Can a Contract Be Valid Without a Signature?

What dictates the enforceability of business agreements in Indiana

By Super Lawyers staff | Reviewed by Canaan Suitt, J.D. | Last updated on March 6, 2023

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Contacts are legal documents at the foundation of most successful commercial relationships. Under Indiana law, written contracts are legally enforceable documents.

When a contract is breached, legal remedies may be available for the non-breaching party. This raises an important question: Can a contract be enforced if it was not signed?

In Indiana, the answer is: It depends. As a general rule, contracts should have a valid signature—that being said, some unsigned agreements are still enforceable.

Signatures Matter—A Well-Prepared Contact is Easier to Enforce

If your company operates using commercial agreements, it is crucial that you ensure that all of terms of the contracts are properly drafted, signed, and preserved. Simply put, a signed contract is far easier to enforce. If a dispute arises, that signature will serve as an important form of proof of the validity of the agreement.

When a contract is not signed, the party that allegedly breached the agreement may be able to argue that no enforceable deal was ever reached. If you do not have a legally valid agreement, you cannot bring a breach of contract claim.

To be clear, a signature does not have to be handwritten: electronic signatures are valid in Indiana. Under state law, a signature on an otherwise legally valid contract or agreement will not be denied the force of law simply because it is electronic.

Unsigned Contracts Are Sometimes Enforced in Indiana

Breach of contract claims are always fact-specific cases. An unsigned contract, while more likely to be disputed, can sometimes still be enforced. In fact, unwritten contracts may even carry the force of law in Indiana. An oral contract may still be a legally valid contract.

If you do not have a signed contract and you are seeking enforcement, you will need to produce alternative evidence that indicates that a valid written agreement was reached. In some cases, evidence outside of the contract itself—such as a letter, email, or other message, may indicate that a final agreement was reached.

How to Pursue a Breach of Contract Claim in Indiana

Under Indiana law, plaintiffs may be entitled to recover financial compensation for damages related to the breach of a contract. However, they will only be able to do so if all relevant legal requirements are satisfied. Specifically, the required elements of a breach of contract claim include:

  1. The underlying contract is legally valid and enforceable;
  2. The plaintiff fulfilled their duties under the agreement;
  3. The defendant violated the contract without legal justification; and
  4. The plaintiff sustained actual damages as a result of the contract breach.

If you have any specific questions about filing a breach of contract claim or defending a breach of contract lawsuit, you should seek legal help from an experienced Indiana business litigation attorney right away.

A business lawyer will be able to review your specific circumstances and offer legal advice to protect the legal rights and financial interests of you or your company. Here are some questions you may want to ask when meeting with an attorney for legal advice:

  • What is your experience with drafting or litigating contracts?
  • What legal services do you offer, and what are your attorney’s fees?
  • Do I have an enforceable contract?
  • What are the parties’ legal obligations under the terms of the agreement?
  • What steps should I take to enforce a contract if the other party has breached?

If you’d like more general information about this area of the law, see our contract law overview.

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