The Client Signing Experience
What your client sees step by step when they receive a contract to sign, from the email to the final signature.
When you send a contract or combined document, your client goes through a guided signing flow that does not require them to create an account or install anything. Here is exactly what they experience so you can walk your clients through it or answer questions when they come up.
Step 1: The Email
Your client receives an email with a brief message and a button to view the document. The link is unique to them — it is a secure, tokenized URL that does not require a login. They just click and go.
The link is valid for 30 days. If it expires, you can resend the document from the event detail page, which generates a fresh link.
Step 2: Consent to E-Sign
Before they see any content, your client is presented with a consent dialog. This is a legal requirement under the ESIGN Act. They confirm that they agree to sign electronically and that their electronic signature carries the same weight as a handwritten one.
This takes about five seconds. One checkbox, one confirmation button, and they are in.
Step 3: Reviewing the Document
Your client sees the full document rendered as a formatted PDF with your branding applied — your logo, colors, and fonts from the brand preset you chose in the builder.
They scroll through every section of the contract. The document is read-only at this point — they are reviewing, not editing.
Step 4: Initialing Required Sections
If you marked any sections as requiring initials when you built the document (common for cancellation policies, payment terms, or liability clauses), your client must place their initials on each of those sections.
The sections that need initials are clearly indicated so your client knows exactly where to stop. They cannot skip a required initial — the signing flow will not let them proceed until every marked section has been initialed.
Step 5: Signing at the Bottom
At the end of the document, your client places their full electronic signature in the signature field. They can draw it with a mouse or finger, or type their name to generate a signature.
Once they submit their signature, their part is done. If they are the only signatory (or the last one to sign), the document is fully executed at that point.
What Happens If Others Still Need to Sign
If the document has multiple signatories — for example, both the client and their partner, or the client and you — your client sees a confirmation screen after signing that says something like "You have signed. Waiting on other signatures."
They cannot download the fully executed PDF until everyone has signed. Once all parties complete their signatures, the document is finalized and your client can revisit the same link to view and download the signed copy.
Common Client Questions
"Do I need to create an account?" No. The link works without any login or registration.
"Can I come back to this later?" Yes. The link stays active for 30 days. If they started but did not finish, they can pick up where they left off.
"Is this legally binding?" Yes. Electronic signatures through Gilded comply with the ESIGN Act and UETA. The signed document includes a tamper-proof audit trail.
"How do I get a copy?" After all parties sign, they can revisit the link to view and download the fully executed PDF.