidence a court looks for.
Does the signer need a BeeSign account?
No. Recipients sign through a secure, email-bound link with no account required. Their consent and signing actions are still fully recorded.
This page explains how BeeSign supports compliance with the ESIGN Act and is provided for general information — it is not legal advice. Consult your own counsel about your specific use case.
Related standards
Compliant from your first document
Every BeeSign plan includes legally binding signatures, tamper-evident audit trails, and a certificate of completion. Start your free trial today.