Is an electronic signature valid on a CORD?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes where adopted, provided the transaction meets intent, consent, attribution, and record-retention requirements.

When is notarization required?

Notarization depends on the underlying instrument and state law; deeds and some filings require notarization. Verify with the relevant state Secretary of State or county recorder for filing-specific rules.

Who may sign on behalf of the company?

Authorized signers are defined by bylaws, board resolutions, or delegation language. Record the signer’s title and the authority source in the CORD to avoid third-party rejection.

Can a CORD be backdated?

Backdating is legally sensitive and can create liability. Use accurate effective dates; if retroactive effect is needed, expressly state the rationale and obtain legal review.

How should I store executed CORDs?

Retain signed originals or certified electronic copies with an audit trail in secure storage that supports AES-256 encryption and read-only archival to preserve admissibility.

What if a signer’s name does not match records?

Mismatched names can block acceptance by banks or title companies. Correct names to match formation documents or include an attestation explaining the discrepancy and supporting proof.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business CORD Template

Business CORD Template

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

BUSINESS CORD TEMPLATE

This Business CORD Template (the Agreement) is made effective as of between Company Name: and Counterparty Name: .

WHEREAS

WHEREAS, Company Name: is engaged in the business of providing products, services and business facilitation described herein; and

WHEREAS, Counterparty Name: desires to engage Company to perform certain services and the parties wish to set forth the terms and conditions of that engagement.

SCOPE OF WORK

Company shall perform the services, deliverables and related activities described below in accordance with the terms of this Agreement. The parties acknowledge that the description of duties below is intended to be specific and binding.

Detailed Scope of Work

PAYMENT TERMS

As compensation for the services under this Agreement, Counterparty shall pay Company the sums set forth below in accordance with the schedule. All amounts are payable in lawful currency and are exclusive of applicable taxes unless otherwise stated.

Total Contract Amount Payment Schedule / Milestones Payment Method Late Fee / Interest

Invoices not paid within days of invoice date shall incur a late fee of % per month (prorated daily) and a flat administrative fee of . Interest shall accrue from the invoice due date until paid in full.

TERM AND TERMINATION

Term: This Agreement shall commence on and shall continue until unless earlier terminated as provided herein.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon days' prior written notice to the other party. Either party may terminate immediately for material breach that remains uncured for a period of 30 days after written notice specifying the breach. Termination shall not relieve Counterparty of its obligation to pay for services performed through the effective date of termination.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Each party (Receiving Party) shall hold in strict confidence all non-public, confidential or proprietary information disclosed by the other party (Disclosing Party) in connection with this Agreement, including business plans, technical data, pricing, customer lists and trade secrets (Confidential Information). Confidential Information does not include information that: (a) is or becomes publicly available other than through breach of this Agreement; (b) was lawfully in the Receiving Party’s possession prior to disclosure; (c) is received from a third party without restriction; or (d) is independently developed without use of the Disclosing Party’s Confidential Information.

The Receiving Party shall not use Confidential Information except to perform its obligations under this Agreement and shall not disclose Confidential Information to any third party except to its employees, agents or professional advisors who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those contained herein. Obligations under this Section shall survive termination of this Agreement for a period of years, except that trade secrets shall remain protected for so long as they qualify as trade secrets under applicable law.

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

Each party represents and warrants that it has full power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder, and that performance of this Agreement will not violate any other agreement to which it is a party. Company represents that the services will be performed in a professional manner consistent with industry standards.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

Except for a party's gross negligence, willful misconduct, or a breach of confidentiality or intellectual property obligations, neither party shall be liable to the other for incidental, consequential, special, punitive or exemplary damages, and the aggregate liability of either party for any claim arising under or in connection with this Agreement shall not exceed the total fees paid to Company under this Agreement during the twelve (12) month period preceding the event giving rise to the claim.

GOVERNING LAW

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to its conflicts of law principles. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in that State for disputes arising out of this Agreement.

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Agreement, together with any exhibits and attachments hereto, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings, negotiations and discussions, whether oral or written. No amendment or modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless in a writing signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

NOTICES

All notices required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered to the addresses below by hand, overnight courier, certified mail (return receipt requested) or email where receipt is acknowledged.

Company Address for Notices Counterparty Address for Notices

MISCELLANEOUS

If any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. No waiver by either party of any breach shall constitute a waiver of any other breach. The parties acknowledge that each has had the opportunity to review this Agreement with counsel.

Company

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

Counterparty

Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What the Business CORD Template Is and When It’s Used

The Business CORD Template is a standardized corporate record of decision used to document board or management resolutions, approvals, and formal actions affecting a company’s operations, governance, or transactions. It captures the decision text, effective date, approving parties, and any delegated authority, and is typically preserved with corporate minute books, contract files, or transaction folders to provide an auditable record of corporate action.

Why a Clear Business CORD Template Matters

A precise Business CORD Template creates legal clarity, supports internal controls, and supplies the documentary proof needed for audits, regulatory reviews, and third-party counterparties. It reduces ambiguity about who authorized actions and when those actions took effect.

Who Typically Prepares and Keeps a Business CORD

Maintain a signed copy in the corporate records and attach any supporting exhibits or approval emails to preserve context.

Corporate Secretary or General Counsel — drafts the resolution language, ensures compliance with bylaws and state law.
Board Members or Authorized Officers — review and approve the resolution, evidence of assent is recorded.
Transaction or Deal Lead — attaches exhibits, delegations, and operational instructions to implement the decision.

Step-by-Step: Completing the Business CORD Template

Follow these steps to complete a Business CORD Template accurately and consistently.

01

1. Identify Action: State the exact corporate action or resolution to be adopted.
02

2. List Parties: Name the approving board, committee, or officer and include titles.
03

3. Effective Date: Specify when the resolution takes effect using MM/DD/YYYY.
04

4. Signatures: Collect signatures, dates, and any required attestations.

Configuring an Electronic Workflow for the Business CORD

Set up your e-submission workflow so approvals flow in the proper order and a complete audit trail is captured.

Field	Configuration
Signer Order	Sequential or parallel routing
Authentication	Email + optional SMS or KBA
Attachment Rules	Require attached exhibits before signing
Retention	Enable audit trail and archival

Typical eSigning Flow for a Business CORD

A standard online signing sequence ensures each approver sees the final resolution and the system preserves proof of execution.

Upload Template: Upload finalized CORD PDF or DOCX and place signature fields.
Assign Signers: Enter signer names, titles, and email addresses.
Authenticate Signers: Use email link and optional SMS or KBA for higher assurance.
Complete & Archive: System captures timestamps, IPs, and a certificate of completion.

Technical Considerations for eSubmission and Storage

Ensure retention and access controls align with corporate records policies and regulatory requirements.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, and editable forms
Integrations: CRM/ERP and cloud storage connectors
Security: TLS encryption and AES-256 at rest

Essential Elements Every Professional Business CORD Should Include

A robust CORD combines formal resolution language with implementation details to make it actionable and auditable.

Title

Clear heading describing the resolved action for indexing and searchability in corporate records.

Recitals

Brief background facts explaining why the board or officer is taking this action.

Resolved Clause

Precise operative language stating the authorization, limits, and any delegated powers.

Effective Date

Explicit date when authority or obligations commence and any retroactive effect clause.

Signature Block

Printed names, titles, signatures, and dates for each approving party or attesting officer.

Exhibits

Attach supporting documents, contracts, or schedules that implement or explain the resolution.

Security and Compliance Details to Record

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

At-Rest: AES-256 encrypted storage

Audit Trail: Tamper-evident activity log

Certifications: SOC 2 Type II

HIPAA: BAA required for PHI

ESIGN/UETA: Meets federal and state e-sign rules

Common Legal Risks if the CORD Is Deficient

Invalid Authority: No legal effect

Bank Refusal: Counterparty rejection

Tax Exposure: Incorrect effective date issues

Contract Disputes: Ambiguous delegation

Regulatory Penalty: Compliance gaps

Evidence Gaps: Missing audit trail

Frequent Preparation Errors to Avoid

Using informal language that fails to grant explicit authority for the action.
Omitting effective dates or using ambiguous timing language.
Failing to record who may execute implementing documents.
Not attaching exhibits or incorrectly labeling supporting schedules.

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Applying consistent practices reduces review time and prevents downstream disputes.

Use Standardized Language

Adopt a template with preapproved phrasing to ensure uniformity and easier review.

Include Exhibits

Attach final contract drafts or schedules at signing so the resolution references the exact documents.

Record Approval Type

Note whether action was by meeting, unanimous written consent, or delegated officer action.

Preserve Audit Trails

Keep electronic certificates or notarizations to prove the signing events.

Timing Considerations and Important Dates

Certain actions tied to a CORD may have statutory or administrative deadlines; track them explicitly in the document.

Effective Date:

State as MM/DD/YYYY to avoid ambiguity

Recordation:

File related instruments within statutory window if required

Tax Reporting:

Note dates affecting filing or reporting obligations

Contract Deadlines:

Link CORD to contract performance or notice periods

Retention Start:

Establish when retention clock begins

eSignature Pricing and Feature Comparison for Executing Business CORDs

Compare starter pricing, trial availability, bulk send, audit trails, HIPAA compliance, and envelope limits across common eSignature vendors. signNow is listed first per platform comparison conventions.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan
Bulk Send	Yes (premium)	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No envelope cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by plan	Varies by plan	Varies by plan

Real-World Examples of Business CORD Usage

These short scenarios show how a Business CORD supports different corporate actions.

Board Resolution for Asset Sale

A board adopted a resolution authorizing sale of a subsidiary

appointed the CEO to sign closing documents
the signed CORD and attached purchase agreement were archived with the corporate minute book to satisfy buyer and lender due diligence.

Delegation to Officer

The board granted authority to an officer to enter contracts up to a dollar cap

defined the cap and reporting requirements
the delegation CORD was used by treasury to open accounts and by counsel to confirm executing authority.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Business CORD Template

Common questions address validity, signatures, notarization, and electronic submission; the answers below clarify practical next steps and legal considerations.

Need help? Contact support

Is an electronic signature valid on a CORD?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally binding under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 96) and state UETA statutes where adopted, provided the transaction meets intent, consent, attribution, and record-retention requirements.
When is notarization required?
Notarization depends on the underlying instrument and state law; deeds and some filings require notarization. Verify with the relevant state Secretary of State or county recorder for filing-specific rules.
Who may sign on behalf of the company?
Authorized signers are defined by bylaws, board resolutions, or delegation language. Record the signer’s title and the authority source in the CORD to avoid third-party rejection.
Can a CORD be backdated?
Backdating is legally sensitive and can create liability. Use accurate effective dates; if retroactive effect is needed, expressly state the rationale and obtain legal review.
How should I store executed CORDs?
Retain signed originals or certified electronic copies with an audit trail in secure storage that supports AES-256 encryption and read-only archival to preserve admissibility.
What if a signer’s name does not match records?
Mismatched names can block acceptance by banks or title companies. Correct names to match formation documents or include an attestation explaining the discrepancy and supporting proof.

be ready to get more

Join over 28 million airSlate SignNow users

Sign Now