Can a Change Order be e-signed?

Yes. Electronic signatures meet federal requirements under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and most state UETA laws when intent, consent, attribution, and retention are satisfied.

Are witnesses or notarization required?

Generally no for standard commercial amendments, but specific states or contract clauses may require notarization or witnesses; check the contract and applicable state law.

How do I correct a signed amendment?

Prepare a new amendment or corrective amendment referencing the erroneous document; secure signatures from the same authorized signatories to avoid disputes.

Who can sign on behalf of a company?

An officer or person with delegated authority per the contract or corporate resolution should sign; obtain proof of authority when unclear to prevent later challenges.

Can an amendment be revoked?

Revocation requires agreement of all parties or a contractual right to rescind; unilateral revocation is ineffective if the other party has relied on the amendment.

How should executed amendments be stored?

Store executed copies in the contract repository and accounting system, retain per regulatory retention rules, and preserve audit trails for electronic signatures.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Miscellaneous
Change Order Amendment

Change Order Amendment

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

CHANGE ORDER AMENDMENT

This Change Order Amendment (this "Amendment") is made and entered into as of Effective Date: by and between Contractor Name: and Client Name:

RECITALS

WHEREAS, the parties entered into a written Agreement titled Contract Reference: dated (the "Original Contract"); and

WHEREAS, the parties previously issued Change Order Number: which modified certain scope, schedule, or compensation terms; and

WHEREAS, the parties now desire to further amend the Original Contract and any prior change orders as set forth in this Amendment.

AMENDMENT DETAILS

Scope of Change (Describe work, deliverables, and specifications) Reason for Change

PRICE AND PAYMENT TERMS

Net Adjustment to Contract Price Payment Schedule for Adjustment

Late payment shall incur interest at the lesser of (i) a rate of or (ii) the maximum rate permitted by applicable law. Contractor shall provide written invoice(s) in support of the adjustment and Client shall pay undisputed amounts in accordance with the payment schedule above.

TIME FOR COMPLETION

The time for completion is hereby adjusted by days. The resulting new completion date shall be . All other schedule milestones remain in effect except as expressly modified herein.

CONTRACT DOCUMENTS

Except as expressly amended by this Amendment, the terms, conditions, drawings, specifications and other contract documents of the Original Contract remain in full force and effect. In the event of any conflict between this Amendment and the Original Contract, this Amendment shall govern with respect to the specific subject matter of the change.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The parties acknowledge that this Amendment and any documents exchanged in connection with the change may contain Confidential Information. Each party agrees to hold Confidential Information in confidence and to use it solely for the performance of the Original Contract and this Amendment. Confidential Information shall not include information that is or becomes publicly available through no breach of this clause, is independently developed without access to the other party's Confidential Information, or is required to be disclosed by law, provided the disclosing party gives prompt notice to the other party and cooperates in seeking protective measures.

Contains Confidential Information?

Yes — this Amendment contains Confidential Information

TERM AND TERMINATION

This Amendment shall become effective on the Effective Date set forth above and shall remain in effect until completion of the amended scope or until terminated as set forth below. The Original Contract's start date is and the contractual end date as amended is .

Either party may terminate this Amendment for material breach of its terms by the other party upon days' prior written notice, provided the breaching party fails to cure within the notice period. Termination of this Amendment shall not relieve either party of obligations accrued prior to termination.

GOVERNING LAW; ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This Amendment shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of , without regard to conflict of laws principles. The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in that state for any disputes arising under this Amendment.

This Amendment, together with the Original Contract and any prior change orders expressly referenced herein, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior negotiations, representations or agreements, whether written or oral, relating to such subject matter. No amendment or waiver of this Amendment shall be effective except by a written instrument signed by both parties.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

All notices required or permitted under this Amendment shall be given in writing to the addresses for notices provided in the Original Contract. Headings are for convenience only and shall not affect interpretation. If any provision of this Amendment is held invalid or unenforceable, the remainder of this Amendment shall remain in full force and effect.

Client:

By:

Date:

Contractor:

By:

Date:

What a Change Order Amendment Is and when it applies

A Change Order Amendment is a written modification to an existing contract that documents agreed changes to scope, price, schedule, or other material terms. It ties back to an original agreement by reference, records the reason for the change, and becomes part of the contract once executed by authorized parties. Change orders are common in construction, professional services, and procurement where unforeseen conditions or client requests require formal adjustments to avoid disputes and preserve payment and performance obligations.

Why using a formal Change Order Amendment matters

A clear, signed amendment creates an auditable record of agreed changes, reduces scope disputes, and protects payment rights and schedule expectations.

Who typically prepares and signs Change Order Amendments

The document is used by parties managing contractual work when modifications are needed after contract award.

Contractors and subcontractors who request or approve scope and price changes during a project.
Owners, clients, or purchasing agents who authorize adjustments to deliverables, timeline, or budget.
Project managers and procurement teams who document approvals, schedules, and cost impacts for audit trails.

Commonly, a project lead circulates the draft and the authorized contracting representative executes the amendment to bind both sides.

Typical signatories and their roles

Project Manager

The project manager prepares the amendment language, attaches supporting documents (drawings, RFI responses, cost estimates), and routes the draft for internal approvals before sending to the contracting party for signature. They ensure the amended schedule and deliverables are clearly stated.

Authorized Signer

The authorized signer is the person empowered under the original contract (owner, contracting officer, corporate officer) to accept changes, approve pricing, and execute amendments that legally bind the organization. Verify signing authority before execution.

Essential components to include in a professional Change Order Amendment

A complete amendment should be concise but specific so courts and auditors can trace the change back to the original contract and understand its operational and financial impact.

Reference

Identify the original contract by title, date, and contract or purchase order number so the amendment can be unambiguously linked to the base agreement.

Scope Change

Describe in plain language the work added, removed, or modified; attach excerpts, drawings, or specifications as exhibits when needed for clarity.

Price Adjustment

State the exact monetary increase, decrease, or pricing formula and explain whether it includes taxes, materials, labor, or allowances.

Schedule Impact

Specify any changes to milestones, completion dates, or delivery schedules and whether liquidated damages or incentives are revised.

Effective Date

Declare the amendment effective date in MM/DD/YYYY format and specify whether work performed earlier is retroactively approved.

Signatures

Provide signature blocks for authorized representatives, including printed names, titles, and signature dates to confirm mutual acceptance.

Required information fields at a glance

Parties: Full legal names of contracting entities

Contract ID: Original contract or PO number

Amendment No.: Sequential amendment identifier

Description: Concise summary of the change

Monetary Impact: Dollar amount or pricing formula

Effective Date: MM/DD/YYYY effective date

Step-by-step: completing a Change Order Amendment

Follow these sequential steps to create, approve, and finalize an amendment that aligns with the original contract and internal approval policies.

01

Prepare Draft: Collect original contract references, supporting estimates, and exhibit documents before drafting.
02

Specify Change: Write a clear scope change, including measurable deliverables or deletions.
03

Record Cost/Time: Insert exact price adjustments and schedule impacts with dates and calculations.
04

Route and Sign: Obtain required approvals and signatures, then distribute executed copies to stakeholders.

Typical routing and submission flow for an amendment

A standard workflow moves the draft from requester to approver to counterparty, with version control and an audit trail at each step.

Request Initiation: Originator creates draft and attaches cost backup and exhibits.
Internal Approval: Project finance and legal review pricing, risk, and compliance.
Counterparty Review: Other party reviews, negotiates, and signs or proposes edits.
Final Execution: All authorized signers execute and parties retain executed copies.

Configuring an online amendment workflow

Set basic workflow rules to automate routing, authentication, and document versioning when working with electronic signatures.

Field	Configuration
Template	Create reusable amendment template with locked reference fields
Signer Order	Define sequential or parallel signer steps per contract
Authentication	Require email, SMS code, or stronger verification as needed
Notifications	Auto-reminders and completion alerts for pending signers

Digital signing and delivery considerations

Confirm that your eSignature platform supports secure signatures, audit trails, and the signer authentication you need.

File Formats: PDF and DOCX supported
Authentication: Email, SMS, or KBA options
Integrations: CRM, ERP, and PM system links

Common timing elements and response windows

Amendments often specify short, enforceable timeframes for acceptance, pricing confirmation, and implementation to prevent scope creep and disputes.

Submission Window:

Timeframe to submit change requests per contract (commonly 7–30 days)

Approval Period:

Internal review and counterparty response time, often 5–15 business days

Effective Date:

Date when amended obligations begin, stated as MM/DD/YYYY

Payment Adjustment:

Timing for invoicing and payment tied to amendment acceptance

Record Retention:

Retain executed amendment per contract and regulatory retention rules

Key milestones from request to implementation

Track milestones to ensure obligations and budgets are updated and to support future audits or claims.

01

Request Submitted

Originator files amendment request with cost and exhibit documentation.

02

Internal Review

Project and legal review for pricing, schedule, and compliance impacts.

03

Counterparty Signoff

Other party accepts changes and signs amendment.

04

Work Implemented

Carry out changed scope after effective date and update records.

Common preparation mistakes to avoid

Using vague language for scope changes that leads to differing interpretations and disputes.
Failing to reference the original contract number or specific clauses, making the amendment hard to trace.
Neglecting to document price breakdowns and allowances, which triggers payment disagreements during invoicing.
Skipping verification of signatory authority, which can render an amendment unenforceable in disputes.

Potential consequences of incorrect or incomplete amendments

Delays: Schedule slippage and missed milestones

Payment Disputes: Invoices contested for unapproved work

Scope Creep: Uncontrolled changes without price adjustments

Invalid Amendment: Signing errors that undermine enforceability

Lien Risk: Contractors may pursue liens for unpaid work

Litigation: Heightened legal costs and claim exposure

Practical examples of Change Order Amendments in use

Two concise scenarios illustrate how amendments resolve scope and schedule issues while protecting payment and performance expectations.

Construction Site Delay

A contractor documents an unanticipated soil condition that adds work and days to the schedule

The amendment increases contract price by a fixed amount and extends completion by 14 days
Executed amendment avoided disputed extra work invoices and clearly updated liquidated damages provisions to reflect the new schedule.

Scope Clarification

An owner requests a design change adding upgraded finishes not in the original scope

The amendment identifies precise fixtures, a negotiated price, and adjusted milestone payments
Both parties signed electronically, and accounting processed the revised payment schedule without interrupting procurement.

Comparison: common eSignature vendor pricing and enterprise features

This table summarizes starting prices and key feature availability to consider when selecting an eSignature provider for executing Change Order Amendments.

	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 trial	Varies	Varies	Varies	Varies
Bulk Send	Yes	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	Varies	Varies

Frequently asked questions about Change Order Amendments

Answers to common questions about execution, eSigning, witnesses, and revocation to help avoid routine pitfalls when altering a contract.

Need help? Contact support

Can a Change Order be e-signed?
Yes. Electronic signatures meet federal requirements under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and most state UETA laws when intent, consent, attribution, and retention are satisfied.
Are witnesses or notarization required?
Generally no for standard commercial amendments, but specific states or contract clauses may require notarization or witnesses; check the contract and applicable state law.
How do I correct a signed amendment?
Prepare a new amendment or corrective amendment referencing the erroneous document; secure signatures from the same authorized signatories to avoid disputes.
Who can sign on behalf of a company?
An officer or person with delegated authority per the contract or corporate resolution should sign; obtain proof of authority when unclear to prevent later challenges.
Can an amendment be revoked?
Revocation requires agreement of all parties or a contractual right to rescind; unilateral revocation is ineffective if the other party has relied on the amendment.
How should executed amendments be stored?
Store executed copies in the contract repository and accounting system, retain per regulatory retention rules, and preserve audit trails for electronic signatures.

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