How signature requests work

01The steps

Sending a request needs an account; signing one does not.

1. 1You add the PDF, the signers in signing order, and a signature or initials field for each of them.
2. 2The first signer receives an email with a personal link. You receive a confirmation email with your own management link.
3. 3Each signer opens their link, fills in their fields, agrees to sign electronically and signs — or declines, optionally giving a reason.
4. 4As soon as one person signs, the next one receives their link.
5. 5When the last person signs, everyone receives an email with a link to the signed PDF.

02The emails you will see

Every email about a request is about that request only; none of them is marketing.

• Request sent — to you, with the management link that shows progress and lets you send reminders.
• Closing soon — to you, three days before the request expires if not everyone has signed.
• Declined — to you, with the signer’s reason if they gave one. The request closes.
• Expired — to you, when the end date passes before everyone has signed.
• Completed — to you and every signer, with a link to the signed PDF.

03How many requests your plan includes

Requests are counted when they are sent, over the last 30 days. Free and trial accounts can send 3; day and week passes and the Monthly and Yearly plans can send 25; each Team seat can send 100. Your requests page shows how many you have used.

04How the document is protected and when it is deleted

The document is encrypted before it is sent, and only the encrypted copy is stored. The key that opens it travels inside the signing links and is not kept by us, so the stored file cannot be opened without a link.

Encrypted files are deleted 30 days after a request is completed, declined or expires, and when you cancel it. A request that was started but never sent is deleted after a day. The record of who was asked to sign and when stays in your account until you delete the request.