Is a signature on an iPad legally binding?

A visitor walks up to a tablet at the front desk, draws a name with a finger and taps Agree. Weeks later, the business needs that signature to mean something. Does it?

The short version is that the law has settled the medium. A screen is not a weaker place to sign than paper. What is still open in a dispute is whether you can show who signed, what they saw and when. This guide covers both.

What does federal law say about electronic signatures?

The ESIGN Act, at 15 U.S.C. 7001, says a signature, contract or other record about a transaction in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce may not be denied legal effect, validity or enforceability solely because it is in electronic form. It says the same for a contract formed with an electronic signature or record.

The law also defines the term. An electronic signature is an electronic sound, symbol or process, attached to or logically associated with a contract or other record, and executed or adopted by a person with the intent to sign the record (15 U.S.C. 7006). A drawn mark, a typed name and a clicked button can all fit that description.

Does a finger-drawn signature on an iPad count?

It can. The key words in the definition are "with the intent to sign." A person who draws a name on a screen under a plain line that says they are agreeing to the document is showing that intent. A person who taps through a screen they never saw is on weaker ground. Make the signing step obvious and say what it means in words.

What is UETA, and how does it fit with ESIGN?

UETA is the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, a model law that the Uniform Law Commission publishes for states to adopt. ESIGN sets the national floor, and its section 7002 says when a state's own rule may differ. The first route it names is a state's enactment of UETA as approved in 1999.

States enact their own versions, so read yours. Minnesota's is a fair example. Section 325L.07 says a record or signature may not be denied legal effect solely because it is electronic, and that where a law requires a signature, an electronic signature satisfies it. Section 325L.09 says an electronic signature is attributable to a person if it was the act of the person, and that this may be shown in any manner, including by the efficacy of any security procedure.

What does ESIGN leave out?

Section 7003 lists documents ESIGN's general rule does not cover. They include wills and testamentary trusts, adoption, divorce and other family law matters, parts of the Uniform Commercial Code, court orders and official court documents, and certain notices. Those notices cover utility shutoffs, default or eviction on a primary residence, cancellation of health or life insurance, and product recalls.

A visitor sign-in, a visitor NDA, a liability waiver and a photo release are not on that list. A state's own law can still add rules about a specific kind of document, so a short check with a lawyer is worth it for a high-stakes one.

What helps prove who signed on a shared iPad?

The statutes say attribution can be shown in any manner. The practical question is what you could show if someone said, "That was not me." These habits help, and none of them is a legal requirement:

• Have each visitor type their own name and contact details before signing, rather than letting a staff member enter them.
• Put an explicit agreement line next to the button, such as "By tapping Sign, I agree to the terms above."
• Keep a record of the time and of the exact version of the document that was shown.
• Give the signer a copy right away, by email or by a download they can keep.
• Note who was at the desk, and use the same steps for every visitor.

Where a law requires a record to be kept, ESIGN's retention rule (7001(d)) asks that the electronic copy accurately reflect the information and stay accessible, in a form that can be accurately reproduced later. Storing the signed PDF with its date in a clear place does that job.

Does anyone have to accept an electronic signature?

No. ESIGN says it does not require any person to agree to use or accept electronic signatures or records (7001(b)(2)). A visitor who prefers paper can ask for it. Separate consumer-consent steps in 7001(c) apply when some other law requires information to be given to a consumer in writing, which is not the case for most visitor paperwork.

How can I collect signatures on a PDF?

You can sign a PDF yourself with Sign PDF, or fill in a form and sign it with Fill and Sign PDF. Both run in your browser. To keep a signed copy private, add a password with Protect PDF. Sending a document out for someone else to sign is included in Pro: see Request Signatures.

If you also use a nondisclosure agreement, see the mutual NDA template. For the visitor list itself, there is a printable sign in sheet. More on the law around visitor paperwork: Can a company require visitors to sign an NDA?, Can a parent sign a waiver for a child?, Do I need a photo release for event photos? and Are liability waivers enforceable?

Sources

• ESIGN Act, 15 U.S.C. 7001 (general rule of validity): govinfo.gov, read October 30, 2026.
• 15 U.S.C. 7002 (exemption to preemption): govinfo.gov, read October 30, 2026.
• 15 U.S.C. 7003 (specific exceptions): govinfo.gov, read October 30, 2026.
• 15 U.S.C. 7006 (definitions): govinfo.gov, read October 30, 2026.
• Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, Uniform Law Commission, read October 30, 2026.
• Minnesota Statutes sections 325L.07 and 325L.09, Office of the Revisor of Statutes, read October 30, 2026.

This is general information, not legal advice. Rules differ by state, so ask a lawyer about your situation. Last reviewed October 30, 2026.