Docusign
PDF is a format, and Docusign is a signature management tool. I've heard people confuse the two.
You don't need an account to sign documents, and you can have a free account if you want to see the documents that you have signed. In order to send a document requesting a signature, you'll have to pay for an account: ~ $50/month.
A "Document" is what needs signatures and tracking added, could be pdf, doc, html or a lot of other choices.
A "Envelope" is the combination of "document", signature, and tracking. An envelope can contain many documents, but they signing person will get the whole package.
- Multiple signatures are allowed, and each will be color coordinated.
- You can make fields required or optional.
- And Envelopes do have an expiration date that can be adjusted.
Templates
possible for repeatable documents.
- create or upload a doc to start
- placeholders in the template can be labeled, like "provider" and "client"
- "need to sign" drop down can be selected to be changed to cc-only if desired.
Go to Templates tab when ready to use.
Click on the "Use" button on the right side of the template in the list.
- define the recipients; who is the actual provider and/or client, etc...
- can edit the doc if needed
- or just hit send
Manage
Quick views on the 'manage' dashboard has all the status:
- action required: once you sign what's needed, it will move to 'waiting for others'
- waiting for others
- expiring soon
- etc...
You can download the signed document and also the tracking certificate of all the actions, or you can just view in docusign dashboard under manage.
As a signer, you can decline or assign to someone else to sign.