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Your First Signature

Complete walkthrough for sending your first document for signature with Chaindoc. Get familiar with the signing workflow in just 5 minutes.

Before You Start

Make sure you have:

  • A Chaindoc account (sign up for free at chaindoc.io)
  • A document to sign (PDF, Word, or image format)
  • Email addresses of people who need to sign
  • Basic understanding of digital signatures

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Upload Your Document

1Navigate to DocumentsClick the 'Documents' menu in the sidebar or dashboard

2Click 'New Document'Find the 'New Document' or 'Upload' button in the top right

3Select FileChoose your document (PDF recommended, max 50MB)

4Add DetailsEnter document name, description, and tags for easy organization

Step 2: Configure Document Settings

Before requesting signatures, configure your document:

  • Document Name - Clear, descriptive title
  • Description - Brief summary of what needs to be signed
  • Access Level - Private (only you), Team (shared with team), or Public
  • Hashtags - Add tags like #contract, #urgent for organization
  • Metadata - Add custom fields like client name, contract value, etc.
terminal
{
  "name": "Service Agreement - Acme Corp",
  "description": "Annual service contract for 2024",
  "accessType": "private",
  "hashtags": ["#contract", "#2024", "#acme"],
  "meta": [
    { "key": "client", "value": "Acme Corp" },
    { "key": "value", "value": "$50,000" },
    { "key": "duration", "value": "12 months" }
  ]
}

Step 3: Create Signature Request

Now that your document is uploaded, create a signature request:

1Click 'Request Signatures'Find the button on the document details page

2Add RecipientsEnter email addresses of signers (one per line or comma-separated)

3Set Signing OrderChoose 'Parallel' (all sign at once) or 'Sequential' (one after another)

4Set DeadlineChoose when signatures must be completed by

5Add MessageWrite a personalized message to signers explaining what they're signing

Step 4: Configure Advanced Options

Customize the signing experience:

  • KYC Verification - Require identity verification for high-security documents
  • Reminders - Automatic email reminders before deadline
  • Access After Signing - Allow signers to download after completion
  • Notifications - Email/SMS notifications for signing events
  • Expiration - Auto-expire request after deadline

Step 5: Review and Send

Before sending, review all details:

terminal
✓ Document: Service Agreement - Acme Corp
✓ Recipients: 2 signers
  - john@acme.com (CEO)
  - jane@partner.com (Legal Counsel)
✓ Signing Order: Sequential (John → Jane)
✓ Deadline: December 31, 2024
✓ KYC Required: No
✓ Message: "Please review and sign our annual service agreement"

[Preview Document] [Cancel] [Send Request]

Step 6: Track Progress

Monitor your signature request in real-time:

  • Status Dashboard - See who has signed and who's pending
  • Activity Timeline - View all events with timestamps
  • Email Notifications - Get notified on each signature
  • Reminders - System sends automatic reminders to pending signers
  • Cancel/Modify - Cancel request or resend to specific recipients
terminal
Signature Request Status:
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

✓ John Doe (john@acme.com)
  Status: Signed
  Signed at: Dec 4, 2024, 10:30 AM
  IP: 192.168.1.1
  
⏳ Jane Smith (jane@partner.com)
  Status: Pending
  Sent: Dec 4, 2024, 10:15 AM
  Last reminded: Dec 4, 2024, 2:00 PM
  
Deadline: Dec 31, 2024, 11:59 PM
Progress: 1/2 signatures (50%)

Step 7: Download Signed Document

Once all signatures are collected:

1Completion NotificationYou'll receive email notification when all signatures are complete

2Download DocumentClick 'Download' to get the signed PDF with all signatures

3Blockchain CertificateDownload the blockchain verification certificate as proof of authenticity

4Audit TrailExport complete signing history with timestamps and IP addresses

What Recipients See

When recipients receive your signature request:

1Email NotificationThey receive email with 'Review and Sign' button

2Identity VerificationOne-time password (OTP) sent to their email for security

3Document ReviewFull document preview with ability to zoom and navigate

4Sign DocumentApply signature by drawing, typing, or uploading image

5ConfirmationReceive confirmation email with copy of signed document

Common Questions

What if a signer doesn't receive the email?

Check spam folder first. If not there, you can resend the invitation from the signature request status page. Click 'Resend' next to the recipient's name.

Can I cancel a signature request?

Yes! Navigate to the signature request and click 'Cancel Request'. This will notify all pending signers that the request has been cancelled.

What happens after the deadline?

The request automatically expires and no further signatures can be collected. You'll receive a notification and can create a new request with a new deadline if needed.

Are the signatures legally binding?

Yes! Chaindoc signatures comply with eIDAS (EU), ESIGN Act (US), and UETA regulations. Blockchain verification provides additional legal evidence of document authenticity.

Can signers download the document before signing?

By default, signers can only view documents online. You can enable 'Download Before Signing' in advanced settings if needed.

Next Steps

  • Set Up Team - Invite colleagues to collaborate on documents
  • Create Workflows - Automate recurring signature processes
  • Explore Templates - Save time with reusable document templates
  • API Integration - Integrate Chaindoc into your applications
  • Security Best Practices - Learn about compliance and data protection