Are electronic signatures legally valid?

Yes. Under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, electronic signatures and records are legally effective if parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and reproducible record retention.

What makes an eSignature legally attributable?

Attribution requires evidence such as authenticated email, IP address, signer name, audit trail timestamps, or stronger authentication methods; retain the audit trail to support attribution if challenged.

Do I need a notary or witnesses?

Most commercial service agreements do not require notarization or witnesses. Specific clauses or state rules may require additional formalities for certain instruments; verify requirements before relying on notarization.

How do I amend an executed agreement?

Prepare a written amendment signed by authorized parties using the same execution standards as the original; include effective date and reference the original agreement to avoid ambiguity.

How should I store executed agreements?

Keep signed copies in secure, access-controlled storage with retention aligned to IRS (IRC §6501(a)) and any industry rules such as HIPAA (45 CFR §164.530(j)). Ensure you can reproduce records on request.

What if a signer lacks authority?

If an unauthorized signer executed the agreement, the contract may be voidable. Confirm signatory authority before performance and, where appropriate, obtain board or company officer confirmation.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Client Project Services Agreement

Client Project Services Agreement

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

CLIENT PROJECT SERVICES AGREEMENT

This Client Project Services Agreement (the Agreement) is entered into as of the Effective Date below by and between Client Name: with primary address at (Client), and Service Provider: with primary address at (Service Provider).

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Client desires to retain Service Provider to perform the services described in this Agreement for the project titled: ; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider has the qualifications, experience, and capacity to perform the services described in this Agreement and agrees to provide such services under the terms and conditions set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth their entire agreement regarding the scope of services, payment, confidentiality, and other matters in writing.

SCOPE OF WORK

Service Provider shall provide the services and deliverables described below. The scope may be modified only by written Change Order signed by both parties.

Detailed Description of Services

PAYMENT TERMS

Client shall pay Service Provider for the performance of the Services as follows.

Total Fee Deposit / Advance Payment (if any) Payment Schedule / Milestones

Invoices issued by Service Provider are due within days of receipt. Overdue amounts shall bear interest at a rate of per month (or the maximum permitted by law), calculated daily from the date due until paid in full. Client shall also reimburse Service Provider for reasonable collection costs, including attorney fees, incurred to collect overdue amounts.

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Agreement commences on Start Date: and continues until End Date: unless earlier terminated as provided herein.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon days' written notice to the other party. Either party may terminate immediately for material breach if the breaching party fails to cure within days after written notice of such breach. Upon termination, Client shall pay Service Provider for all Services performed and reasonable non-cancellable commitments made through the effective date of termination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

"Confidential Information" means all non-public business, technical, financial, or other information disclosed by one party to the other that is identified as confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential. Each party agrees to: (a) hold Confidential Information in strict confidence and not disclose it to third parties except as authorized in writing; (b) use Confidential Information only to perform obligations under this Agreement; and (c) take reasonable measures to protect Confidential Information no less stringent than those used to protect its own confidential materials. Confidentiality obligations shall not apply to information that: (i) is or becomes publicly available through no fault of the receiving party; (ii) was lawfully known to the receiving party prior to disclosure; (iii) is rightfully received from a third party without restriction; or (iv) is independently developed by the receiving party without use of Confidential Information. Upon termination, each party shall return or destroy Confidential Information of the other party upon request.

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

Service Provider is an independent contractor and not an employee, joint venturer, or agent of Client. Service Provider is solely responsible for withholding, reporting, and payment of all taxes, benefits, and other employer obligations for its personnel.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Except for liability arising from gross negligence, willful misconduct, or breach of confidentiality, neither party shall be liable to the other for indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages. Service Provider's aggregate liability for any claim arising under this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees paid by Client to Service Provider under this Agreement during the twelve (12) month period preceding the claim.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to its conflict of law rules.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENT

This Agreement, including any exhibits and signed Change Orders, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter and supersedes all prior oral or written agreements. Any amendment must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

NOTICES

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement must be in writing and delivered to the addresses below (or such other address as a party designates by written notice).

Client Notice Address Service Provider Notice Address

MISCELLANEOUS

If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect. Neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other, except that either party may assign to a successor in interest in connection with a merger or sale of substantially all assets. The parties acknowledge that monetary damages may be inadequate and that equitable relief, including injunctive relief, may be appropriate to prevent actual or threatened breaches of confidentiality or intellectual property provisions.

Client

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Service Provider

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What the Client Project Services Agreement Is

A Client Project Services Agreement is a written contract that defines the working relationship between a service provider and a client for a specific project. It sets scope of work, deliverables, timeline, payment terms, intellectual property allocation, confidentiality obligations, and termination conditions. The agreement clarifies responsibilities, reduces misunderstandings, and provides an enforceable record of expectations and remedies if either party fails to meet obligations under the contract.

Why a Clear Agreement Matters for Projects

A well-drafted Client Project Services Agreement reduces scope disputes, protects IP and confidential data, and allocates payment and liability. Properly executed contracts are enforceable electronically under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, provided the parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and retention.

Typical Parties and Roles

Who commonly completes and relies on this agreement before work begins.

Independent consultants and small agencies delivering project-based services for clients across industries.
In-house procurement, project managers, or legal teams arranging third-party vendor work and approvals.
Corporate clients, procurement officers, or authorized officers who accept scope, schedule, and payment terms.

Choose signers who have corporate authority and can bind the organization to payment and performance obligations.

Core Sections to Include in Your Agreement

Include clear, specific contract sections so expectations, timelines, payment, and legal remedies are understood by all parties.

Scope

Precisely describe tasks, milestones, and deliverables. Avoid vague language that can create disputes about what is included versus out-of-scope.

Deliverables

List required outputs, formats, acceptance criteria, and delivery dates. Tie payment milestones to deliverable acceptance where appropriate.

Timeline

State start and completion dates, interim milestone dates, and any conditions that pause or extend timelines such as client delays.

Payment Terms

Specify fees, invoicing schedule, late payment interest, reimbursement of expenses, and accepted payment methods.

IP and Confidentiality

Allocate ownership of work product, licenses, and include nondisclosure obligations for trade secrets and private information.

Termination

Define notice periods, cure rights, obligations on termination, and any post-termination transition or return of materials.

Essential Information to Gather

Party Names: Legal entity names

Contact Details: Address and email

Scope Summary: Concise service description

Payment Details: Rates and invoicing terms

Effective Date: Start date format

Authorized Signatory: Name and title

Step-by-Step: Complete and Execute the Agreement

Follow these steps to prepare, review, and execute the Client Project Services Agreement efficiently and with legal clarity.

01

Draft Scope: Write a clear scope and attach technical exhibits.
02

Set Payment Terms: Define amounts, milestones, and invoicing frequency.
03

Assign IP: Specify ownership and any license terms.
04

Sign and Store: Execute electronically and retain the final signed copy.

Configure an Online Signing Workflow

When using an eSignature platform, configure fields and authentication to match the contract's signing requirements and evidentiary needs.

Field	Configuration
Signature Field	Required; visible signature with timestamp
Initials Field	Optional; use for page acknowledgements
Date Field	Auto-fill MM/DD/YYYY on signer action
Authentication	Email link by default; add SMS or KBA if needed

Where to Send and How to Route Completed Agreements

Specify delivery destinations and routing order so executed agreements reach accounting, project management, and legal teams without delay.

Client Signer: Receives signature request first for acceptance
Provider Signer: Provider signs after client execution
Accounts Payable: Receive executed copy for invoicing and records
Project Manager: Gets final agreement and milestone schedule

Digital Signing and Format Considerations

Use a platform that supports PDF and DOCX, provides an audit trail, and can apply conditional fields or templates for repeatable projects.

File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Integrations: Supports Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Security: TLS 1.2/1.3 and AES-256

Ensure the chosen platform can produce a certificate of completion, retain version history, and meet any regulatory compliance needs such as HIPAA or 21 CFR Part 11 where applicable.

Key Dates and Timing to Record

Record and communicate milestone and payment dates clearly so both parties can measure performance against expectations.

Effective Date:

Agreement commencement date in MM/DD/YYYY format

Milestone Deadlines:

Specific delivery dates for each deliverable

Invoice Due Date:

Payment due within stated net terms (e.g., Net 30)

Termination Notice:

Number of days required for written termination

Warranty Period:

Duration for remediation of defects

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

Using vague scope language that leaves deliverables open to interpretation and invites disputes over what work is included.
Failing to tie payment to objective acceptance criteria, resulting in disagreements about when invoices are payable.
Overlooking IP terms that leave ownership of created materials unclear or unintentionally assign preexisting IP.
Neglecting to name an authorized signer or obtaining a signature from someone without authority to bind the organization.

Primary Risks and Consequences

Breach Liability: Contract damages and specific performance risks

Payment Disputes: Delayed collections and possible litigation

IP Loss: Unclear ownership can hinder commercialization

Regulatory Exposure: HIPAA or industry noncompliance fines

Tax Issues: Backup withholding if TIN mismatch

Contract Voidability: Improper authorization may invalidate agreement

Real-World Examples of Agreement Use

These case summaries show how organizations use electronic agreements to close projects, document approvals, and track work product.

Optica Ventures LLC

Optica automated contract signatures for client onboarding to reduce turnaround time.

Focused on cloud-based signature routing.
The team reported simpler customer execution and improved internal tracking, allowing them to start billable work more quickly while keeping an auditable signature record.

Martin Properties

Martin Properties moved project agreements online to enable remote approvals.

Used mobile signing on-site for immediate acceptance.
They achieved consistent compliance across transactions and were able to maintain continuity when in-person signing was not possible, with secure records for audit.

eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison

Compare basic pricing and common capabilities for eSignature vendors. signNow appears first for direct comparison of core features and compliance.

	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	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to frequent questions about enforceability, signatures, amendments, storage, and notarization for Client Project Services Agreements.

Need help? Contact support

Are electronic signatures legally valid?
Yes. Under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and UETA where adopted, electronic signatures and records are legally effective if parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and reproducible record retention.
What makes an eSignature legally attributable?
Attribution requires evidence such as authenticated email, IP address, signer name, audit trail timestamps, or stronger authentication methods; retain the audit trail to support attribution if challenged.
Do I need a notary or witnesses?
Most commercial service agreements do not require notarization or witnesses. Specific clauses or state rules may require additional formalities for certain instruments; verify requirements before relying on notarization.
How do I amend an executed agreement?
Prepare a written amendment signed by authorized parties using the same execution standards as the original; include effective date and reference the original agreement to avoid ambiguity.
How should I store executed agreements?
Keep signed copies in secure, access-controlled storage with retention aligned to IRS (IRC §6501(a)) and any industry rules such as HIPAA (45 CFR §164.530(j)). Ensure you can reproduce records on request.
What if a signer lacks authority?
If an unauthorized signer executed the agreement, the contract may be voidable. Confirm signatory authority before performance and, where appropriate, obtain board or company officer confirmation.

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