How to Send a Document for Signature Online: A Step-by-Step Guide

Sending a document for electronic signature is genuinely simple once you have done it once, but the first time is where most people hesitate — not because it is complicated, but because they are not sure what actually happens after they click send. Here is the full process from upload to signed copy.

Step 1: Upload the document

Start with the PDF (or Word document, which most platforms convert automatically) you need signed — a lease, a proposal, an NDA, anything. On Codec Document, this is a single upload step, and the platform reads the document so you can place signature fields on the correct pages in the next step.

Step 2: Add your signer (or signers)

Enter the name and email of whoever needs to sign. For documents with more than one signer, most platforms let you add each person individually and track their signature status separately, so you can see exactly who has signed and who is still pending.

Step 3: Place the signature field

Drag the signature block onto the exact spot on the document where it should appear — most tools let you resize it and add a date field alongside it. This step takes seconds and only needs to be done once; the platform remembers the layout if you reuse the same template later.

Free to use — no credit card required

Up to 18 free documents & signatures a month

2 documents + 2 signatures every 72 hours, no limit on how many cycles you use.

Step 4: Send the signing link

The signer receives an email (or a direct link you can send yourself via text or messaging app) that opens the document in their browser — no account or software installation required on their end. They review the document, draw or type their signature, and confirm.

No app download or account creation required for the signer

Works on any device with a browser, including phones

The signer can review the full document before signing, not just the signature page

Step 5: Track status and download the signed copy

Once signed, you get notified immediately, and the fully executed document — complete with the audit trail data (timestamp, IP address, document hash) — becomes available to download as a certified PDF. On Codec Document, every document you create or sign stays saved in your account under "My Documents," so you always have a copy ready to download later, even if you close the tab right after signing.

Frequently asked questions

Does the person I send it to need to create an account?

No — most e-signature platforms, including Codec Document, let the recipient sign directly from the link with no account required.

What happens if I need multiple people to sign the same document?

You add each signer separately when setting up the document, and the platform tracks each person's signature status individually, notifying you as each one completes it.

Where does the signed document go after everyone has signed?

It is saved automatically to your account (under "My Documents" on Codec Document) as a certified, downloadable PDF with the full audit trail attached.