Electronic signatures
How signing works, what is recorded, and the copy every signer gets.
In the US, the federal E-SIGN Act and the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), adopted by nearly every state, give an electronic signature the same effect as ink, when the signer meant to sign, agreed to do it electronically, the signature is tied to the record, and the record is kept so it can be reproduced. Valtis Desk is built around those four points.
What Valtis Desk records
| How | |
|---|---|
| Intent to sign | The applicant ticks that they are authorized to sign and agree to the terms, then draws or types a signature |
| Agreement to sign electronically | A separate checkbox: they agree to sign electronically, with the same effect as signing on paper. The personal guarantee repeats it above its own signature |
| Tied to the record | The signature is stored with the application, with the time, IP address and device |
| Record kept unchanged | The application, the terms as shown and the signatures are sealed with a SHA-256 hash, and the audit PDF shows whether the record still matches |
| A copy for the signer | The applicant and the principal are emailed a PDF of what they signed |
Drawn or typed
Applicants can draw a signature with a finger or mouse, or type their name and adopt it. The file and the audit PDF say which.
Valtis Desk records how each application was signed, but whether a signature or a guarantee holds up depends on your terms and your state. Have your attorney review your terms text and the guarantee before you rely on them, especially for high-value accounts.