Fwd: Re: Freelance business practices questions

["Lisa A. Roth" <roth -dot- lisa -at- jimmy -dot- harvard -dot- edu>]

I am not sure that I believe that about e-signatures, either. Although I am 
not thoroughly aware of all of the finer points of the regulation, I know, 
for example, FDA has set forth criteria for the use of e-signatures. 
Assuming their criteria are met, FDA will accept e-signatures (perhaps with 
limitations -- I'm not sure).

A cursory look around Google brings up the following links:

http://www.techlawjournal.com/internet/20000703.htm (relates to Clinton 
signing an e-signature bill into law in 2000)

http://www.nsf.gov/home/grants/grants_sign.htm (provides the National 
Science Foundation's criteria for accepting e-sigs)

http://www.archives.gov/records_management/policy_and_guidance/electronic_signature_technology.html 
(Government Paperwork Elimination Act -- This provides ground rules for the 
use of e-signatures in government. I didn't look too closely, but the date 
tell me that this might be the same law referred to in the first link.)

I wish I could help with the other issues that Bonnie raised, but I am not 
an experienced freelancer. One thing, however, is that I have lived abroad 
and transferred funds internationally. In that case, a simple bank transfer 
did the trick. Perhaps you could go that route. Although you have probably 
got your bases covered tax-wise, do be sure to find out what you need to do 
in order to avoid getting hit with a big tax bill in April, as you 
naturally won't be having any advance payroll deductions taken from you. (I 
realize that's probably a given for freelancers; not being one myself, I 
figured I'd mention it anyway.)

--Lisa