When you set up an agreement in Common Paper, you start by creating an agreement template. This is where you define the Cover Page variables you want to use for this type of agreement.
You can create as many templates as you want. For example, you could make several Cloud Service Agreement templates with different Cover Page variables for different products, or different market segments.
The Templates page
Click Templates in the left navigation to see all of your templates in one list. Templates built on Common Paper Standards and templates built from your own Terms and Cover Pages appear together. The list has these columns:
Template Name is the name your team sees when picking a template.
Terms is the terms the template is built on. Templates built on a Common Paper Standard show it by name, such as Common Paper Standard CSA, with the Common Paper logo. Cover Page templates show the name of their Terms, or Cover Page only.
Version is the version of the terms new agreements are built from.
Completed Agreements is how many signed agreements were created from the template.
Use the search box above the list to find a template by name, terms, or agreement type. As you type, suggestions appear, and choosing one adds it as a filter.
The ⋮ menu on each row lets you create an agreement from the template, download a sample agreement, view, edit, archive, or duplicate it.
Documents you upload to send out as-is are listed separately, under Signature-only templates below the main list. See Signature-only Templates (Uploaded Templates).
To see templates you've archived, click Show archived templates below the list. The link appears once you've archived at least one template.
Adding a new template
Click Add new template in the upper right of the Templates page. This opens the Add a new template page, where you choose what to build.
Common Paper Standards
The Common Paper Standards section has a card for each Standard Agreement Common Paper publishes, such as the Mutual Non-Disclosure Agreement, Cloud Service Agreement, Data Processing Agreement, and Professional Services Agreement. Click a card to start a new template of that type.
To narrow the cards down:
Type in the Search for templates by name box.
Click Filter by use case like sales or confidentiality and choose a use case: Confidentiality, Design, Clickthrough terms, Sales and services, Partnerships, or Compliance. Choose All agreements to clear the filter.
NOTE: The Terms of Service card opens a setup guide on the Common Paper website rather than a new template form.
Write your own
To build an agreement from your own legal terms, choose Set up a custom agreement under Write your own. This starts with your Terms, then the Cover Page that uses them. See Custom Agreements.
Use an AI skill
If you'd rather set up templates by describing what you want to an AI assistant, click Or, use an AI skill next to the search box. This provides instructions on how to connect Claude, ChatGPT, or another MCP tool to Common Paper, or install the Common Paper plugin in a coding assistant like Claude Code. Once connected, you can ask for something like "Create a new mutual NDA template with a 2-year term".
For full setup steps, see Common Paper and LLMs and Using the Common Paper Plugin.
Reordering your templates
You choose the order your templates appear in anywhere your team is asked to pick one, such as the Create or import an agreement menu on the Agreements page.
On the Templates page, click Change order below the list.
On the Reorder your templates page, drag each template into the position you want.
Each move saves as soon as you drop the template, so there's no save button. The order includes your signature-only templates, and it's also the order the Templates page uses.
Only admins can reorder templates, and the Change order link only appears once you have at least two templates.
Template settings
These settings control the defaults for all agreements created with this template. Admins can override a default setting on individual agreements.
Signer
If you have a Common Paper Growth or Enterprise plan, you can set a default person who will be asked to sign your agreement on behalf of your organization. If you have a Free or Startup plan, the person who sends the agreement will be set as the signer.
Allow negotiation?
If turned on, your counterparty will be allowed to propose changes to your Cover Page variables. If turned off, your counterparty will only have the option to sign, or decline the agreement.
Automation
Set how long your agreements remain open for signing with Agreement request expiration.
Document settings
Controls whether a copy of the agreement’s Standard Terms is included in the final pdf that gets signed by all parties.
User Roles
Templates can only be created, edited, and reordered by account Admins.
Standard users can access templates and create agreements from them, but can only change certain terms that need to vary from agreement to agreement, such as a CSA Order Form.
Learn more
Common Paper has many more features for streamlining your full contract workflow, from drafts to signatures to notification integrations. Check out the Features and Integrations article collection for more.