The short answer: Sign Ahead lets signers complete non-notarized documents before meeting with a notary, making the actual meeting faster.
How Sign Ahead Works
Sign Ahead saves time for signers by letting them complete the easy part—filling out and signing non-notarized documents—before their scheduled meeting. This means they can focus entirely on the notarization when they connect with their notary.
1. Enable Sign Ahead for Your Organization
Sign Ahead is automatically enabled for business organizations. For real estate organizations, reach out to your Customer Success Manager or our support team to turn it on.
2. Allow Sign Ahead When Creating a Transaction
When you create a transaction, you choose which documents can use Sign Ahead. Under Documents, make sure the Signing requires meeting check box is not checked for documents that don't require notarization.
For more details on setting document requirements, see Set document requirements for notarizations.
3. Signer Completes Documents Before the Meeting
Once the transaction is sent, the signer can choose to use Sign Ahead or skip it. If they use Sign Ahead, they'll fill out and sign all documents that don't require a meeting. The total number of fields to complete appears in the upper right corner, so they know exactly how much is left.
For a detailed walkthrough of the signer's experience, see Fill out documents before a meeting.
4. Signer Meets with a Notary to Complete Notarization
During the meeting, the signer and notary complete any documents requiring notarization, witness signatures, or identity verification. Because the signer already handled the non-notarized documents, the meeting is faster and more focused.
Summary Checklist
- Sign Ahead must be enabled for real estate organizations (on by default for business organizations)
- Signers can complete non-notarized documents before meeting with a notary
- Documents requiring notarization or witnesses must be signed during the meeting
- Sign Ahead cannot be used with concurrent signing
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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