---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 7003"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "7003"
heading: "Specific exceptions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/7003"
units:
  - "Chapter 96 — Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce"
  - "Subchapter I — Electronic Records and Signatures in Commerce"
---

# §7003. Specific exceptions

- (a) **Excepted requirements—** The provisions of [section 7001 of this title](/usc/15/7001.md) shall not apply to a contract or other [record](/usc/15/7006.md?p=9) to the extent it is governed by—
  - (1) a statute, regulation, or other rule of law governing the creation and execution of wills, codicils, or testamentary trusts;
  - (2) a [State](/usc/15/7006.md?p=12) statute, regulation, or other rule of law governing adoption, divorce, or other matters of family law; or
  - (3) the Uniform Commercial Code, as in effect in any [State](/usc/15/7006.md?p=12), other than sections 1–107 and 1–206 and Articles 2 and 2A.
- (b) **Additional exceptions—** The provisions of [section 7001 of this title](/usc/15/7001.md) shall not apply to—
  - (1) court orders or notices, or official court documents (including briefs, pleadings, and other writings) required to be executed in connection with court proceedings;
  - (2) any notice of—
    - (A) the cancellation or termination of utility services (including water, heat, and power);
    - (B) default, acceleration, repossession, foreclosure, or eviction, or the right to cure, under a credit [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) secured by, or a rental [agreement](/usc/15/7a.md?p=2) for, a primary residence of an individual;
    - (C) the cancellation or termination of health insurance or benefits or life insurance benefits (excluding annuities); or
    - (D) recall of a product, or material failure of a product, that risks endangering health or safety; or
  - (3) any document required to accompany any transportation or handling of hazardous materials, pesticides, or other toxic or dangerous materials.
- (c) **Review of exceptions—**
  - (1) **Evaluation required—** The Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Assistant Secretary for Communications and [Information](/usc/15/7006.md?p=7), shall review the operation of the exceptions in subsections [(a)](#a) and [(b)](#b) to evaluate, over a period of 3 years, whether such exceptions continue to be necessary for the protection of [consumers](/usc/15/7006.md?p=1). Within 3 years after June 30, 2000, the Assistant Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress on the results of such evaluation.
  - (2) **Determinations—** If a [Federal regulatory agency](/usc/15/7006.md?p=6), with respect to matter within its jurisdiction, determines after notice and an opportunity for public comment, and publishes a finding, that one or more such exceptions are no longer necessary for the protection of [consumers](/usc/15/7006.md?p=1) and eliminating such exceptions will not increase the material risk of harm to [consumers](/usc/15/7006.md?p=1), such agency may extend the application of [section 7001 of this title](/usc/15/7001.md) to the exceptions identified in such finding.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 106–229, title I, § 103, June 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 468.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Oct. 1, 2000, with exceptions relating to record retention and certain loans, see section 107 of Pub. L. 106–229, set out as a note under section 7001 of this title.