E-signature laws refer to legal frameworks that recognize electronic signatures as valid and enforceable, similar to traditional handwritten signatures. In the United States, the primary legislation governing e-signatures is the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN Act), enacted in 2000. This law ensures that electronic signatures cannot be denied legal effect solely because they are in electronic form. Many countries have their own e-signature laws, often modeled after the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Model Law on Electronic Signatures. These laws typically require that electronic signatures be created with the intent to sign and that the signatory has consented to use electronic means.