Electronic Signature Act Of 1996

(Condensed from AP article)

Florida now recognizes electronic signatures as legal and binding. In
other words - its okay to sign it by modem.

The electronic Signature Act of 1996 passed the Legislature unanimously
and became law Friday. The law does not specify how an electronic document
must be signed, but it probably will mean coding the text and typed
signature so they cannot be changed by anyone other than the writer. 

California and Utah are the only other states that have laws recognizing
electronic signatures.

Ben Holiday writes:
> Florida now recognizes electronic signatures as legal and binding. In
> other words - its okay to sign it by modem.
[...]
> California and Utah are the only other states that have laws recognizing
> electronic signatures.

The lawyers here can correct me if I am wrong, but I get the
impression that under the common law, an ink signature is merely a
demonstration that a party assented to a contract, and except for
certain contracts (which usually require witnesses etc.) there is no
requirement in the law that a contract even be on paper. Given this, a
digital signature could probably, under existing common law, be used
as evidence of intent in a contract dispute just as a paper and ink
signature could be, except in cases like real estate transfers which I
already mentioned.

Perry