Is an electronic signature legally binding?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally legally binding for interstate transactions under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and under UETA in most states, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.

When is notarization required?

Most commercial contracts do not require notarization. Notarization is required for certain instruments (for example some deeds and powers of attorney) depending on state law and the document type.

Can I use remote online notarization (RON)?

Many states allow permanent RON with identity proofing and audio-video recording; verify state-specific RON statutes and notary commission rules before relying on a remote notarization.

How do I correct a signed agreement?

Correct material errors by executing an amendment or bilateral amendment signed by all parties; do not alter the signed PDF unilaterally, as that undermines the audit trail.

How long must I keep signed copies?

Retention depends on the contract and applicable laws: IRS records three years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and state rules may extend those periods.

Who can sign on behalf of a company?

Only an authorized officer, agent with delegated authority, or signatory listed in corporate records should sign. Confirm written authority to avoid disputes over enforceability.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Legal
Legal Custom Agreement

Legal Custom Agreement

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

LEGAL CUSTOM AGREEMENT

This Legal Custom Agreement ("Agreement") is entered into as of , by and between Party A Name: an entity of type Individual Corporation LLC Partnership Other with principal place of business at ; and Party B Name: an entity of type Individual Corporation LLC Partnership Other with principal place of business at .

RECITALS

WHEREAS, Party A is engaged in the business of providing certain professional services and possesses expertise, personnel, and resources necessary to perform the services described in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Party B desires to engage Party A to provide such services under the terms and conditions set forth herein, and Party A is willing to provide such services on those terms; and

WHEREAS, the parties intend by this Agreement to allocate risks and responsibilities, to set forth performance and compensation terms, and to protect confidential and proprietary information exchanged between them.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 "Agreement" means this Legal Custom Agreement and all exhibits and schedules attached hereto. "Confidential Information" means all non-public information disclosed by a party in any form that is marked confidential or reasonably should be understood to be confidential. "Services" means the work to be performed by Party A as described in Section 2. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in this Section 1.

2. SCOPE OF SERVICES

2.1 Party A shall provide the Services described in the scope below in accordance with the schedule and deliverables agreed by the parties. Party A shall perform the Services in a professional and workmanlike manner consistent with industry standards.

Scope of Services

3. COMPENSATION AND PAYMENT

3.1 As full consideration for the Services rendered by Party A, Party B shall pay Party A the fees described below in accordance with the payment schedule. All fees are exclusive of taxes which shall be the responsibility of the paying party.

Fee Amount Payment Terms

4. TERM; TERMINATION

4.1 Term. This Agreement shall commence on the Effective Date and shall continue until completion of the Services or until terminated as provided below. The initial term shall commence on and, unless earlier terminated, shall expire on .

4.2 Termination for Convenience. Either party may terminate this Agreement for any reason upon thirty (30) days' prior written notice to the other party. Termination shall not affect liabilities accrued prior to the effective date of termination.

4.3 Termination for Cause. Either party may terminate immediately upon written notice if the other party materially breaches this Agreement and fails to cure such breach within fifteen (15) days after receipt of written notice.

5. CONFIDENTIALITY

5.1 Each party agrees to maintain Confidential Information of the other party in strict confidence and not to disclose such information to any third party without the disclosing party's prior written consent, except as required by law. Each party shall use at least the same degree of care to protect Confidential Information as it uses to protect its own confidential information, but in no event less than reasonable care.

5.2 The obligations of confidentiality shall survive termination of this Agreement for a period of three (3) years, except with respect to trade secrets which shall be protected for as long as they remain trade secrets under applicable law.

6. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

6.1 Unless otherwise agreed in writing, all intellectual property and deliverables created by Party A specifically for Party B in the course of performing the Services ("Work Product") shall be the exclusive property of Party B upon full payment of fees due for such Work Product. Party A hereby assigns and shall assign to Party B all right, title and interest in such Work Product.

6.2 Notwithstanding the foregoing, Party A shall retain ownership of its pre-existing tools, methodologies, know-how, templates and trade secrets, and grants Party B a non-exclusive, non-transferable license to use such materials solely as incorporated in the delivered Work Product.

7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

7.1 Each party represents and warrants that it has the full right, power and authority to enter into and perform this Agreement and that its execution and performance will not violate any applicable law or the rights of any third party.

7.2 EXCEPT AS EXPRESSLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT, NEITHER PARTY MAKES ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.

8. INDEMNIFICATION

8.1 Each party (the "Indemnifying Party") shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party (the "Indemnified Party") from and against any and all third-party claims, damages, liabilities, costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or resulting from the Indemnifying Party's breach of this Agreement, willful misconduct, or negligent acts or omissions.

9. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

9.1 EXCEPT FOR LIABILITY ARISING FROM A PARTY'S GROSS NEGLIGENCE, WILLFUL MISCONDUCT, OR INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS, IN NO EVENT SHALL EITHER PARTY BE LIABLE TO THE OTHER FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, INCLUDING LOSS OF PROFITS, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. THE AGGREGATE LIABILITY OF EITHER PARTY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNTS PAID OR PAYABLE TO PARTY A UNDER THIS AGREEMENT DURING THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE CLAIM.

10. NOTICES

10.1 All notices required or permitted hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered personally, sent by certified mail (return receipt requested), or sent by nationally recognized overnight courier to the addresses set forth below or such other address as either party may designate by notice in accordance with this Section.

Party A Notice Address Party B Notice Address

11. AMENDMENTS; WAIVER

11.1 No amendment, modification or waiver of any provision of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and signed by both parties. No failure or delay by either party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of that right.

12. GOVERNING LAW

12.1 This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state selected by the parties below, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. The parties hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located within that state for any disputes arising under or related to this Agreement.

Governing Law State

13. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; SEVERABILITY

13.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, negotiations and communications, whether written or oral. If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect and the invalid or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by a valid and enforceable provision that most closely matches the intent of the original provision.

14. COUNTERPARTS

14.1 This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Signatures provided by electronic means shall be deemed original signatures for all purposes.

15. MISCELLANEOUS

15.1 The parties acknowledge that they have read and understand this Agreement and agree to be bound by its terms. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the interpretation of this Agreement.

Party A:

By:

Date:

Party B:

By:

Date:

What the Legal Custom Agreement Is and When It Applies

A Legal Custom Agreement is a written contract tailored to a specific transaction, relationship, or project that sets out rights, obligations, timelines, and remedies for the parties involved. It can be a standalone document or a modular template updated with exhibits, schedules, and signature blocks. In the United States these agreements are routinely executed electronically under federal and state e-signature laws, and they are used across commercial, professional, and regulatory contexts where clear, signed terms are required to manage risk and allocate responsibility.

Why a Custom Agreement Matters and Its Legal Foundation

A well-drafted Legal Custom Agreement clarifies expectations, reduces disputes, and documents consent; electronic execution is legally recognized under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and by UETA in most states, provided parties demonstrate intent, consent, attribution, and record retention.

Who typically prepares and signs these agreements

Legal Custom Agreements are used by in-house counsel, operations teams, outside attorneys, and business owners to document transactions and relationships.

Corporate counsel and litigation teams who need clear contractual language and defensible execution records.
Operations, procurement, and finance staff managing vendor contracts, service agreements, and payment terms across jurisdictions.
Small business owners and independent contractors who require standardized but adaptable templates for recurring engagements.

Signatories often include authorized officers, designated agents, or externally retained signers; confirm authority before final execution to avoid enforceability issues.

Core parts of a professional Legal Custom Agreement

A complete agreement groups predictable elements so parties can find and negotiate terms consistently; templates speed drafting and reduce omissions while allowing necessary customization for risk allocation.

Parties

Identify the legal entities and any authorized agents, using full legal names and entity types to avoid ambiguity during enforcement or filing.

Recitals

Short factual background that explains the transaction context and sets expectations without creating operative obligations on its own.

Definitions

Centralize key terms to ensure consistent interpretation; define industry-specific terms and measurement units used in obligations and remedies.

Terms

Core operative clauses: scope of work, deliverables, milestones, payment terms, confidentiality, liability caps, indemnities, and termination mechanics.

Consideration

Describe monetary amounts, credits, or other exchange of value precisely, including payment schedule, invoicing, and late-payment consequences.

Signatures

Include complete signature blocks with printed names, titles, dates, and witness or notary blocks if state law or parties require them.

Step-by-step: complete, sign, and finalize the agreement

Follow this sequence to prepare and execute a Legal Custom Agreement with clear audit records and minimal rework.

01

Prepare Document: Load template and insert party-specific details.
02

Add Fields: Place signature, date, and required conditional fields.
03

Assign Signers: Provide signer emails and role order if needed.
04

Send for Signature: Distribute via secure link and monitor completion.

Configuring an online signing workflow

These settings cover common options for secure e-execution and downstream recordkeeping.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email verification, optional SMS code, or stronger KBA
Signature Type	Allow drawn, typed, or uploaded images per signatory preference
Notifications	Enable reminders and completed-copies to all parties
Retention	Set automatic archival period and export formats

Where to send or file the executed agreement

After signing, route copies to the parties and any required recipients, and determine whether public filing or departmental notice is necessary.

Counterparties: Email signed copies and certificate of completion to all parties.
In-House Records: Store a master PDF in contract repository with version control.
Regulatory Filing: File with agencies only when statute or transaction requires it.
External Advisors: Send final executed copy to counsel or finance for retention.

Technical considerations for eSigning and distribution

Ensure your platform supports required formats, authentication, and integrations before sending for signature.

Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace supported
Formats: PDF and DOCX export available
Auth Options: Email, SMS, KBA, and SSO

Typical deadlines and timing expectations

Common timing elements include effective dates, payment schedules, notice windows, and statutory limitation periods; confirm specifics before execution.

Effective Date:

Agreement is effective on the specified MM/DD/YYYY signing date.

Payment Terms:

Net 30 is common; parties may set Net 15, Net 45, or milestones.

Notice Period:

Contractual cure or termination notices typically require 30 days.

Dispute Deadline:

Statutes of limitation vary; many claims use 3–6 years depending on state law.

Record Export:

Export signed records promptly for tax or regulatory reporting deadlines.

Common preparation errors that cause delays

Leaving blank or placeholder fields that later require re-execution and new signatures.
Using informal or inconsistent party names that do not match formation or tax records.
Failing to select governing law or specifying an unenforceable venue provision.
Relying on initials instead of full signatures where the document requires complete execution.

Potential legal and financial consequences

Unenforceable Agreement: Missing required signatures

Tax Exposure: Incorrect payer or payee names

Late Performance: Damages and interest

Regulatory Fine: Noncompliance with notice rules

Reputational Harm: Contract disputes made public

Invalid Notarization: Improper or missing acknowledgement

Download, export, and supporting document options

Signed Legal Custom Agreements should be saved in durable formats and paired with supporting exhibits and records for audit and compliance purposes.

PDF Export

Produce a timestamped PDF with an embedded audit trail for admissible evidence and long-term archival.

DOCX Export

Keep a modifiable DOCX copy for internal records and subsequent amendment templates while preserving a signed PDF master.

Supplemental Exhibits

Include schedules, SOWs, and invoices as numbered exhibits attached to the signed PDF for clarity.

Certificate

Retain the platform's certificate of completion (IP, timestamps, signer emails) alongside the signed document.

Practical examples from real users

These examples show how organizations use a custom agreement template to speed execution while preserving compliance and security.

Optica Ventures LLC

Optica used a standardized investor agreement to streamline closings and reduce back-and-forth.

They emphasized ease of use for external parties.
"The interface is simple and easy-to-use for our team; more importantly, it is just as easy for our customers."

Martin Properties

A property management firm digitized lease addenda and vendor contracts to reduce delays.

Mobile signing improved turnaround on site.
"I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security."

eSignature vendor pricing and feature snapshot

Comparison of common vendor criteria relevant to executing a Legal Custom Agreement; signNow is listed first for reference to plan and feature alignment.

	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	Yes, 7-day trial	No	No	Yes, limited	Yes, limited
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 about execution and validity

Answers to common legal and technical questions about using and enforcing a Legal Custom Agreement in the United States.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature legally binding?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally legally binding for interstate transactions under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and under UETA in most states, provided intent, consent, attribution, and retention requirements are met.
When is notarization required?
Most commercial contracts do not require notarization. Notarization is required for certain instruments (for example some deeds and powers of attorney) depending on state law and the document type.
Can I use remote online notarization (RON)?
Many states allow permanent RON with identity proofing and audio-video recording; verify state-specific RON statutes and notary commission rules before relying on a remote notarization.
How do I correct a signed agreement?
Correct material errors by executing an amendment or bilateral amendment signed by all parties; do not alter the signed PDF unilaterally, as that undermines the audit trail.
How long must I keep signed copies?
Retention depends on the contract and applicable laws: IRS records three years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and state rules may extend those periods.
Who can sign on behalf of a company?
Only an authorized officer, agent with delegated authority, or signatory listed in corporate records should sign. Confirm written authority to avoid disputes over enforceability.

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