What states accept electronic signatures on divorce documents

Last updated 2026-07-11

Why do e-signature rules for divorce documents matter so much?

Signing a divorce agreement from your kitchen table, without printing anything or driving to a UPS Store, sounds simple. But divorce documents sit in a legal gray zone that makes e-signature rules genuinely complicated.

Two separate bodies of law govern this. First, the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001) established back in 2000 that electronic signatures are legally valid for most contracts. Second, the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), adopted in some form by 47 states plus D.C., applies that principle to state-level transactions. ^[1] Neither law overrides a court's own procedural rules about what it will accept in a filed document.

That last part is where people get tripped up. A marital settlement agreement is a contract between two spouses, and e-signatures on contracts are almost universally valid under UETA. But once you file that agreement with a court, the court's local rules take over. Many courts have their own standing orders about wet signatures, notarization, and acknowledgment requirements that sit on top of UETA.

The COVID-19 pandemic blew the door open. Emergency orders across every state authorized remote notarization and electronic signing for court filings in 2020 and 2021. A large number of states made those authorizations permanent, which is why the landscape looks far friendlier to e-signatures now than it did five years ago. ^[2]

Here's the short version. Before you click "sign" on any divorce paperwork, check three things: the state UETA adoption, the state's remote online notarization (RON) law, and your specific court's local rules.

Which states broadly accept electronic signatures on divorce filings?

No single government registry lists every state's position on e-signatures for divorce specifically, so this is assembled from each state's UETA adoption, its RON statute, and available court rules. The table below reflects the general posture of each state as of mid-2025. "Broad acceptance" means e-signatures are permitted on most settlement agreements and many court-filed forms. "Limited" means e-signatures work on the agreement itself but courts may require wet signatures or wet-signed, notarized acknowledgments on petitions and decrees. "Restricted" means the court explicitly requires wet signatures on filed documents.

State	UETA Adopted	RON Law in Effect	E-Sig Posture for Divorce Docs
Texas	Yes	Yes (HB 1217, 2021) [3]	Broad: agreements + remote notarization accepted
Florida	Yes	Yes (Ch. 117, F.S.)	Broad: e-filing with e-signature standard
California	Yes	Yes (Civil Code § 1633.1 et seq.)	Limited: settlement agreement yes, filed petition rules vary by county
New York	Yes	Yes (Real Prop. Law § 309-d)	Limited: agreements yes, court requires "original" signatures on some forms
Illinois	Yes	Yes	Broad: Cook County e-filing requires e-signatures
Virginia	Yes	Yes (Code § 47.1-6.1)	Broad: RON and e-sig accepted on acknowledged documents
North Carolina	Yes	Yes (G.S. § 10B-134.1 et seq.)	Broad after 2022 permanent RON law
Georgia	Yes	Yes	Limited: some counties require wet signatures on verified petition
Ohio	Yes	Yes	Broad: Supreme Court rules allow e-filing with e-signatures
Pennsylvania	Yes	Yes	Limited: varies by county; Philadelphia and Allegheny accept e-sig
Michigan	Yes	Yes	Broad: statewide e-filing includes e-signatures
Arizona	Yes	Yes	Broad: courts accept e-signatures on stipulated agreements
Colorado	Yes	Yes	Broad: JDF forms accepted with e-signature per Chief Justice Directive
Washington	Yes	Yes	Broad: e-sign accepted; remote notarization permanent
Nevada	Yes	Yes	Broad: e-filing standard, e-signatures accepted
Louisiana	Adopted UETA	Yes	Limited: civil law notary requirements add complexity
Mississippi	No UETA	No permanent RON	Restricted: wet signatures typically required
New Hampshire	Yes	Yes	Broad: one of the earliest permanent RON states
Indiana	Yes	Yes	Broad post-2020 permanent rules
Tennessee	Yes	Yes	Limited: local court rules vary significantly

A few caveats. This table shows general state posture, not a guarantee for your specific county or judge. California in particular is highly county-dependent: Los Angeles Superior Court's local rules differ meaningfully from those in Sacramento or San Diego. Always pull the local rules from your court's own website. ^[4]

What is the difference between e-signatures and remote online notarization, and does it matter for divorce?

These are two separate things, and confusing them causes real problems.

An electronic signature is a legally binding method of signing: typing your name, drawing it on a screen, or clicking an "I agree" button. Under UETA, it carries the same weight as a pen signature for most contracts.

Remote online notarization (RON) is a process where a commissioned notary witnesses you sign via live video call, applies their digital seal, and creates an auditable record. The resulting document is notarized, just without anyone being in the same room. ^[5]

Why does this distinction matter for divorce? Because many divorce documents require notarization on top of a signature. A sworn financial affidavit, a verified petition, or a property settlement acknowledgment often requires the signer to swear before a notary that the contents are true. If your court requires a notarized signature, an ordinary e-signature on its own is not enough. You need either a wet notary signature (classic in-person) or a RON session in a state that authorizes it.

For an uncontested divorce where both spouses agree on everything and just need to sign the marital settlement agreement, an ordinary e-signature is usually fine. The settlement agreement is a contract, and contracts live comfortably under UETA. Problems appear when you get to court filings that specifically require acknowledgment or verification under penalty of perjury.

In practical terms: if your state has a permanent RON law, you can handle the entire signing process electronically, including the notarized pieces. If your state lacks RON or your court hasn't authorized it, you'll need to find a notary in person for at least some documents even if the rest can be e-signed.

The National Notary Association tracks RON legislation by state and is a reliable resource for current status. ^[5]

Do marital settlement agreements specifically need wet signatures?

For the settlement agreement itself, almost certainly not. A marital settlement agreement is a contract, and every state that has adopted UETA (47 states plus D.C.) treats a contract signed electronically as just as valid as one signed in ink. ^[1] Courts routinely fold these agreements into final decrees.

The wrinkle is whether your court will attach an electronically signed agreement to a final decree without complaint. Most modern courts will. Some older jurisdictions or individual judges still ask for a wet-signed copy "for the record," particularly on the actual decree that gets filed in the county clerk's records.

If you use a reputable e-signature platform (DocuSign, Adobe Sign, and similar services), the platform creates a certificate of completion that logs the signer's email address, IP address, and timestamp. Courts that accept e-signed agreements generally treat this audit trail as sufficient proof of authenticity.

One specific situation still commonly demands wet signatures: if your settlement agreement covers real property and needs to be recorded with a county recorder or register of deeds. Real property transfers often have separate acknowledgment requirements under state recording statutes that go beyond UETA. In those cases you may need a notarized wet signature on the deed itself even if the settlement agreement attached to the divorce can be e-signed. Check your state's recording statutes for specifics.

For a clean look at what typically goes into these agreements, the divorce papers overview covers the standard document set in an uncontested case.

How did the pandemic permanently change e-signature acceptance in courts?

Before March 2020, most state courts had no mechanism to accept electronically signed or remotely notarized documents. The pandemic forced every court system in the country to improvise, fast.

Governors and chief justices issued emergency orders authorizing e-filing, e-signatures, and remote notarization in a matter of days. For family courts handling divorce, this meant settlement agreements, petitions, and even final decrees could suddenly move through the system without any in-person contact.

When the emergency orders expired, states faced a choice: let those rules lapse and go back to 1990s-era requirements, or make them permanent. The majority chose permanence. The Conference of State Court Administrators noted that e-filing adoption accelerated during the pandemic and most courts were unwilling to reverse course once litigants and attorneys had adapted. ^[2]

The states that moved most decisively to lock in permanent RON laws and e-signature authorization for court filings include Virginia (2020), North Carolina (2022), Indiana (2020), and Texas (2021). States that have been slower include Mississippi, which still lacks a UETA adoption as of mid-2025, plus a handful of others where emergency authorizations lapsed without replacement legislation.

What this means for someone filing an uncontested divorce today: you're operating in a much friendlier environment than existed even in 2019. Many courts now have end-to-end e-filing portals where every document in the case, from the initial petition to the final decree, can be submitted electronically with e-signatures. You may never need to print a single page.

Are there documents in a divorce case that almost always require a wet signature?

Yes. Even in states with strong e-signature and RON authorization, a few document types still commonly require wet signatures or in-person notarization.

Qualified domestic relations orders (QDROs) are the big one. A QDRO is the court order that divides a retirement account like a 401(k) or pension. The plan administrator, not the court, processes it, and most private pension plans and retirement account administrators still require original wet signatures on QDROs. This isn't a court rule. It's a plan requirement, and it varies by plan.

Real property deeds, as mentioned above, often require wet notarized signatures to be recorded at the county recorder. Even if your divorce decree and settlement agreement are fully e-signed, the deed transferring the house may need to be signed in front of a physical notary.

Statutory declarations and verified petitions in some states require the petitioner to sign under oath before a notary or court officer. RON resolves this in states where it's authorized, but it's still an issue in states without RON.

Parenting plans in some jurisdictions must be signed in a specific way to satisfy the court's process for child-related matters. A few states require both parents to sign in front of a mediator or court-approved official.

None of this should derail an uncontested divorce. You just need to identify these specific documents early and plan for them. If you're using a document preparation service or a divorce attorney for a limited-scope review, ask them to flag any documents in your packet that still need wet signatures in your county.

How do you actually e-sign divorce documents in practice?

The mechanics depend on how your documents get prepared and how your court accepts filings.

If your court uses a statewide e-filing portal (Florida's eFiling Portal, California's TurboCourt or eCourt in some counties, Texas e-filing through Tyler Technologies, Illinois' Odyssey eFileIL), you typically upload your documents and sign them through the portal's built-in signature workflow. The portal creates the signature record.

If you're preparing documents yourself and need both spouses to sign, a dedicated e-signature service works well. DocuSign starts around $15 per month for an individual plan; Adobe Sign, HelloSign (now part of Dropbox), and SignNow have similar pricing or pay-per-envelope options. You upload the document, assign signature fields to each party, and the service emails each person a link to sign. After both sign, you get a completed PDF with a certificate of completion that most courts accept.

For remote notarization, services like Notarize.com, NotaryCam, or PandaDoc Notary connect you with a commissioned notary via video call, typically for $25 to $50 per notarization session. Some states require that the notary be commissioned in that specific state, so make sure the platform offers a notary for your state.

A practical sequence for an uncontested divorce in a RON-authorized state: 1. Prepare or obtain your document packet. 2. Both spouses review and e-sign the settlement agreement through an e-signature platform. 3. Complete a RON session for any documents requiring notarization. 4. Upload the signed, notarized documents to the court's e-filing portal along with the petition. 5. Pay the filing fee electronically.

For a structured document set that's already formatted for electronic completion, DivorceClear's $149 document packet is built for this workflow and walks you through which documents need what level of signature in your state.

One thing to know: courts may require documents submitted via e-filing to place the signature in a specific location on the form, or include specific language like "/s/ Jane Smith" followed by the typed name. Check your court's e-filing guide.

What happens if you e-sign a document the court won't accept?

Your filing gets rejected. That's the direct answer.

Most court e-filing portals have automated rejection for obvious defects, plus a clerk review step that catches others. If you submit a petition with an e-signature when the court requires a wet signature, the clerk rejects the filing and returns it to you with a deficiency notice. You then re-sign with a wet signature and refile.

This is annoying but not catastrophic in an uncontested case. It delays things by a week or two, and in most jurisdictions doesn't cost you an additional filing fee as long as you refile within the deadline stated in the deficiency notice.

The bigger risk is missing a deadline because of a rejection. If you're working against a clock, like trying to finalize before the end of a tax year or before a separation agreement's window closes, a rejection and refile cycle could cause real problems. Get the signature requirements right before you file.

Some courts also have what amounts to a silent rejection: they accept the filing, but a judge later refuses to sign the final decree because a supporting document lacks the required signature. This can sit unnoticed for weeks before the judge's order surfaces.

The safest move if you're uncertain: call the clerk's office directly and ask. Clerks can't give legal advice, but they can absolutely tell you "we require wet signatures on the petition" or "we accept e-signatures through our portal." That call takes five minutes and is worth making.

Does it matter if your spouse is in a different state?

Yes, and this is one area where e-signatures and RON earn their keep.

In an uncontested divorce, both spouses need to sign the settlement agreement and often a joint petition or a waiver of service. If one spouse has moved to another state, getting wet signatures historically meant mailing documents back and forth, which takes time and creates chain-of-custody questions.

With e-signatures, both parties can sign the same document from wherever they are, at once or in sequence. The e-signature platform handles the mechanics and creates a unified signed document. This works regardless of where each person is located, as long as the document type is one that doesn't require in-person notarization.

For documents that require notarization, RON services operate across state lines for the signing party. The notary is typically required to be commissioned in the state where the divorce is filed, not where the signing party is located. So if your divorce is in Texas and your spouse is now in Oregon, your spouse can complete a RON session with a Texas-commissioned notary via video call while sitting in Portland. Texas's HB 1217 (effective 2021) explicitly allows this. ^[3]

The filing itself is always in the state (and county) where you meet residency requirements for divorce. Residency requirements vary: Nevada requires just six weeks, most states require six months, and Illinois requires 90 days. ^[6] Your divorce papers get filed where you live, regardless of where your spouse is.

If you and your spouse are in different countries, the same principles apply, but added complexity around international document authentication (apostilles, for example) may come into play for documents originating abroad.

How do state court self-help centers help you figure out the rules for your county?

State court self-help centers are the most underused resource in DIY divorce. Almost every state has them, they're free, and the staff can tell you exactly what signature format your specific court requires without you having to parse dense local rules yourself.

The National Center for State Courts maintains a directory of state court self-help resources. ^[7] Most state judicial branch websites also have a self-help or pro se litigant section. The California Courts Self-Help Center is one of the most developed in the country and explicitly addresses e-signature and e-filing rules. ^[4] Texas offers similar guidance through its TexasLawHelp.org portal.

When you contact a self-help center, ask specifically:

• Does your court's e-filing portal accept e-signed documents for divorce petitions?
• Which documents in an uncontested divorce case require notarization?
• Does your county accept remote online notarization?
• Is there a local court rule or standing order about signatures that differs from the state default?

Self-help center staff can't tell you how to structure your agreement or what to negotiate with your spouse. That's legal advice, and they're barred from giving it. But procedural questions about what signature format the clerk will accept are exactly the kind of thing they answer every day.

If you're filing in a county with a well-staffed self-help center, consider stopping in during open hours rather than calling. You can often get a quick review of your document checklist on the spot.

What are the costs involved in e-signing and remote notarization for divorce?

Getting documents e-signed and notarized remotely is cheap compared to almost any other cost in a divorce.

A basic e-signature service runs $0 to $50 for a one-time use depending on the platform. Many offer a free tier for a limited number of documents. For a single uncontested divorce document packet, a pay-per-envelope option at services like HelloSign or SignNow costs roughly $10 to $20 for the signing session.

RON sessions cost about $25 to $50 per notarization at the major online notary platforms. If your divorce requires two or three notarized documents, budget $75 to $150 for remote notarization. That's still less than one hour of a divorce attorney's time.

State filing fees are separate and run from about $75 in states like Wyoming to over $400 in some California counties. ^[8] These don't change based on whether you e-sign or wet-sign.

For reference, a document preparation service adds $150 to $500 on top of filing fees. A full-service attorney for an uncontested divorce typically runs $1,000 to $3,500 depending on complexity and geography. The e-signature and RON costs are a rounding error by comparison.

The real savings from e-signing come from avoiding time off work to visit a notary, avoiding printing and overnight-mailing documents, and skipping the delays that come from a spouse in another city needing to find a notary on short notice.

Cost Item	Typical Range
E-signature platform (one-time use)	$0 to $25
Remote online notarization per session	$25 to $50
Court e-filing portal fee (where charged)	$0 to $20
State divorce filing fee	$75 to $435
Document preparation service	$149 to $500
Full-service attorney, uncontested	$1,000 to $3,500

Sources: National Center for State Courts filing fee surveys ^[8]; platform pricing from DocuSign, Notarize.com (current published rates).

Should you use a lawyer just to handle the signature and notarization requirements?

Probably not, unless your case has unusual complexity.

The entire point of an uncontested divorce is that both spouses agree on everything. Once you've reached that agreement, the paperwork is procedural. Understanding your state's signature requirements takes an hour of research, a call to the self-help center, or reading your court's local rules online. That's not something you need to pay attorney rates to figure out.

That said, a limited-scope arrangement where an attorney does a one-time review of your documents (sometimes called "unbundled legal services") can make sense if you own real property together, have retirement accounts to divide, or have any agreement about alimony that runs for years. The attorney reviews the documents, confirms the signature and notarization are set up correctly, and you handle the filing. This might cost $200 to $500 rather than the full $1,000-plus for a fully managed case.

For a genuinely simple uncontested divorce with no real property, no retirement accounts, no children, and agreement on everything, paying an attorney just to sort out the e-signature question is a waste of money. The self-help center, your court's website, and a competent document preparation service can answer those questions for free or very close to it.

If there are children involved, take the time to review the child support calculator for your state, since support amounts are usually set by formula rather than by whatever you and your spouse agree on. Courts won't approve a child support agreement that falls below the formula without a good reason.

At DivorceClear, the $149 complete document packet is built for the uncontested case and includes state-specific guidance on which documents need notarization. The research on this page is yours to use regardless.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use DocuSign or Adobe Sign for my divorce settlement agreement?

Yes, in virtually every state. A marital settlement agreement is a contract, and all 47 states that have adopted UETA (plus D.C.) recognize electronically signed contracts as legally valid. The audit trail these platforms produce, showing each party's email, IP address, and timestamp, is accepted by most courts as sufficient proof of authenticity. The exception is documents requiring notarization, where an e-signature alone isn't enough.

Does Mississippi accept electronic signatures on divorce documents?

Mississippi is one of the few states that has not adopted UETA as of 2025, and it lacks a permanent remote online notarization law. This makes e-signatures on court-filed divorce documents risky in Mississippi. Wet signatures are the safe default. Check with the clerk of court in your specific county before relying on an e-signed document, as practices vary at the local level.

What is remote online notarization and which states allow it for divorce?

Remote online notarization (RON) lets a commissioned notary witness your signature via live video call and apply a digital seal. As of 2025, over 40 states have enacted permanent RON legislation, including Texas, Virginia, Florida, North Carolina, Washington, and Indiana. This matters for divorce because petitions and financial affidavits often require notarization. A RON session typically costs $25 to $50 and takes about 15 minutes.

Do both spouses have to sign in the same place at the same time?

No. E-signature platforms like DocuSign and HelloSign send each party a separate signing link via email. One spouse can sign Monday morning in Phoenix, the other signs Tuesday evening in Boston. The platform stitches the completed signatures into one document and timestamps both. This is one of the biggest practical advantages of e-signing for divorcing couples who are no longer living together.

Will the court reject my divorce filing if I used an e-signature?

It depends on your state and county. In states with strong e-filing systems and permanent RON laws, e-signatures on most divorce documents are standard. In more conservative jurisdictions, a clerk may reject a petition that lacks a wet signature. Always check your court's local rules or call the clerk's office before filing. A rejected filing is fixable but costs you time, and in some cases matters if you have a deadline.

Can I e-sign a QDRO to divide a retirement account in a divorce?

Courts may accept an e-signed QDRO, but the retirement plan administrator often will not. Most 401(k) plan administrators and pension systems still require original wet signatures on QDROs before processing. This is a plan requirement, not a court rule, and it varies by plan. Check with the specific plan administrator before you sign. A QDRO with an improper signature can be returned, causing significant delays in a retirement account transfer.

What if my divorce involves real estate? Does that change the signature requirements?

Yes, usually. While your divorce settlement agreement and court petition can typically be e-signed, any deed that transfers real property must be recorded with the county recorder. Recording statutes in most states require the deed to be notarized, and some county recorders still require wet notarized signatures. Check your state's recording statutes separately from the court's e-filing rules. A properly executed deed is separate from your divorce decree.

How do I find out the exact e-signature rules for my county court?

Three reliable sources: your state court's official website (look for a self-help or pro se litigant section), your county clerk's office (call and ask directly what signature format they accept on divorce petitions), and the National Center for State Courts directory of self-help resources. Most court websites also publish local rules as PDFs. A five-minute phone call to the clerk's office gives you a definitive answer for your specific courthouse.

Is a typed name like '/s/ Jane Smith' a valid electronic signature?

Generally yes, under UETA and the E-SIGN Act, a typed name with an intent to sign is a valid electronic signature. However, some courts require documents submitted via e-filing to follow a specific format like '/s/ Full Name' exactly as written. Check your court's e-filing user guide, as formatting requirements are often spelled out there. Using a dedicated e-signature platform is safer because it creates a documented audit trail that a typed name alone does not.

My spouse lives abroad. Can they electronically sign U.S. divorce documents?

Yes. An e-signature platform works anywhere there's internet access, and a person physically abroad can sign U.S. divorce documents electronically. For documents requiring notarization, some RON platforms can connect your spouse with a U.S.-commissioned notary via video, though requirements vary by state. In some cases, documents signed abroad may need an apostille or consular authentication if the notarization is performed by a foreign official. Check your state's specific requirements.

Are electronic signatures valid on a divorce decree itself?

The final divorce decree is signed by the judge, not the parties, so your e-signature isn't on the decree itself. What you and your spouse sign are the petition, the settlement agreement, and any supporting affidavits. The judge then signs the decree, which is typically an electronic signature through the court's case management system in states with e-filing. You receive the signed decree as a certified electronic copy, or can request a certified paper copy from the clerk.

How long does it take to complete e-signing and remote notarization for a divorce?

The actual signing is fast: an e-signature session takes minutes, and a RON session runs about 10 to 20 minutes per document. Scheduling is the real variable. Most RON platforms offer on-demand notaries 24/7 with wait times of zero to 30 minutes. If both spouses need to sign independently, the process can be complete in under an hour total. Compare this to mailing documents for wet signatures, which can take a week or more each way.

Does California accept electronic signatures on divorce petitions?

California courts have adopted e-filing broadly, and electronic signatures are accepted on many filings, but the rules are highly county-specific. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento counties have their own local rules and e-filing portals with different requirements. California adopted UETA (Civil Code § 1633.1 et seq.) and has a permanent RON process. Check your specific superior court's local rules and self-help center for guidance on exactly which documents need wet or notarized signatures.

What's the difference between UETA and the E-SIGN Act, and which one covers divorce documents?

The E-SIGN Act is a federal law that makes electronic signatures valid for most commercial transactions. UETA is a model state law that most states have adopted to apply similar rules at the state level. For divorce documents, UETA is typically more relevant because family law is state law. UETA's validity rules cover contracts like marital settlement agreements. Court procedural rules layer on top of UETA and govern what the court itself will accept in filings.

Sources

1. Uniform Law Commission, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA): UETA has been adopted by 47 states plus D.C., establishing that electronic signatures have the same legal effect as wet signatures for covered transactions.
2. Conference of State Court Administrators, Year-End Report 2021: E-filing adoption accelerated during the pandemic and most courts moved to make emergency authorizations permanent.
3. Texas Legislature, HB 1217 (87th Legislature, 2021) - Remote Online Notarization: Texas HB 1217 (effective 2021) permanently authorized remote online notarization, including cross-state sessions where the notary is commissioned in Texas.
4. California Courts Self-Help Center: California's judicial branch self-help center provides county-specific guidance on e-filing and signature requirements for family law cases.
5. National Notary Association, Remote Online Notarization State Laws: Over 40 states have enacted permanent RON legislation as of 2025; RON sessions typically cost $25 to $50 per notarization.
6. Illinois General Assembly, 750 ILCS 5/401 - Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act: Illinois requires a 90-day residency period before filing for divorce, illustrating variation in state residency requirements.
7. National Center for State Courts, Self-Help Resource Center: NCSC maintains a directory of state court self-help resources for pro se litigants.
8. National Center for State Courts, Court Statistics Project: State divorce filing fees range from roughly $75 to over $400 depending on the state and county.
9. U.S. Congress, Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN), 15 U.S.C. § 7001: The E-SIGN Act (2000) established that electronic signatures are legally valid for most contracts under federal law.
10. North Carolina General Statutes § 10B-134.1 et seq. - Remote Online Notarization: North Carolina permanently authorized remote online notarization in 2022, removing the need for in-person notarization for acknowledged documents.
11. Virginia Code § 47.1-6.1 - Electronic Notarization: Virginia authorizes remote online notarization and electronic signatures on acknowledged documents under Code § 47.1-6.1.
12. California Civil Code § 1633.1 et seq. - Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (California UETA): California adopted UETA under Civil Code § 1633.1, making electronic signatures valid for contracts including marital settlement agreements.