Required and Optional Document Fields

Audience: Organizations

Audience: All Notaries

The short answer: When preparing a transaction, you can mark fields as optional (skippable), required (should be completed but can be bypassed by the notary), or enforced required (must be completed before the meeting can close).

If you'd like to learn how to set a field as optional, read Set a signer field as optional, or read more about signer fields.


Overview

The table below provides a quick summary of how fields behave when marked as optional, required, or enforced required. Read the sections below for more details.

Characteristics

Optional field

optional field

  • Not needed to complete the meeting
  • Notary fields cannot be optional, except checkboxes
  • Can be deleted during a meeting

Required field

required not enforced field

  • Should be fulfilled to complete meeting
  • Notaries can override warnings and complete meeting with blank fields
  • Can be deleted during a meeting

Enforced required field*

required field

  • Must be fulfilled to complete the meeting
  • Can be moved or resized
  • Cannot be deleted during a meeting

*Enforced required fields are set at the account level. See details below.


Optional Fields

Optional fields have "(Optional)" next to the field name during document preparation and in the meeting. You can set fields as optional after placing them on the document.

Notary fields cannot be marked optional except for checkboxes.

Optional fields can be deleted during a meeting, and the meeting can be completed without fulfilling these fields.

trash bin delete optional field


Required Fields

Required fields display only the field name during document preparation and in the meeting. When placed on a document, all fields are required by default, except checkboxes and radio buttons.

Required fields can be deleted during a meeting, and the meeting can be completed without these fields. If the notary attempts to complete the meeting with blank required fields, an error message appears — but the notary can choose to proceed despite the missing fields.

If you'd like to prevent the meeting from being completed without required fields, see the Enforced Required Fields section below.

missing requirements notary error message


Enforced Required Fields

Enforced required fields must be fulfilled before a meeting can be completed and cannot be deleted during a meeting. The Enforce required fields setting is applied at the account level — once enabled, it applies to all transactions and cannot be configured per transaction.

Enforced required fields show "(Required)" next to the field name. These fields can be moved or resized if needed, but the meeting cannot close until they are filled in.

During split signings where not all signers joined the meeting, notaries can delete notary fields to complete the meeting with the signers who are present.

Reach out to your Customer Success Manager (CSM) or our support team if you're interested in enabling this feature.

enforced required field meeting


Summary Checklist

  • All fields are required by default — except checkboxes and radio buttons.
  • Optional fields can be skipped or deleted during a meeting without blocking completion.
  • Required fields trigger a warning if blank, but the notary can override and complete the meeting anyway.
  • Enforced required fields block meeting completion and cannot be deleted — contact your CSM to enable this account-wide.

Still Unsure?

Our support team is happy to help. Submit a support request or chat with us from any page in the app.


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