Guide · United States
How to e-sign an NDA.
About to share information with a freelancer, an investor, or a vendor? A non-disclosure agreement puts in writing what is protected and what cannot be disclosed. Here is how to sign it electronically, remotely, and in minutes, with evidence anyone can verify.
Short answer
A non-disclosure agreement can be signed electronically between the parties, grounded in freedom of contract, and it holds up as evidence between them under the ESIGN Act and UETA. With Kligrafia you get it done in minutes, remotely, with identity verification and an evidence report anyone can verify.
What an NDA is
An NDA, or non-disclosure agreement, protects information you share with another party. It puts in writing what data counts as confidential, what it can be used for, and what happens if it gets disclosed. It is a private agreement between the parties.
You sign it before opening up information that should not leave that circle. It matters for anyone sharing something sensitive with a third party — a company, an agency, or a vendor.
Why an electronic signature fits
An NDA is not governed by a specific statute — it is a contract the parties create freely, grounded in the freedom of contract. As a private agreement, it falls squarely in the territory where an electronic signature works well, under the ESIGN Act and UETA.
You do not need a qualified digital certificate or a notary for an NDA between businesses or individuals. That is a different, heavier process reserved for specific cases under other laws. For an NDA between two parties, a standard electronic signature is enough.
When you need one
You hire a freelancer and give them access to your product or your customer list. You show numbers to an investor before closing a round. You negotiate with a vendor and share your process. In all three cases, you sign the NDA before opening up the information.
Minimum clauses
What your NDA cannot skip.
- Full identification of the parties: who is disclosing information and who is receiving it.
- A precise definition of what counts as confidential information under this specific agreement.
- The purpose for which the shared information may be used.
- The duration of the confidentiality obligation, including after the relationship ends.
- Exceptions: information that was already public or already known before the agreement.
- The consequences if either party breaches the agreement.
Step by step
How to sign an NDA step by step.
The whole process takes minutes. Each party signs from their phone, with nothing to install.
- 1
Upload the NDA as a PDF
Upload your non-disclosure agreement as a PDF. If you do not have one ready, adapt a template to your situation before you upload it.
- 2
Add the parties' details
Enter the details of the party disclosing information and the party receiving it, with a driver's license or passport for individuals, or the company's legal name and EIN for a business.
- 3
Place the signature and date fields
Drag the signature and date fields to where each party needs to sign in the document.
- 4
Send the signing link
Send the signing link to the other party's email. They do not need to create an account to sign.
- 5
Each party verifies identity and signs
Each party verifies their identity with a driver's license or passport and signs from their phone, in minutes, with nothing to install.
- 6
Download the signed PDF
Download the signed NDA, complete with its evidence report and trusted timestamp.
Common mistakes
What usually goes wrong.
- Defining "confidential information" so broadly that it becomes impossible to enforce in practice.
- Not setting how long the confidentiality obligation lasts after the relationship ends.
- Sharing sensitive information before both parties have signed the NDA.
- Not verifying the signer's identity, which weakens attribution if you ever need to prove a breach.
Why Kligrafia
Close the deal before you share information.
- Speed. Sign in minutes, not days. Prepare the NDA, send it, and close the same day.
- Identity verification. Verify signers with a driver’s license or passport, document reading, and biometrics. The signature stays tied to a real person.
- Verifiable evidence report. Every step is logged and chained with SHA-256 hashes. If anyone alters the document, the seal exposes it.
- Public verifier. Any third party can check the NDA at /verify with no account and no login.
Also signing a services agreement alongside the NDA? Start free with up to 3 documents a month; see pricing in USD once you handle more volume.
Frequently asked questions
What people ask.
Is an NDA signed electronically valid in the United States?
- Yes. An NDA is a private contract grounded in freedom of contract — the parties can agree to whatever terms they choose, as long as they do not violate the law. Under the ESIGN Act and UETA, an electronic signature carries the same legal weight as a handwritten one, so an electronically signed NDA is enforceable evidence between the parties.
Does the other party need to create an account?
- No. The person signing just opens the link you send, verifies their identity, and signs from their phone. They don't need to register or pay anything. The account belongs to whoever sends the document.
Can I send it to several people at once?
- Yes. You can add multiple signers to the same NDA and send the link to each of them. Each party signs their portion and verifies their own identity separately. Everything lands in the same document and the same evidence report.
Does this protect sensitive information from a third party?
- The NDA documents the confidentiality commitment between the parties and serves as evidence if someone discloses what they agreed to protect. To strengthen attribution, verify the signer's identity with a driver's license or passport. If your situation is sensitive, talk to an attorney before you sign.
This guide explains the general framework of the ESIGN Act and UETA and how the platform works. It is not legal advice. For your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Sign your NDA free.
No credit card, valid between the parties in the United States, with verifiable audit evidence from the first signature.