Yes. Electronic signatures have been legally binding across the United States since the federal ESIGN Act of 2000, backed by UETA in nearly every state. The signer needs to show intent to sign, agree to do business electronically, and get a copy of the record. A signed link holds up like ink.
What makes an e-signature valid
The law cares about the record, and the record needs four things:
- Intent. The signer meant the click, the typed name, or the drawn line as a signature.
- Consent. They agreed to handle the agreement electronically. The checkbox on a signing page covers this.
- Attribution. The record ties the signature to the person: their email, their phone, the timestamp.
- Retention. Both sides can get a copy, and yours stays findable.
Every serious e-sign tool produces all four automatically. That trail is the reason an e-signed contract is often easier to stand behind than a photographed piece of paper.
The exceptions, and why parties aren't one
ESIGN and UETA carve out a short list of documents that still want paper: wills, some family-law filings, court orders, and a few notices like utility shutoffs. A party services agreement is nowhere near that list.
Two operator-specific cautions still apply. The person signing should be the adult booking the event, since a minor's signature holds no weight. And when a school, town, or venue hands you their own contract, follow their signing process, whatever it is. Their purchasing office wins that argument every time.
Typed, drawn, or clicked
Clients ask whether the finger-drawn scribble on a phone counts. It does, and so does a typed name or a clear "I agree" click, because the law weighs the record over the artwork. Pick the method your clients finish. In our experience that's a link they can open on a phone: the client opens it, signs, and pays the deposit in minutes.
The part that actually protects you
The signature is the last step of protection, and the wording is the first. A signed contract with a vague rain policy protects nobody. Get the terms right, then let the client sign them from their couch.