Signing Contracts While Working Remotely: Use Of Electronic Signatures During COVID-19 Pandemic

Co-authored by Siobhan Doody (Summer Student)

In recent years, electronic signatures have been increasing in popularity for several reasons. For example, some organizations find it easier to store digital copies of contracts and want to reduce paper waste and storage where possible. Recently, the use of electronic signatures has accelerated given that many people around the world are now working remotely from home without access to a printer, scanner or fax machine.  

Certain laws require documents to be signed. But, even when there is no legal requirement for a document to be signed, signatures can help demonstrate a party's agreement to be bound by the terms of a document. Signatures may be physical or electronic.