---
title: Templates API
description: Create documents from reusable templates via API.
---

import { Callout } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/callout';
import { Tab, Tabs } from 'fumadocs-ui/components/tabs';

<Callout type="warn">
  This guide may not reflect the latest endpoints or parameters. For an always up-to-date reference,
  see the [OpenAPI Reference](https://openapi.documenso.com).
</Callout>

## Template Object

A template object contains the following properties:

| Property            | Type           | Description                                            |
| ------------------- | -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| `id`                | number         | Unique template identifier                             |
| `envelopeId`        | string         | Associated envelope ID                                 |
| `type`              | string         | Template type: `PRIVATE` or `PUBLIC`                   |
| `visibility`        | string         | Who can view: `EVERYONE`, `ADMIN`, `MANAGER_AND_ABOVE` |
| `title`             | string         | Template title                                         |
| `externalId`        | string \| null | Your custom identifier                                 |
| `publicTitle`       | string \| null | Public-facing title (for public templates)             |
| `publicDescription` | string \| null | Public-facing description (for public templates)       |
| `userId`            | number         | Owner's user ID                                        |
| `teamId`            | number \| null | Team ID if team-owned                                  |
| `folderId`          | string \| null | Folder containing the template                         |
| `createdAt`         | string         | ISO 8601 timestamp                                     |
| `updatedAt`         | string         | ISO 8601 timestamp                                     |
| `recipients`        | array          | Predefined recipients with roles and fields            |
| `fields`            | array          | Signature and form fields on the template              |
| `templateMeta`      | object         | Email settings, signing options, redirect URL          |
| `directLink`        | object \| null | Direct link configuration if enabled                   |

### Example Template Object

```json
{
  "id": 123,
  "envelopeId": "envelope_abc123xyz",
  "type": "PRIVATE",
  "visibility": "EVERYONE",
  "title": "Employment Contract",
  "externalId": "template-emp-001",
  "publicTitle": null,
  "publicDescription": null,
  "userId": 1,
  "teamId": 5,
  "folderId": null,
  "createdAt": "2025-01-10T08:00:00.000Z",
  "updatedAt": "2025-01-10T08:30:00.000Z",
  "recipients": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "email": "employee@example.com",
      "name": "Employee",
      "role": "SIGNER",
      "signingOrder": 1
    },
    {
      "id": 2,
      "email": "hr@company.com",
      "name": "HR Manager",
      "role": "SIGNER",
      "signingOrder": 2
    }
  ],
  "fields": [
    {
      "id": 101,
      "type": "SIGNATURE",
      "page": 1,
      "positionX": 10,
      "positionY": 80,
      "width": 30,
      "height": 5,
      "recipientId": 1
    }
  ],
  "templateMeta": {
    "subject": "Your Employment Contract",
    "message": "Please review and sign your employment contract.",
    "redirectUrl": "https://example.com/welcome"
  },
  "directLink": null
}
```

## List Templates

Retrieve a paginated list of templates.

```
GET /template
```

### Query Parameters

| Parameter          | Type    | Description                                       |
| ------------------ | ------- | ------------------------------------------------- |
| `page`             | integer | Page number (default: 1)                          |
| `perPage`          | integer | Results per page (default: 10, max: 100)          |
| `type`             | string  | Filter by type: `PRIVATE` or `PUBLIC`             |
| `folderId`         | string  | Filter by folder ID                               |
| `orderByColumn`    | string  | Sort field (only `createdAt` supported)           |
| `orderByDirection` | string  | Sort direction: `asc` or `desc` (default: `desc`) |

### Code Examples

<Tabs items={['curl', 'TypeScript']}>
<Tab value="curl">
```bash
# List all templates
curl -X GET "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template" \
  -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"

# Filter by type and paginate

curl -X GET "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template?type=PRIVATE&page=1&perPage=20" \
 -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"

````
</Tab>
<Tab value="TypeScript">
```typescript
const API_TOKEN = process.env.DOCUMENSO_API_TOKEN;
const BASE_URL = 'https://app.documenso.com/api/v2';

// List all templates
const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template`, {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
  },
});

const { data, pagination } = await response.json();
console.log(`Found ${pagination.totalItems} templates`);

// Filter by type
const privateResponse = await fetch(
  `${BASE_URL}/template?type=PRIVATE&page=1&perPage=20`,
  {
    method: 'GET',
    headers: {
      Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    },
  }
);

const privateTemplates = await privateResponse.json();
````

</Tab>
</Tabs>

### Response

```json
{
  "data": [
    {
      "id": 123,
      "envelopeId": "envelope_abc123",
      "type": "PRIVATE",
      "title": "Employment Contract",
      "createdAt": "2025-01-10T08:00:00.000Z",
      "updatedAt": "2025-01-10T08:30:00.000Z",
      "recipients": [
        {
          "id": 1,
          "email": "employee@example.com",
          "name": "Employee",
          "role": "SIGNER"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "pagination": {
    "page": 1,
    "perPage": 10,
    "totalPages": 3,
    "totalItems": 25
  }
}
```

---

## Get Template

Retrieve a single template by ID.

```
GET /template/{templateId}
```

### Path Parameters

| Parameter    | Type   | Description     |
| ------------ | ------ | --------------- |
| `templateId` | number | The template ID |

### Code Examples

<Tabs items={['curl', 'TypeScript']}>
<Tab value="curl">
```bash
curl -X GET "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template/123" \
  -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
```
</Tab>
<Tab value="TypeScript">
```typescript
const templateId = 123;

const response = await fetch(`https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template/${templateId}`, {
  method: 'GET',
  headers: {
    Authorization: 'api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx',
  },
});

const template = await response.json();
console.log(template.title, template.recipients.length);
```
</Tab>
</Tabs>

### Response

Returns the full template object including recipients, fields, and metadata.

---

## Create Document from Template

Create a new document using a template. This is the primary way to use templates programmatically.

<Callout type="info">
  This endpoint does not support [PDF placeholder parsing](/docs/users/documents/advanced/pdf-placeholders). Use `POST /envelope/create` for placeholder-based field positioning.
</Callout>

```

POST /template/use

````

### Request Body

| Field               | Type    | Required | Description                                                |
| ------------------- | ------- | -------- | ---------------------------------------------------------- |
| `templateId`        | number  | Yes      | The template ID to use                                     |
| `recipients`        | array   | Yes      | Recipient details (maps to template recipients)            |
| `distributeDocument`| boolean | No       | If `true`, immediately send the document to recipients     |
| `externalId`        | string  | No       | Your custom identifier for the created document            |
| `folderId`          | string  | No       | Folder ID to create the document in                        |
| `prefillFields`     | array   | No       | Pre-fill field values before sending                       |
| `override`          | object  | No       | Override template settings for this document               |
| `formValues`        | object  | No       | PDF form values to insert                                  |

### Recipients Array

Each recipient object must include:

| Field   | Type   | Required | Description                                    |
| ------- | ------ | -------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| `id`    | number | Yes      | The recipient ID from the template             |
| `email` | string | Yes      | Recipient's email address                      |
| `name`  | string | No       | Recipient's display name                       |

### Code Examples

<Tabs items={['curl', 'TypeScript']}>
<Tab value="curl">
```bash
# Create document from template
curl -X POST "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template/use" \
  -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "templateId": 123,
    "recipients": [
      {
        "id": 1,
        "email": "john.doe@example.com",
        "name": "John Doe"
      },
      {
        "id": 2,
        "email": "jane.smith@company.com",
        "name": "Jane Smith"
      }
    ],
    "distributeDocument": true,
    "externalId": "contract-2025-001"
  }'

# Create document with field prefilling
curl -X POST "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template/use" \
  -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "templateId": 123,
    "recipients": [
      {
        "id": 1,
        "email": "john.doe@example.com",
        "name": "John Doe"
      }
    ],
    "prefillFields": [
      {
        "id": 101,
        "type": "text",
        "value": "Senior Software Engineer"
      },
      {
        "id": 102,
        "type": "number",
        "value": "85000"
      },
      {
        "id": 103,
        "type": "date",
        "value": "2025-02-01"
      }
    ],
    "distributeDocument": true
  }'
````

</Tab>
<Tab value="TypeScript">
```typescript
const API_TOKEN = process.env.DOCUMENSO_API_TOKEN;
const BASE_URL = 'https://app.documenso.com/api/v2';

// Create document from template
const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/use`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 123,
    recipients: [
      {
        id: 1,
        email: 'john.doe@example.com',
        name: 'John Doe',
      },
      {
        id: 2,
        email: 'jane.smith@company.com',
        name: 'Jane Smith',
      },
    ],
    distributeDocument: true,
    externalId: 'contract-2025-001',
  }),
});

const document = await response.json();
console.log('Created document:', document.id);

// Create document with prefilled fields
const prefillResponse = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/use`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 123,
    recipients: [
      {
        id: 1,
        email: 'john.doe@example.com',
        name: 'John Doe',
      },
    ],
    prefillFields: [
      {
        id: 101,
        type: 'text',
        value: 'Senior Software Engineer',
      },
      {
        id: 102,
        type: 'number',
        value: '85000',
      },
      {
        id: 103,
        type: 'date',
        value: '2025-02-01',
      },
    ],
    distributeDocument: true,
  }),
});

const prefilledDocument = await prefillResponse.json();
````
</Tab>
</Tabs>

### Response

Returns the created document object with recipients and signing URLs.

```json
{
  "id": "envelope_xyz789",
  "type": "DOCUMENT",
  "status": "PENDING",
  "title": "Employment Contract",
  "source": "TEMPLATE",
  "externalId": "contract-2025-001",
  "recipients": [
    {
      "id": 1,
      "email": "john.doe@example.com",
      "name": "John Doe",
      "role": "SIGNER",
      "signingStatus": "NOT_SIGNED",
      "signingUrl": "https://app.documenso.com/sign/abc123"
    }
  ]
}
````

---

## Override Template Settings

When creating a document from a template, you can override various settings:

```typescript
const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/use`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 123,
    recipients: [{ id: 1, email: 'signer@example.com', name: 'Signer' }],
    override: {
      title: 'Custom Document Title',
      subject: 'Custom email subject',
      message: 'Custom email message body',
      timezone: 'America/New_York',
      dateFormat: 'MM/dd/yyyy',
      redirectUrl: 'https://example.com/custom-redirect',
      language: 'de',
      typedSignatureEnabled: true,
      uploadSignatureEnabled: false,
      drawSignatureEnabled: true,
    },
    distributeDocument: true,
  }),
});
```

### Override Options

| Field                    | Type    | Description                     |
| ------------------------ | ------- | ------------------------------- |
| `title`                  | string  | Document title                  |
| `subject`                | string  | Email subject line              |
| `message`                | string  | Email body message              |
| `timezone`               | string  | Timezone for date fields        |
| `dateFormat`             | string  | Date format string              |
| `redirectUrl`            | string  | URL to redirect after signing   |
| `language`               | string  | Document language code          |
| `typedSignatureEnabled`  | boolean | Allow typed signatures          |
| `uploadSignatureEnabled` | boolean | Allow uploaded signature images |
| `drawSignatureEnabled`   | boolean | Allow drawn signatures          |

---

## Prefill Fields

Prefill field values when creating a document from a template. This is useful for populating known data before sending.

### Supported Field Types

| Type       | Value Format      | Description                    |
| ---------- | ----------------- | ------------------------------ |
| `text`     | string            | Text field value               |
| `number`   | string            | Numeric value as string        |
| `date`     | string (ISO 8601) | Date in `YYYY-MM-DD` format    |
| `radio`    | string            | Selected option value          |
| `checkbox` | array of strings  | Array of checked option values |
| `dropdown` | string            | Selected dropdown value        |

### Prefill Field Schema

```typescript
type PrefillField = {
  id: number; // Field ID from template
  type: string; // Field type (must match template field)
  label?: string; // Optional label override
  placeholder?: string; // Optional placeholder (text/number only)
  value: string | string[]; // Value to prefill
};
```

### Example: Prefill Multiple Field Types

```typescript
const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/use`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 123,
    recipients: [{ id: 1, email: 'signer@example.com', name: 'Signer' }],
    prefillFields: [
      // Text field
      {
        id: 101,
        type: 'text',
        value: 'John Doe',
      },
      // Number field
      {
        id: 102,
        type: 'number',
        value: '50000',
      },
      // Date field
      {
        id: 103,
        type: 'date',
        value: '2025-03-15',
      },
      // Radio field (select one option)
      {
        id: 104,
        type: 'radio',
        value: 'full-time',
      },
      // Checkbox field (select multiple options)
      {
        id: 105,
        type: 'checkbox',
        value: ['health', 'dental', '401k'],
      },
      // Dropdown field
      {
        id: 106,
        type: 'dropdown',
        value: 'engineering',
      },
    ],
    distributeDocument: true,
  }),
});
```

<Callout type="warn">
  The field type in `prefillFields` must match the actual field type in the template. A mismatch
  will result in an error.
</Callout>

---

## Update Template

Update a template's properties.

```
POST /template/update
```

### Request Body

| Field        | Type   | Required | Description                          |
| ------------ | ------ | -------- | ------------------------------------ |
| `templateId` | number | Yes      | Template ID                          |
| `data`       | object | No       | Template properties to update        |
| `meta`       | object | No       | Email and signing settings to update |

### Code Examples

<Tabs items={['curl', 'TypeScript']}>
<Tab value="curl">
```bash
curl -X POST "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template/update" \
  -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "templateId": 123,
    "data": {
      "title": "Updated Employment Contract",
      "visibility": "ADMIN"
    },
    "meta": {
      "subject": "Updated: Your Employment Contract",
      "redirectUrl": "https://example.com/updated-redirect"
    }
  }'
```
</Tab>
<Tab value="TypeScript">
```typescript
const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/update`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 123,
    data: {
      title: 'Updated Employment Contract',
      visibility: 'ADMIN',
    },
    meta: {
      subject: 'Updated: Your Employment Contract',
      redirectUrl: 'https://example.com/updated-redirect',
    },
  }),
});

const template = await response.json();

```
</Tab>
</Tabs>

---

## Duplicate Template

Create a copy of an existing template.

```

POST /template/duplicate

````

### Request Body

| Field        | Type   | Required | Description     |
| ------------ | ------ | -------- | --------------- |
| `templateId` | number | Yes      | Template ID     |

### Code Examples

<Tabs items={['curl', 'TypeScript']}>
<Tab value="curl">
```bash
curl -X POST "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template/duplicate" \
  -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "templateId": 123
  }'
````

</Tab>
<Tab value="TypeScript">
```typescript
const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/duplicate`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 123,
  }),
});

const duplicatedTemplate = await response.json();
console.log('New template ID:', duplicatedTemplate.id);

```
</Tab>
</Tabs>

---

## Delete Template

Delete a template.

```

POST /template/delete

````

### Request Body

| Field        | Type   | Required | Description     |
| ------------ | ------ | -------- | --------------- |
| `templateId` | number | Yes      | Template ID     |

### Code Examples

<Tabs items={['curl', 'TypeScript']}>
<Tab value="curl">
```bash
curl -X POST "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template/delete" \
  -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "templateId": 123
  }'
````

</Tab>
<Tab value="TypeScript">
```typescript
const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/delete`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 123,
  }),
});

const { success } = await response.json();

````
</Tab>
</Tabs>

### Response

```json
{
  "success": true
}
````

---

## Direct Link Templates

Direct link templates allow recipients to create and sign documents without requiring you to explicitly create each document. When a recipient visits the direct link, a new document is automatically created from the template.

### Create Direct Link

```
POST /template/direct/create
```

| Field               | Type   | Required | Description                                   |
| ------------------- | ------ | -------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `templateId`        | number | Yes      | Template ID                                   |
| `directRecipientId` | number | No       | Recipient ID to use as the direct link signer |

<Tabs items={['curl', 'TypeScript']}>
<Tab value="curl">
```bash
curl -X POST "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template/direct/create" \
  -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "templateId": 123,
    "directRecipientId": 1
  }'
```
</Tab>
<Tab value="TypeScript">
```typescript
const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/direct/create`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 123,
    directRecipientId: 1,
  }),
});

const directLink = await response.json();
console.log('Direct link token:', directLink.token);
// Share: https://app.documenso.com/d/{token}

````
</Tab>
</Tabs>

### Response

```json
{
  "id": 456,
  "token": "abc123xyz",
  "templateId": 123,
  "directTemplateRecipientId": 1,
  "enabled": true,
  "createdAt": "2025-01-15T10:00:00.000Z"
}
````

### Toggle Direct Link

Enable or disable an existing direct link.

```
POST /template/direct/toggle
```

<Tabs items={['curl', 'TypeScript']}>
<Tab value="curl">
```bash
curl -X POST "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template/direct/toggle" \
  -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "templateId": 123,
    "enabled": false
  }'
```
</Tab>
<Tab value="TypeScript">
```typescript
const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/direct/toggle`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 123,
    enabled: false,
  }),
});

const directLink = await response.json();
console.log('Direct link enabled:', directLink.enabled);

```
</Tab>
</Tabs>

### Delete Direct Link

```

POST /template/direct/delete

````

<Tabs items={['curl', 'TypeScript']}>
<Tab value="curl">
```bash
curl -X POST "https://app.documenso.com/api/v2/template/direct/delete" \
  -H "Authorization: api_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "templateId": 123
  }'
````

</Tab>
<Tab value="TypeScript">
```typescript
const response = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/direct/delete`, {
  method: 'POST',
  headers: {
    Authorization: API_TOKEN,
    'Content-Type': 'application/json',
  },
  body: JSON.stringify({
    templateId: 123,
  }),
});

const { success } = await response.json();

````
</Tab>
</Tabs>

---

## Custom Document Data

When creating a document from a template, you can replace the template's PDF with a custom PDF by using the `customDocumentData` parameter. This is useful when you need to generate the PDF dynamically while reusing the template's recipient and field configuration.

To use custom document data:

1. Retrieve the template to get the `envelopeItemId` of the PDF you want to replace
2. Include `customDocumentData` in your `template/use` request, mapping each `envelopeItemId` to a new file

The field positions from the template are preserved on the new PDF. Ensure the replacement PDF has the same page layout to maintain accurate field placement.

See the [OpenAPI Reference](https://openapi.documenso.com) for the full request schema.

---

## Template Types

| Type      | Description                                                        |
| --------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `PRIVATE` | Only accessible by owner and team members                          |
| `PUBLIC`  | Can be shared publicly with a direct link                          |

---

## Complete Example: Contract Workflow

This example demonstrates a complete workflow for using templates to send contracts.

```typescript
const API_TOKEN = process.env.DOCUMENSO_API_TOKEN;
const BASE_URL = 'https://app.documenso.com/api/v2';

async function sendEmploymentContract(employeeData: {
  email: string;
  name: string;
  position: string;
  salary: number;
  startDate: string;
}) {
  // 1. Get the template to find recipient and field IDs
  const templateResponse = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/456`, {
    headers: { Authorization: API_TOKEN },
  });
  const template = await templateResponse.json();

  // 2. Find the employee recipient slot
  const employeeRecipient = template.recipients.find(
    (r) => r.role === 'SIGNER' && r.signingOrder === 1
  );

  // 3. Find fields to prefill
  const positionField = template.fields.find(
    (f) => f.fieldMeta?.label === 'Position'
  );
  const salaryField = template.fields.find(
    (f) => f.fieldMeta?.label === 'Salary'
  );
  const startDateField = template.fields.find(
    (f) => f.type === 'DATE'
  );

  // 4. Create document from template with prefilled data
  const documentResponse = await fetch(`${BASE_URL}/template/use`, {
    method: 'POST',
    headers: {
      Authorization: API_TOKEN,
      'Content-Type': 'application/json',
    },
    body: JSON.stringify({
      templateId: 456,
      recipients: [
        {
          id: employeeRecipient.id,
          email: employeeData.email,
          name: employeeData.name,
        },
      ],
      prefillFields: [
        {
          id: positionField.id,
          type: 'text',
          value: employeeData.position,
        },
        {
          id: salaryField.id,
          type: 'number',
          value: employeeData.salary.toString(),
        },
        {
          id: startDateField.id,
          type: 'date',
          value: employeeData.startDate,
        },
      ],
      override: {
        subject: `Employment Contract for ${employeeData.name}`,
        message: `Hi ${employeeData.name},\n\nPlease review and sign your employment contract.`,
      },
      distributeDocument: true,
      externalId: `emp-contract-${Date.now()}`,
    }),
  });

  const document = await documentResponse.json();

  return {
    documentId: document.id,
    signingUrl: document.recipients[0].signingUrl,
  };
}

// Usage
const result = await sendEmploymentContract({
  email: 'john.doe@example.com',
  name: 'John Doe',
  position: 'Senior Engineer',
  salary: 120000,
  startDate: '2025-03-01',
});

console.log('Document created:', result.documentId);
console.log('Signing URL:', result.signingUrl);
````

---

## See Also

- [Documents API](/docs/developers/api/documents) - Work with created documents
- [Recipients API](/docs/developers/api/recipients) - Manage document recipients
- [Fields API](/docs/developers/api/fields) - Work with signature and form fields
- [Webhooks](/docs/developers/webhooks) - Get notified when documents are signed