Electronic Signatures

July 6, 2023

Are Smart Contracts Smart for Your Business?

Aret Smart Contracts Smart?

Imagine if the paper on which your business’ contracts are written could somehow come to life and automatically send payments to your collectors—and receive payments from your debtors—at the appropriate times, as different provisions of said contract are triggered.

That’s more or less how electronic smart contracts, self-enforcing pieces of computer code set up to execute on the blockchain, more efficiently streamline certain processes. While sometimes legally enforceable, they have their drawbacks and will probably never completely replace traditional legal contracts.

October 7, 2021

Electronic Will Signing, Remote Witnessing Made Permanently Available

by George Bellas

Wills Can Be Signed Electronically

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, wills needed to be signed in person and witnesses (including notaries) needed to be on hand to see the will creator’s actually sign the will.

When the pandemic got underway, Illinois Governor Pritzker signed an Emergency Order declaring that for health and safety related reasons, wills could be signed electronically and that notaries public and other witnesses could view the signing from afar, provided they had a dependable audio and video connection.

March 26, 2020

Is an E-Signature valid in Illinois?

by George Bellas

As Chicago area business litigation lawyers this is a question we frequently are asked.

Electronic Signatures are Enforceable under Illinois Laws.

E-Signatures are permissible and valid in Illinois under the Illinois Electronic Commerce Security Act (the ECSA).