Make Copy, Electronic Signature Valid at Your Option

Most commercial property leases don't contain a provision specifying whether a copy or an electronic signature on the document is as valid as an original signature. In the absence of such a clause, the presumption is that only the original signature of the owner or tenant is binding. But more often than not, commercial property owners and tenants close transactions electronically via PDF or email, which currently predominate, or fax, which already is outdated, says New Jersey real estate attorney Marc L. Ripp, senior associate general counsel at Mack-Cali Realty Corporation.