This NMHC Lawyers’ Forum White Paper discusses the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN; P.L. 106-229) which took effect on October 1, 2000. E-SIGN is broad in scope and is not limited to electronic signatures. It governs, among other things, electronic records, electronic certifications and notary functions, electronic notes that evidence debt, and electronic contracts.

E-SIGN is intended to provide the applicable law on the subject of electronic signatures and records until all the states have adopted the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) or something closely similar. This White Paper summarizes E-SIGN and the differences between E-SIGN and UETA, and then analyzes the key provisions of E-SIGN.

NMHC Contact Information:
Jeanne McGlynn Delgado
Vice President of Property Management
202/974-2344
jdelgado@nmhc.org