Can this document be signed electronically?

Yes; under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA statutes, most commercial agreements may be executed electronically provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are documented.

When is a notarization still required?

Notarization is required when state law or the document type demands an acknowledgement or jurat, such as certain deeds, wills, or statutory filings; verify the specific state requirement before omitting a notary.

What authentication level should I use?

Use email or SMS for routine low-risk transactions; require KBA or multi-factor authentication for transactions involving large payments or regulated data to strengthen signer attribution.

How long must I retain the signed document?

Retain according to the strictest applicable rule: IRS records three years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and any longer state-specific retention periods.

What if a signer uses an incorrect name or title?

A mismatched name or lack of authority can impair enforceability; correct the signature block, obtain a confirming affidavit, or have an authorized signer re-execute the document.

How do I capture an audit trail for electronic signing?

Ensure the platform records timestamps, IP addresses, authentication method, and a certificate of completion; preserving these elements supports legal enforceability.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Business Document DIG Document

Business Document DIG Document

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

BUSINESS DOCUMENT DIG DOCUMENT

Parties

Client Name: Client Address: Service Provider Name: Service Provider Address:

Recitals

WHEREAS, Client Name: seeks to engage the Service Provider to perform the services described in this Agreement; and

WHEREAS, Service Provider Name: represents that it has the expertise, personnel, and resources necessary to provide such services in accordance with the terms set forth herein; and

WHEREAS, the parties desire to set forth the terms and conditions under which the services will be provided, effective as of Effective Date:

Scope of Work

The Service Provider shall perform the services and deliverables as described below. The scope may be amended only by written Change Order executed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Payment Terms

Client shall pay Service Provider for the services performed in accordance with the following terms.

Total Contract Amount: Payment Schedule:

Late payments shall accrue interest at a rate of on any overdue balance, plus the Service Provider's costs of collection, including reasonable attorneys' fees.

All amounts are payable in lawful currency of the United States. Unless otherwise agreed in writing, invoices are due within days of invoice date.

Term and Termination

This Agreement shall commence on Term Start Date: and shall continue in full force until Term End Date: unless earlier terminated in accordance with this section.

Either party may terminate this Agreement for convenience upon prior written notice of days to the other party. Either party may terminate immediately for material breach that remains uncured for thirty (30) days following written notice of such breach.

Upon termination, Service Provider shall deliver all work in progress and Client shall pay for all work performed and non-cancellable commitments incurred through the effective date of termination.

Confidentiality

Each party (the "Receiving Party") shall keep confidential all non-public information disclosed by the other party (the "Disclosing Party") that is marked confidential or that a reasonable person would understand to be confidential under the circumstances ("Confidential Information"). Confidential Information shall not include information that (i) is or becomes publicly available through no breach of this Agreement by the Receiving Party; (ii) is lawfully received from a third party without restriction; (iii) is independently developed without use of the Disclosing Party's Confidential Information; or (iv) is required to be disclosed by law or valid legal process, provided the Receiving Party gives prompt written notice and cooperates to seek protective measures.

The Receiving Party shall use Confidential Information solely for the purpose of performing its obligations under this Agreement and shall restrict access to those employees, contractors, and agents who have a need to know and who are bound by confidentiality obligations at least as protective as those set forth herein. Confidentiality obligations shall survive termination or expiration of this Agreement for a period of months, except with respect to trade secrets, which shall remain protected for as long as they qualify as trade secrets.

Indemnification and Limitation of Liability

Each party shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the other party from and against claims, losses, liabilities, damages and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of the indemnifying party's breach of this Agreement, gross negligence or willful misconduct. EXCEPT FOR LIABILITY ARISING FROM A BREACH OF CONFIDENTIALITY OR INDEMNIFICATION OBLIGATIONS, NEITHER PARTY SHALL BE LIABLE FOR CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, AND NEITHER PARTY'S AGGREGATE LIABILITY UNDER THIS AGREEMENT SHALL EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNTS PAID OR PAYABLE BY CLIENT TO SERVICE PROVIDER UNDER THIS AGREEMENT DURING THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE EVENT GIVING RISE TO LIABILITY.

Governing Law; Dispute Resolution

This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute arising under this Agreement by negotiation between senior representatives. If the dispute is not resolved by negotiation, the parties may pursue any remedy available at law or in equity in a court of competent jurisdiction located in the governing state.

Entire Agreement; Amendments

This Agreement, including all exhibits and any Change Orders executed by the parties, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, proposals, representations and understandings, whether written or oral. Any amendment or modification of this Agreement must be in writing and signed by authorized representatives of both parties.

Miscellaneous

If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect. Neither party may assign this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other, except that either party may assign this Agreement in connection with a merger, acquisition or sale of substantially all of its assets.

Acknowledgments

Each person signing below represents and warrants that they are duly authorized to execute this Agreement on behalf of the party for which they sign and that this Agreement is binding upon such party in accordance with its terms.

Client Printed Name:

Service Provider Printed Name:

By:

Date:

What the Business Document DIG Document Is and when it applies

The Business Document DIG Document is a standardized business record used to document agreements, approvals, or data exchanges between commercial parties. It bundles core contract elements — parties, scope, effective date, deliverables, and signature blocks — into a single form intended for routine operational use. Organizations use this document to ensure consistent terms, simplify internal review, and create an auditable record that can be executed electronically or on paper, subject to applicable legal exceptions under federal and state e-signature law.

Why using a consistent DIG Document helps your organization

A standard DIG Document reduces ambiguity, speeds approvals, and preserves a consistent audit trail for compliance. When completed correctly it supports enforceability under U.S. e-signature laws while making recordkeeping and retrieval more predictable across teams.

Typical users and decision-makers for a DIG Document

Teams and roles that commonly prepare, review, or sign a DIG Document within a business.

Procurement managers who need standardized supplier terms and purchase approvals for operational speed.
Legal or contract teams responsible for risk review, redlines, and ensuring enforceable language is included.
Operations and finance staff who manage invoicing, delivery confirmations, and record retention for audits.

Different stakeholders focus on accuracy, authorization, and retention; coordinating them reduces rework and legal exposure.

Stepwise process to complete the DIG Document correctly

Follow these sequential steps to prepare, validate, and finalize the DIG Document with minimal rework.

01

Prepare: Gather party names, addresses, scope, and pricing information.
02

Populate: Complete each fillable field accurately per the field guide.
03

Authorize: Obtain internal approvals and confirm the signatory has authority.
04

Execute: Sign and date using acceptable signature methods and retain the completed record.

How to configure an online workflow for the DIG Document

Set up a digital workflow to assign fields, route approvals, and capture a reproducible audit trail.

Field	Configuration
Signature Field	Require signer name, title, and date; mark as mandatory.
Conditional Approval	Set routing to legal if value exceeds threshold or contains redlines.
Authentication	Choose email link or SMS code; escalate to KBA for higher risk.
Retention Setting	Enable automatic archiving and export of the execution certificate.

Typical routing and submission path for the DIG Document

The DIG Document commonly follows a sender → reviewer → approver → signer flow; each step should be tracked.

Sender: Uploads document, applies fields, and assigns recipient roles.
Reviewer: Checks terms, corrects fields, and clears for approval.
Approver: Verifies budget and legal compliance before signature.
Signer: Executes signature and receives final executed copy with audit trail.

Technical and platform considerations for e‑submission

Confirm platform capabilities and formats before sending the DIG Document electronically.

File Formats: Support for PDF, DOCX, and fillable forms ensures compatibility across recipients.
Integrations: Connectors for systems like Salesforce, NetSuite, or Google Workspace streamline data transfer.
Security: Encryption in transit and at rest plus audit trails are essential for compliance.

Match platform settings (authentication, retention, export formats) to your compliance and operational needs.

Typical timelines, deadlines, and processing expectations

Establish internal deadlines to avoid late approvals and to align with regulatory or tax reporting cycles.

Internal Approval SLA:

Set a 3–5 business day target for reviewers to reduce bottlenecks.

Execution Window:

Require signatures within 15–30 days of issuance to preserve pricing and availability.

Tax Reporting:

Provide completed forms to finance according to IRS timelines for reporting.

Retention Trigger:

Start retention period at the effective date or final signature date.

Contract Renewals:

Begin renewal discussions 60–90 days before expiration to ensure continuity.

Common mistakes when preparing a DIG Document

Inconsistent party names or mis-typed EINs causing mismatches during vendor setup and tax reporting.
Leaving material fields blank or marked 'TBD,' which can create enforceability disputes later.
Assigning a signer without corporate authority, risking claims the agreement is void or unauthorized.
Failing to retain a signed copy and audit trail, hindering defense in audits or litigation.

Penalties and legal risks related to incorrect DIG Documents

Tax Reporting Penalties: Incorrect or late information returns can trigger IRC §6721 penalties for each form.

I-9 Violations: Incomplete employment verification leads to fines under 8 CFR §274a.2.

Contractual Liability: Ambiguous terms can expand liability exposure and increase damages.

Data Protection Risk: Improper handling of PII or PHI may violate HIPAA or state privacy laws.

Notarization Defects: Missing or improper notarization can impair record acceptability in court.

Intent and Consent: Lack of documented signer intent or consent can undermine ESIGN/UETA validity.

Core components included in a professional DIG Document

A complete DIG Document groups essential commercial terms and administrative details to support enforceability and operational use.

Parties

Clear identification of contracting parties with legal entity names, contact details, and tax identifiers where relevant to tax reporting and payment.

Scope

Precise description of goods, services, or deliverables with measurable acceptance criteria to reduce performance disputes.

Payment Terms

Detailed consideration clauses with amounts, schedules, invoicing instructions, and remedies for late payment.

Term and Termination

Defined effective date, term length, renewal mechanics, and termination rights to minimize ambiguity at contract end.

Representations

Basic warranties and compliance commitments, including data protection and applicable regulatory adherence clauses.

Execution

Signature blocks, authority statement, date lines, and any notarization or witness fields required for specific jurisdictions.

Mandatory information elements for the DIG Document

Party Name: Legal entity name

Tax ID: EIN or SSN

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Payment Terms: Amount and schedule

Authorized Signer: Name and title

Retention Label: Record retention period

Pricing and feature comparison for eSignature options relevant to the DIG Document

Compare typical vendor starting prices and common feature differences when selecting an eSignature provider to execute the DIG Document electronically.

	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 vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No

Frequently asked questions about preparing and signing the DIG Document

Answers to common questions about format, signatures, notarization, and retention when using the DIG Document.

Need help? Contact support

Can this document be signed electronically?
Yes; under the federal ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and state UETA statutes, most commercial agreements may be executed electronically provided intent, consent, attribution, and record retention are documented.
When is a notarization still required?
Notarization is required when state law or the document type demands an acknowledgement or jurat, such as certain deeds, wills, or statutory filings; verify the specific state requirement before omitting a notary.
What authentication level should I use?
Use email or SMS for routine low-risk transactions; require KBA or multi-factor authentication for transactions involving large payments or regulated data to strengthen signer attribution.
How long must I retain the signed document?
Retain according to the strictest applicable rule: IRS records three years (IRC §6501(a)), HIPAA six years (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and any longer state-specific retention periods.
What if a signer uses an incorrect name or title?
A mismatched name or lack of authority can impair enforceability; correct the signature block, obtain a confirming affidavit, or have an authorized signer re-execute the document.
How do I capture an audit trail for electronic signing?
Ensure the platform records timestamps, IP addresses, authentication method, and a certificate of completion; preserving these elements supports legal enforceability.

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