Sometimes agreements are created or negotiated outside of Common Paper. When this happens, you have a few options for uploading files and collecting digital signatures. This allows you to get your signed agreements back into Common Paper, complete in-progress agreements, and store everything in one place.

NOTE: Common Paper does not let you edit the content of an uploaded file. Make any changes to the document in Word or Google Docs before you upload it. See Editing an Uploaded Agreement for what can and can't be changed after upload.

In order to collect signature, upload the file by clicking on the Import a Word doc or PDF option available under the Create or import an agreement button the Agreements page. Alternatively, you can use email ingestion.

This will bring you to a page where you can upload the file. Note that only DOCX and PDF files are currently supported, and the file must be less than 10MB.

Documents can be in any language, including those with non-Latin scripts such as Chinese. Common Paper's interface and signing experience remain in English, but there are no restrictions on the language of the document content itself.

Once you've done that, click continue and it will bring you to a page with a PDF preview of the file and a few options for what to do with the file.

To collect signatures, choose Ready to be signed and click Next.

The next screen let's you specify whether this file completes an existing agreement or is a new agreement.

Completing an Existing Agreement

If the agreement you are uploading for signatures is associated with an agreement that started in Common Paper, you can choose that agreement here.

Once you've completed the signature process, the associated Common Paper in progress agreement will be marked as Completed, the history will be updated, and the signed PDF attached.

NOTE: You can also trigger the completion of an in-flight agreement with an uploaded PDF from the in-flight agreement itself. Under the Other Actions menu, there's a link for Import to Complete which will take you straight to the Import process form with several sections already pre-filled.

Just select Yes, and choose the correct agreement from the dropdown.

Creating a New Agreement

If it's a new agreement, you'll be asked to specify the agreement type, which affects filtering and exports. You can also use a Custom Agreement Type (see below).

Neither choice changes what you can edit. Whether the upload is a new agreement or completes an existing one, the content of the file is fixed once uploaded.

Below the new/existing agreement options is a form that lets you select who needs to sign the agreement.

The number of signature fields you'll be asked to place in the document, as well as a few different options for sending the agreement hinge on the selection that you make here.

Make your selections and click Next.

Select Your Organization Only when no counterparty signature is required. You can designate yourself or any other Common Paper user in your account as the signer.

You'll still be asked to provide counterparty information - name, organization name (optional), and email address. These details are used to identify the agreement in the system only. Entering the counterparty's email here does not send them any notification.

After placing your signature fields, if you are the designated signer you'll sign the document inline immediately. If you assigned a different signer, they'll receive an email with a link to sign.

Once signing is complete, you'll see a separate option to notify the counterparty by email. This is a distinct step from the email field above - it's how you choose to send the counterparty a copy of the fully signed document. This is useful when the counterparty has already provided their signed copy and you're just adding your organization's signature before sending them the completed document.

NOTE: The counterparty email you enter in the signers step and the notification checkbox at the end are two separate things. The email field identifies who the counterparty is - it does not send them anything. The checkbox is what actually triggers a notification email to them.

You will then see a drag-and-drop interface for placing your signature fields in the signature block of your file. A typical Common Paper signature block contains the following fields:

Some of this information may be in your document already, so you can skip placing those fields. Depending on your selections in the previous section, drag and drop each field to the corresponding place in your file's signature block.

These fields are for filling in blanks that already exist in your document. They do not change or overwrite text that is already in the file.

NOTE: If your uploaded document contains hardcoded signatory names - names typed directly into the document text rather than placed as signature fields - updating the recipient's details in Common Paper will not change those names. If you need to correct a hardcoded name, cancel the signature request and re-upload a corrected file.

Once you have placed your fields, you can send your signature request to your recipient. Most regular agreement features are supported, such as automated reminders and signature request expirations dates. For agreement types that support collecting fees, you can even include a post-signature billing workflow.

Once the agreement is signed by all parties, you'll be asked to fill in some metadata about the agreement to help with filtering and sorting.

If you are the last to sign, you'll be taken to this form directly. If your recipient (or another internal signer) is the last to sign, you'll see this agreement listed on the Agreement List page like this:

Clicking on the link will take you to the form to fill in the details.

A few notes about the fields on the form:

If you need to change the content of an uploaded agreement after it has been sent for signature, there is no way to edit the file in Common Paper. Propose Changes is not available either - that option only works for agreements created natively in Common Paper.

To modify the document, open the agreement details page, go to Other Actions, and select Cancel Signature Request. This voids the current signature request. Once canceled, correct the document in Word or Google Docs, re-upload it, and send a new signature request.

NOTE: For agreements that were newly uploaded and are not completing an existing Common Paper agreement, canceling permanently deletes the uploaded file and it cannot be recovered. Save a copy outside Common Paper before you cancel.

If your counterparty edits an uploaded agreement in Google Docs or Word and sends their version back, follow these steps to get it signed:

If you want a version history of the negotiation instead, create the agreement from a Common Paper template rather than uploading it. Agreements created in Common Paper support Propose Changes and keep a record of every version.

Signature requests can be canceled from the agreement details page, in Other actions. If your agreement originated in Common Paper, it will be returned to its previous status and settings, and it can then be voided if you choose.

NOTE: If your agreement was uploaded (not created natively in Common Paper), canceling the signature request permanently and irrecoverably deletes the uploaded file. There is no way to restore it. If you still need the file, make sure you have a copy saved elsewhere before canceling - then re-upload the document and send a new signature request.

Unlike agreements created in Common Paper, you can edit the tracking details you supplied when uploading the file. On the agreement details page, under Other Actions click on the Edit agreement details link and you'll be able to adjust Agreement Type, Internal Owner, Effective Date, and End Date.

Those four fields are the only editable fields on an uploaded agreement. You cannot edit the content of the document, and uploaded agreements do not have key terms or a Cover Page - those exist only on agreements created from a Common Paper template. Editing the details changes how Common Paper tracks and reports on the agreement. It does not change what the document says.

For the full picture of what can and can't be changed, see Editing an Uploaded Agreement. To change the terms of an agreement that is already signed, issue an amendment.

The application doesn't limit you to only the agreement types that are built in to Common Paper. You can also create your own custom agreement types, which can then be used to sort and filter agreements, and are present when exporting data as well.

There are two ways to create a custom agreement type:

Admins can edit and delete Custom Agreement Types from the Settings page.