Can the draw be signed electronically?

Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under federal ESIGN and state UETA laws if parties consent and records are retained. Verify the contract permits e-signatures and preserve an audit trail of intent, attribution, and retention.

What supporting documents are required?

Common attachments include schedule of values, invoices, lien waivers, certified payroll, change order approvals, and inspection reports. Omitting required backup is the most frequent cause of certification delay.

How is retainage shown and released?

Show retainage as a withheld percentage or dollar amount per contract. Final retainage release typically occurs after final acceptance and completion conditions are met; timing depends on contract terms.

What if the architect denies certification?

If certification is denied or reduced, review the architect's comments, supply missing backup, and resubmit. Maintain written correspondence documenting the issues and corrective actions.

Who must sign the draw document?

The person authorized by contract (often the contractor's project manager) should sign. Owners or architects sign only when the document is a certificate of payment or recommendation.

How long should draw records be kept?

Retain draw documents for the contract life plus applicable statutory periods (tax, lien, or regulatory). Specific retention timelines vary by regulatory and tax rules.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Project Management
Project Management AIA Draw Document

Project Management AIA Draw Document

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

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AIA DRAW DOCUMENT

Project Identification

Project Title Project ID Client Name Client Address Service Provider (Contractor) Project Manager

Contract Date: Original Contract Sum: $ Current Contract Sum (incl. approved change orders): $

Scope of Work

Detailed scope of work to which this draw applies:

Out-of-Scope Items (explicitly excluded)

Schedule & Milestones

Contract Start Date: Anticipated Substantial Completion:

Milestone 1

Due Date:

Milestone 2

Due Date:

Schedule of Values and Draw Summary

Attach or itemize the schedule of values supporting this draw. Provide per-line totals and percent complete. If additional rows are required, attach supplemental schedule.

Primary Line Item / Deliverable

Original Amount: $ Approved Change Orders: $ Completed to Date: $

Additional Line Item / Deliverable

Original Amount: $ Approved Change Orders: $ Completed to Date: $

Total Contract Sum: $ Previous Applications and Payments: $ Current Amount Requested: $

Retainage (% or $): Balance to Finish, Including Retainage: $

Payment Schedule & Change Orders

Payment Schedule (milestones / percentages) Change Order Request

Change Order Requested: If checked, Amount: $

Change Order Description / Justification

Certifications and Representations

The undersigned Service Provider certifies, represents and warrants to the Client that: (a) all work represented by this draw has been performed in accordance with the Contract Documents; (b) all labor, materials and equipment for which payment is claimed have been provided in connection with the Work; (c) all payrolls, taxes, contributions and other obligations required by law or by the Contract Documents have been paid or will be paid from proceeds of this payment; and (d) no liens or stop notices have been filed that are not disclosed in writing with this Application.

The Service Provider further certifies that all subcontractors and suppliers associated with the items claimed have been paid to the extent required by the Contract Documents, except as specifically noted in writing and attached to this Application. The Service Provider agrees to provide unconditional lien waivers from subcontractors and suppliers as a condition precedent to final payment if required by the Client.

Lien Waivers Attached: Pending Claims or Disputes (describe):

Acceptance Criteria for Deliverables

Confidentiality and Use of Funds

All information, schedules, pricing and attachments submitted in connection with this Application are confidential between the parties and shall be used solely for purposes of processing payment and administering the Contract. Funds disbursed pursuant to this Draw Document shall be used only for Work and related obligations as set forth in the Contract Documents.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

This Draw Document and any dispute arising out of or relating to it shall be governed by the substantive law of the state identified for the Contract and adjudicated in the courts having jurisdiction there. Parties agree to good faith efforts to resolve payment disputes through the Contract's designated claims procedure prior to initiating litigation.

Notices and Contacts

Client Notice Contact Service Provider Contact Attachments

Acknowledgement and Authorization

The undersigned certifies under penalty of perjury that the information contained herein, including supporting schedules and attachments, is true and correct to the best of their knowledge and that the amounts requested represent work performed and materials furnished in accordance with the Contract Documents and any approved change orders. The undersigned further authorizes the Client to rely upon this certification in processing payment.

Client:

By:

Date:

Service Provider:

By:

Date:

What the Project Management AIA Draw Document Is

The Project Management AIA Draw Document is the construction industry form set used to request progress payments under AIA-style contracts, typically the AIA G702 (Application and Certificate for Payment) with the G703 continuation sheet. It itemizes completed work against the schedule of values, shows retainage and change order adjustments, and records the architect's certification or recommended payment. The draw document creates a formal record for the owner, contractor, and subcontractors and is commonly used as the basis for issuing checks, conditional lien waivers, and payment certificates.

Why the AIA Draw Document Matters for Project Controls

A properly completed AIA draw document clarifies earned value, preserves subcontractor lien rights, and documents approval points for payment. It reduces disputes, supports auditability, and provides a single source of truth for progress-based payments when combined with certified backup and retention.

Who Prepares and Reviews AIA Draw Documents

Typical participants and reviewers on AIA draw workflows vary by role and contract responsibilities.

General contractor or project manager — prepares the application, compiles schedule of values and backup, and certifies amounts requested before submission.
Subcontractors and suppliers — supply lien waivers, invoices, and work verification to support line-item amounts in the draw.
Architect or owner's representative — reviews line items, certifies completed work, and issues the payment certification or rejection.

Roles should be defined in the contract to ensure timely submission, review, and payment processing.

Step-by-step: Completing an AIA Draw for Payment

Follow a consistent sequence to reduce back-and-forth and ensure the architect can certify the amount requested.

01

Prepare Packet: Gather schedule of values, invoices, lien waivers, and supporting photos or reports.
02

Enter Amounts: Populate line items, previous payments, retainage, and compute current payment requested.
03

Attach Backup: Include invoices, certified payroll, change order approvals, and inspection reports as required.
04

Submit for Approval: Send to architect/owner with requested authentication and await certification or comments.

Frequently asked questions and troubleshooting

Answers to common issues encountered when preparing, submitting, or certifying an AIA draw document.

Need help? Contact support

Can the draw be signed electronically?
Yes. Electronic signatures are generally enforceable under federal ESIGN and state UETA laws if parties consent and records are retained. Verify the contract permits e-signatures and preserve an audit trail of intent, attribution, and retention.
What supporting documents are required?
Common attachments include schedule of values, invoices, lien waivers, certified payroll, change order approvals, and inspection reports. Omitting required backup is the most frequent cause of certification delay.
How is retainage shown and released?
Show retainage as a withheld percentage or dollar amount per contract. Final retainage release typically occurs after final acceptance and completion conditions are met; timing depends on contract terms.
What if the architect denies certification?
If certification is denied or reduced, review the architect's comments, supply missing backup, and resubmit. Maintain written correspondence documenting the issues and corrective actions.
Who must sign the draw document?
The person authorized by contract (often the contractor's project manager) should sign. Owners or architects sign only when the document is a certificate of payment or recommendation.
How long should draw records be kept?
Retain draw documents for the contract life plus applicable statutory periods (tax, lien, or regulatory). Specific retention timelines vary by regulatory and tax rules.

Core components every professional AIA draw should include

A complete draw packet combines numeric detail, certification language, and verifiable backup to support payment.

Application Form

The AIA G702 (or similar) application summarizes the amount requested, prior payments, and retainage and includes a formal signature and certification block for the contractor.

Continuation Sheet

The AIA G703 or equivalent continuation sheet breaks the application into schedule of values line items and shows percentage complete or dollar values per line.

Schedule of Values

A contractor-prepared breakdown allocating the contract sum to work categories; each draw ties back to these line items with supporting invoices.

Architect Certification

Space for the architect or owner's representative to certify completed work, note defects, and recommend payment or withholding per contract terms.

Change Orders

Documented and approved change orders must be referenced and itemized to adjust the contract sum and the current payment request appropriately.

Lien Waivers

Conditional or unconditional lien waivers from subcontractors and suppliers may be required before payment to protect owners from later claims.

Security and compliance considerations

Encryption: AES-256 at rest

Transport: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit

Audit Trail: Tamper-evident logs

Regulatory: ESIGN, UETA compliant

PHI Support: HIPAA (BAA available)

Access Control: Role-based permissions

Risks and penalties from incorrect draw submissions

Payment Delay: Late or incomplete draws delay payments

Lien Exposure: Improper waivers can leave owners exposed

Dispute Escalation: Unclear backup increases claims risk

Contract Breach: Misstated amounts may breach contract

Audit Finding: Missing records hinder audits

Regulatory Risk: Privacy noncompliance for PHI

Common preparation errors to avoid

Submitting draws without itemized backup or certified documents, which typically triggers rejection or reduced certification and slows payment.
Mismatched dates or contract identifiers that prevent the pay application from being associated with the correct contract or period.
Incorrect retainage calculations or failing to apply approved change orders, which causes reconciliation issues at project closeout.
Using unsigned or improperly authorized signature blocks when the contract requires a named or delegated signatory authority.

How electronic AIA draw submission typically works

The digital workflow mirrors the manual process but adds authentication and an audit trail to speed review and reduce errors.

Upload: Sender uploads application and supporting files in PDF or DOCX.
Prepare: Place fields for signatures, dates, and conditional attachments.
Send: Route to architect/owner with required authentication.
Certify: Architect signs digitally and returns certified copy with audit log.

Typical eSubmission configuration for draw approvals

Configure routing and authentication to match contract requirements and minimize signer friction.

Field	Configuration
Authentication	Email link \| SMS code \| vendor MFA
Conditional Fields	Show attachments only when change orders exist
Approval Routing	Sequential: Contractor → Architect → Owner
Notifications	Email reminders and completion receipts

Technical requirements and platform integrations

Choose a platform that supports common file types, secure authentication, and integration with existing systems.

File Formats: PDF, DOCX, XLSX supported
Integrations: Procore, Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
Auth Options: Email, SMS, SSO, KBA

Ensure the chosen solution preserves an audit trail, supports conditional fields for change orders, and can export signed records for filing and retention.

Typical timelines and processing expectations

Contract language sets exact deadlines; these are common industry expectations to use as references.

Submission Cutoff:

Monthly or milestone-based cutoff date per contract.

Architect Review:

Commonly 7–14 days for certification after submission.

Payment Timing:

Payment often due within 30 days of certification per many contracts.

Retainage Release:

Released at final acceptance or completion conditions.

Resubmission Window:

Corrected draws should be resubmitted promptly to avoid cumulative delays.

Milestone timeline for a single draw cycle

A concise sequence from preparation to payment helps track responsibilities and expected turnarounds.

01

Prepare Application

Contractor compiles values, backup, and required waivers for the period.

02

Submit to Architect

Send package with authentication and routing instructions for certification.

03

Architect Certification

Architect reviews, may request clarifications, and certifies or reduces payment.

04

Owner Payment

Owner or payer issues payment according to contract terms after certification.

Comparison: eSignature vendor pricing and capabilities

Quick vendor comparison covering starting price, trial availability, bulk send, audit trails, HIPAA support, and envelope limits to inform procurement decisions.

	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 by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes (Premium)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Varies
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies	Varies	Varies

Real-world examples of digital draw adoption

Two customer stories illustrate how digital signing simplifies draw workflows while preserving compliance and auditability.

Martin Properties

Tim Martin needed remote signing and consistent records for property developments.

Platform enabled online processing of draws and certificates.
I can process and execute all of these documents online with 100% compliance and built-in security, whether on mobile or working offline, reducing turnaround and supporting consistent recordkeeping.

BIS

Dan Rotelli sought a solution with strong compliance credentials.

SOC 2 and ESIGN/UETA support were key selection factors.
We felt most comfortable given the SOC 2 certification and strict focus on ESIGN and UETA act compliance, which helped streamline approvals and audit readiness.

Typical authorized signers and what they do

Project Manager — Contractor

The project manager prepares the draw, aggregates subcontractor backup, verifies progress against schedule of values, and signs the application under delegated authority. Their signature represents contractor certification of accuracy.

Architect — Owner Representative

The architect reviews submitted draws, documents defects or holdbacks, and issues certification or recommendation for payment per contract terms; their certification triggers the owner's payment obligations.

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