The Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA) is one of the several United States Uniform Acts proposed by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL). Forty-nine states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have adopted the UETA. Its purpose is to harmonize state laws concerning retention of paper records (especially checks) and the validity of electronic signatures.

Overview

The act was approved by the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws (NCCUSL) and is adopted on a state-by-state basis giving them the option to accept or reject the guideline set forth in the act. This act is a precursor to the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN) in 2000.

Breakdown of the law

The text of the UETA is available on the Uniform Law Commission website.

UETA laws

UETA articles and opinions