An electronic signature, as defined in Section 17, by a court or judicial officer shall be as effective as an original signature.
§ 34.Electronic signature by court or judicial officer
Preliminary Provisions · Enacted 2015 · no amendments on record · Last verified July 28, 2026
In one sentenceSection 34 provides that an electronic signature by a court or judicial officer is as effective as an original, handwritten signature.
Full Text of § 34
Plain-English Summary
Section 34 puts electronic and handwritten signatures on equal footing for courts and judicial officers. When a court or judicial officer signs electronically — using an electronic signature as Section 17 defines it — that signature carries the same legal effect as an original signature.
It’s a short provision, but it clears the way for courts to sign orders, judgments, and other documents electronically without any question about their validity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an electronic signature by a judge as valid as a handwritten one?
Yes. Section 34 provides that an electronic signature by a court or judicial officer is as effective as an original signature.
What counts as an “electronic signature” for this purpose?
Section 34 relies on the definition in Section 17: an electronic sound, symbol, or process attached to or logically associated with an electronic record and executed or adopted with the intent to sign it.
Amendment History
Added Stats 2015 ch 32 § 2 (AB 432), effective January 1, 2016.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
the Deering's California Codes Annotated / vLex. Enacted by the California Legislature.
Last verified July 28, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: electronic signature by judge CaliforniaCCP section 34e-signature court order California