# Is an e-signed contract legally binding?

> How electronic signatures are recognized in the US, EU, UK and Nigeria, what CoreHue records when your client signs a contract, and when to talk to a lawyer.

Source: https://help.corehue.co/docs/contracts/are-e-signatures-legally-binding/

In most countries, yes. An agreement signed electronically is generally treated the same as one signed on paper, as long as both sides meant to sign and there's a reliable record of it. Here are the main laws in plain terms, and exactly what CoreHue records when your client signs.

> **This isn't legal advice**
This is general information to help you understand e-signatures, not legal advice for your situation. Laws differ between countries and change over time. For your own contract, and for anything high-value or unusual, speak to a lawyer where you work.

## What the law says in a few places

Most legal systems take the same starting point: a signature or contract can't be rejected just because it's electronic.

| Where | The main law | In short |
| --- | --- | --- |
| United States | ESIGN Act (2000) and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), adopted by nearly every state | Electronic signatures and records have the same legal effect as paper ones for most business contracts. |
| European Union | eIDAS Regulation (EU) No 910/2014 | An electronic signature can't be denied legal effect or used as evidence just because it's electronic. |
| United Kingdom | Electronic Communications Act 2000, plus UK eIDAS | Electronic signatures are admissible as evidence, and the Law Commission confirmed in 2019 that they can be used to sign most contracts. |
| Nigeria | Evidence Act 2011 | Section 93 recognizes electronic signatures, and section 84 sets out how electronic records are admitted as evidence. |

Canada, Australia, South Africa and many other countries have similar laws.

### A note on eIDAS signature levels

The EU recognizes three levels: simple, advanced and qualified. A signature drawn or typed on a web page, like the ones CoreHue collects, is a simple electronic signature. That's what almost every service agreement uses, including photography contracts. Qualified signatures, which involve certified identity checks, are only needed for a small number of documents where national law specifically requires them.

### Documents that usually can't be signed electronically

Most countries keep a short list of exceptions, such as wills, some property transfers, certain family-law documents and court papers. A photography booking agreement, model release or usage license doesn't normally fall into these groups, but check locally if you're unsure.

## What makes an e-signature hold up

Courts generally look for a few things:

1. **Intent to sign.** The person meant to sign this document.
2. **Consent to sign electronically.** They agreed to do it online rather than on paper.
3. **The signature is tied to the document.** It's clear which version they signed.
4. **A record you can produce later.** Who signed, when, and what they saw.

CoreHue is built around all four.

## What CoreHue records when your client signs

Before your client can sign, they have to tick a box that reads: "I have read, understood, and agree to this contract. I consent to signing it electronically and understand that my signature is legally binding." Then a confirmation asks **Sign this contract?** and tells them the action is legally binding and can't be undone.

When they confirm, CoreHue records:

- **The signature itself**, drawn or typed, exactly as they made it
- **Their name and email address**
- **The date and time** they signed
- **Their IP address and the browser** they used
- **The exact consent wording** they agreed to, and which version of it
- **When the contract was sent and first viewed**
- **A content hash**, a SHA-256 fingerprint of the agreement and every blank they filled in. Any later change to the text would produce a different fingerprint.

The signature is tied to the exact version your client was shown. If you [edit a contract after sending it](/docs/contracts/sending-a-contract), the earlier version is kept as a private record.

All of this appears on the **Certificate of completion** at the end of the completed PDF, so you can produce it if a question ever comes up. See [Downloading contract PDFs](/docs/contracts/contract-pdfs).

## What CoreHue doesn't do

CoreHue doesn't check government ID, and it doesn't record where your client was. The signing link goes to the email address you send it to, and the email, IP address and browser details are the evidence of who opened it. For everyday photography work that's normal and enough. If you ever need verified identity, such as for a very large commercial deal, ask your lawyer what they'd recommend.

## Tips for contracts that stand up

- **Have a lawyer review your main template once.** It's the best value legal advice you'll buy, and you'll reuse it for years.
- **Write in plain language.** A client who understands what they signed is less likely to dispute it.
- **Counter-sign promptly** so the contract is Completed and the certificate is added. See [Counter-signing and completing a contract](/docs/contracts/counter-signing).
- **Keep your own copies** of completed PDFs.

For help with the wording itself, see [Writing a photography contract](/docs/guides/writing-a-photography-contract).

## Frequently asked questions

### Is a typed signature as valid as a drawn one?

In most places, yes. A typed signature is generally as valid as a drawn one, because the law looks at intent and the record, not at how neat the signature looks. CoreHue records the same evidence for both.

### Does my client need to sign in front of a witness?

No, not for most photography contracts. Some documents need a witness or a notary under local law, but service agreements usually don't. Check with a lawyer if your contract is unusual.

### Can I use CoreHue contracts with clients in other countries?

Yes. You can send CoreHue contracts to clients anywhere, and e-signatures are widely recognized across borders. Your contract should say which country's law applies. That's a good question for your lawyer.

### Can CoreHue tell me whether my contract is enforceable?

No. CoreHue gives you the tools to send, sign and record contracts, but whether the terms themselves are enforceable depends on what they say and where you work. Only a lawyer can advise on that.