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Acknowledgement of E-Signature

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Acknowledgement of E-Signature

Parties and Agreement

This Acknowledgement of E-Signature (the "Acknowledgement") is entered into by and between ("Party A") and ("Party B"), collectively referred to as the "Parties", in relation to the agreement titled with an effective date of .

Recitals

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to enter into the underlying agreement described above and to specify their respective rights and obligations with respect to the use of electronic records and electronic signatures in connection with that agreement; and

WHEREAS, the Parties each wish to consent to and acknowledge that electronic signatures, electronic records, and electronic delivery of notices shall have the same force and effect as manual signatures and paper documents for all purposes under the underlying agreement and applicable law; and

WHEREAS, the Parties intend that this Acknowledgement govern the procedures, authentication, retention, and admissibility of electronic records and signatures associated with the underlying agreement.

Scope of Work

Electronic Signature Consent and Authentication

Each Party hereby expressly consents to the use of electronic signatures, electronic records, and electronic delivery for all documents, notices, and instruments delivered or executed in connection with the underlying agreement. The Parties agree that:

a) An electronic signature executed and delivered by a Party in any electronic form or method (including but not limited to digital signature, typed name, click-to-accept, or signature captured via an electronic signing platform) shall be deemed to have the same legal effect as a handwritten signature and shall be binding upon such Party.

b) The Parties agree that authentication may be satisfied through agreed methods, including knowledge-based authentication, email verification, unique access codes, or other commercially reasonable identity-verification procedures. Agreed method(s) of authentication:

c) Each Party acknowledges receipt of the electronic records at the time of delivery to the email address or electronic system designated for that Party in this Acknowledgement or in the underlying agreement.

Payment Terms

Term and Termination

This Acknowledgement shall commence on the Term Start Date and continue until the Term End Date unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section. Term Start Date: .

Term End Date: .

Either Party may terminate this Acknowledgement for material breach of the underlying agreement or for material violation of the electronic signature procedures after providing the notice period set forth above and a reasonable opportunity to cure.

Confidentiality

The Parties acknowledge that electronic transmission of information may involve confidential information. Each Party shall maintain the confidentiality of electronic records and shall implement commercially reasonable administrative, technical, and physical safeguards to protect such records from unauthorized access, alteration, or disclosure. Confidential information does not include information that: (i) is or becomes publicly available other than through a breach of this Acknowledgement; (ii) was lawfully in the receiving Party's possession prior to receipt from the disclosing Party; or (iii) is rightfully received from a third party without restriction and without a breach of confidentiality.

Notices

Governing Law and Entire Agreement

This Acknowledgement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state identified below without regard to conflict of law principles. Governing state:

This Acknowledgement, together with the underlying agreement, constitutes the entire agreement between the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, and communications relating thereto. Any amendment or modification of this Acknowledgement must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both Parties.

Miscellaneous Provisions

If any provision of this Acknowledgement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. The Parties agree to cooperate in good faith to replace any invalid provision with a valid provision that reflects the Parties' original intent to the maximum extent permitted by law.

I acknowledge receipt of this Acknowledgement and consent to the use of electronic signatures and electronic delivery of documents described herein.

By selecting this box, the Party elects to waive any right to receive paper versions of documents governed by this Acknowledgement to the extent permitted by law.

Signatures

The Parties have caused this Acknowledgement to be duly executed. Each signature below may be executed electronically and each electronic signature is intended to authenticate this instrument and to have the same force and effect as an original handwritten signature.

Party A - Printed Name:

By (Signature):

Date:

Party B - Printed Name:

By (Signature):

Date:

Enter text✕

What an Acknowledgement of E-Signature Is

An Acknowledgement of E-Signature is a brief written statement attached to a contract or record that documents a party's use of an electronic signature method and confirms the signing event. It typically records the signer's name, the date and time of signing, the technology or platform used, and a statement that the signer consents to electronic execution and receipt of the record. This document provides evidentiary support for intent, attribution, and retention when relying on ESIGN and state e‑signature statutes in interstate and intrastate transactions.

Why an Acknowledgement of E-Signature Matters

Use an acknowledgement to document signer intent, record consent to electronic transactions, and create an auditable trace that supports enforceability under ESIGN (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state e‑signature law.

Why an Acknowledgement of E-Signature Matters

Who Typically Prepares and Signs This Acknowledgement

Organizations and individuals attach an acknowledgement when electronic signatures are used on contracts, consent forms, or government-facing records to strengthen evidentiary posture.

  • Businesses and legal teams using e‑contracts for sales, procurement, or HR approvals.
  • Healthcare providers and billing teams when collecting patient consent alongside electronic health records.
  • Real estate brokers and title agents documenting remote or mobile signing events.

Use the acknowledgement consistently in your workflow to reduce disputes about consent and attribution and to document the signing method and date for audit purposes.

Core Elements a Professional Acknowledgement Should Include

A concise acknowledgement balances clarity and admissibility: include identity details, method of signing, explicit consent language, timestamp data, platform reference, and retention statement. Each element supports one of the ESIGN validity factors: intent, consent, attribution, and record retention.

Signer Identity

Full printed name of the signer and any corporate title if signing on behalf of an entity, matching government ID or corporate registry entries where applicable to reduce ambiguity in attribution.

Signature Method

A short description of the method used (typed name, click-to-sign, image overlay, or PKI digital signature) so reviewers can assess the evidentiary strength of the signing event.

Date and Time

Timestamp in MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM (time zone) format recorded at the moment of signature to establish chronology and tie the event to logs or audit trails.

Consent Statement

Clear language that the signer agreed to execute the document electronically and received any required ESIGN consumer disclosures when the transaction is consumer-facing.

Platform Reference

Name of the eSignature service or method used and a brief note that an audit trail or certificate of completion is available for verification purposes.

Retention Notice

A short statement describing where the signed record will be stored and for how long, tied to internal retention policies or applicable statutes to satisfy reproducibility requirements.

Security and Compliance Details to Record

Encryption: AES-256 at rest
Transport: TLS 1.2/1.3
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001
Healthcare: HIPAA (BAA required)
FDA Records: 21 CFR Part 11 support
Accessibility: WCAG 2.0 Level AA

Step-by-Step: Completing the Acknowledgement

Follow these ordered steps to create and attach a clear Acknowledgement of E-Signature to any electronically signed record.

  • 01
    Prepare Document: Attach the acknowledgement as a cover page or appendix.
  • 02
    Populate Fields: Enter signer name, method, email, and timestamp.
  • 03
    Obtain Consent: Include the ESIGN consumer disclosure when required.
  • 04
    Store Record: Save signed file plus audit trail in retention repository.

How to Configure an Online Workflow for the Acknowledgement

Configure the eSignature workflow to collect acknowledgement fields, capture audit data, and automate storage so each signing event is complete and reproducible.

Field Configuration
Signer Name Field Required; prefill from account where possible
Timestamp Field Auto-populate with server timestamp
Consent Checkbox Require affirmative click for consumer transactions
Audit Attachment Attach certificate of completion to final PDF

Where the Acknowledgement Fits in the Submission Flow

Map the acknowledgement into your signing flow so it is visible to the signer and stored together with the signed record for later retrieval.

  • Upload: Add acknowledgement to package before sending
  • Sign: Signer completes document and acknowledgement
  • Attach Audit: System bundles audit trail with PDF
  • Archive: Store combined package in records system

Technical and Distribution Considerations

Choose a platform that captures timestamps, IP addresses, and a certificate of completion, and that supports secure export to your records system.

  • Integrations: CRM, ERP, cloud storage
  • Formats: PDF, DOCX export supported
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, or advanced methods

Ensure chosen tools meet your compliance needs (HIPAA, 21 CFR Part 11, ESIGN/UETA) and provide a searchable archive for audit and legal preservation.

Timing and Recordkeeping Expectations

While acknowledgements are created at the time of signing, several time-sensitive obligations and retention actions follow from the signature event.

Provide Consent Disclosure:

When consumer-facing, present before signing per 15 U.S.C. §7001(c)

Immediate Timestamping:

Record time at signature to ensure event chronology

Retention Start:

Retention begins on the execution date

Record Access:

Make signed copy available promptly on request

Audit Trail Storage:

Keep certificate and logs with the signed record

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing an Acknowledgement

  • Failing to include a clear consent statement for consumer transactions that triggers ESIGN disclosure requirements and undermines enforceability.
  • Recording inconsistent names or titles between the contract and the acknowledgement, which increases the risk of identity disputes.
  • Omitting the platform or method used to sign, leaving investigators without a technical trail to corroborate the event.
  • Storing the certificate of completion separately from the signed PDF so that later retrieval requires cross-referencing multiple systems.

Risks and Potential Consequences of an Incomplete Acknowledgement

Enforceability Risk: Court may question signature validity
Tax Penalties: Incorrect records may trigger IRS penalties
HIPAA Violations: Missing BAA or controls can lead to fines
Contract Disputes: Disputed consent can delay performance
Regulatory Audit: Insufficient logs hinder compliance reviews
Operational Delay: Additional verification increases cycle time

Electronic Signature vs. Digital Signature — Key Differences

Compare the broad legal concept of an electronic signature with the narrower cryptographic construct of a digital signature and note implications for evidentiary strength.

Criteria Electronic Signature Digital Signature
Definition broad legal category pki cryptographic subset
Legal Status legally valid under esign legally valid with pki
Technology varied methods used certificate-based signing
Non-repudiation relies on audit trail strong cryptographic proof

eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison

Basic plan and capability comparisons for common eSignature vendors. Use these rows to evaluate starting cost, trials, bulk send availability, audit trails, HIPAA support, and envelope caps.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day free trial Free trial available Free trial available Free trial available Free trial available
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes No
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Frequently Asked Questions — Acknowledgement of E-Signature

Answers to common questions about completing, validating, and storing an Acknowledgement of E-Signature.


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