How to Send Revised Contracts in DocuSign

Learn how to manually configure and send revised contracts and Statements of Work in DocuSign when standard templates do not apply.

August 10, 2026 By Dana Peck

This guide demonstrates how to send a negotiated, revised contract via DocuSign to collect signatures and finalize an agreement. It ensures you know how to manually set up signature blocks and required fields when standard automated templates do not apply.

This process applies to sales, legal, or operations team members who need to execute non-standard or heavily redlined agreements with clients.

1. Upload Documents

Step #1: Click Send Envelope from the DocuSign home screen. — Click **Send Envelope** from the DocuSign home screen.

Step #2: Click Upload and select your revised contract. — Click **Upload** and select your revised contract.

If DocuSign recognizes the contract, it will prompt you to apply a matching template. Click Apply to automatically set up the fields. If a template is successfully applied, you can skip to adding your Statement of Work and reviewing the envelope.

Step #3: Click Upload again to attach the corresponding Statement of Work (SOW). — Click **Upload** again to attach the corresponding Statement of Work (SOW).

2. Add Recipients and Set Signing Order

Step #4: Expand the Add recipients section. — Expand the **Add recipients** section.

Step #5: Check the box for Set signing order. — Check the box for **Set signing order**.

The client must always sign first, followed by you. Others who only need a copy should be ordered last.

Step #6: Enter the client's name and email address as the first recipient. — Enter the client's name and email address as the first recipient.

Step #7: Add yourself as the second recipient. Ensure both you and the client are set to Needs to Sign. — Add yourself as the second recipient. Ensure both you and the client are set to **Needs to Sign**.

Step #8: Click Add Recipient to add team members who need visibility. — Click **Add Recipient** to add team members who need visibility.

Step #9: Click the action dropdown for internal team members. — Click the action dropdown for internal team members.

Step #10: Select Receives a Copy so they aren't prompted to sign. — Select **Receives a Copy** so they aren't prompted to sign.

3. Customize the Message

Step #11: Expand the Add message section. — Expand the **Add message** section.

Step #12: Replace the default subject line with a clear subject, like "Pilot Services Agreement". — Replace the default subject line with a clear subject, like "Pilot Services Agreement".

Step #13: Draft a brief message to the client, referencing the attached contract and SOW. — Draft a brief message to the client, referencing the attached contract and SOW.

Step #14: Click the Category dropdown menu. — Click the **Category** dropdown menu.

Step #15: Select Service Agreements. — Select **Service Agreements**.

Step #16: Click Next to proceed to adding fields. — Click **Next** to proceed to adding fields.

4. Add Fields Manually

If the template didn't automatically apply, you must map the signature and input fields for both the client and yourself.

Assigning fields to yourself:

Step #17: Select your name from the recipient dropdown in the top left. — Select your name from the recipient dropdown in the top left.

Step #18: Click and drag the Date Signed field onto the document. — Click and drag the **Date Signed** field onto the document.

Assigning the Date Signed to yourself ensures the contract is officially dated on the exact day you (the final signer) execute it.

Assigning fields to the client:

Step #19: Select the client from the recipient dropdown. — Select the client from the recipient dropdown.

Step #20: Drag the Company field onto the company name line. — Drag the **Company** field onto the company name line.

Step #21: Click Custom Fields in the sidebar. — Click **Custom Fields** in the sidebar.

Step #22: Drag the Entity Type field onto the document to capture their corporate structure (e.g., LLC, Corporation). — Drag the **Entity Type** field onto the document to capture their corporate structure (e.g., LLC, Corporation).

Step #23: Return to Standard Fields and scroll down to the signature block. — Return to **Standard Fields** and scroll down to the signature block.

Step #24: Drag the Signature field onto the client's signature line. — Drag the **Signature** field onto the client's signature line.

Step #25: Drag the Name and Title fields into their respective places. — Drag the **Name** and **Title** fields into their respective places.

Step #26: Drag standard Text fields for the address and phone number instead of using DocuSign's pre-formatted address/phone blocks, which can be restrictive. — Drag standard **Text** fields for the address and phone number instead of using DocuSign's pre-formatted address/phone blocks, which can be restrictive.

Step #27: Drag the Email field to capture their contact email. — Drag the **Email** field to capture their contact email.

Finalizing the signature block:

Step #28: Switch the recipient dropdown back to your name. — Switch the recipient dropdown back to your name.

Step #29: Drag the Signature, Name, and Title fields onto your portion of the signature block. — Drag the **Signature**, **Name**, and **Title** fields onto your portion of the signature block.

Once all fields are properly assigned and positioned, review the envelope and click Send.

Q: Why do I assign the "Date Signed" field to myself instead of the client?

A: You sign the contract last. Assigning the date field to yourself ensures the contract's effective date reflects the exact day it is fully executed.

Q: Why use basic text fields for address and phone number instead of the pre-formatted ones?

A: DocuSign's specialized address and phone fields force specific formatting (like splitting country codes), which can be annoying for signers. Standard text fields provide a smoother signing experience.

Q: What happens if DocuSign recognizes the revised contract?

A: DocuSign may prompt you to apply a matching template. If you click "Apply", it will automatically pre-fill the signature and data fields, saving you from placing them manually.

Q: How should I order the recipients?

A: Set the signing order so the client signs first, followed by you. Any internal team members who only need visibility should be placed at the end of the order and set to "Receives a Copy".

Term	Definition
Envelope	A container used in DocuSign to send, sign, and manage one or more documents.
Statement of Work (SOW)	A formal document that details the specific services, deliverables, and timelines of a project.
Signing Order	The sequential workflow that dictates the order in which recipients receive and sign a document.
Custom Fields	User-defined input fields created in DocuSign to capture specific data not covered by standard fields, such as Entity Type.
Receives a Copy	A recipient role in DocuSign that grants view-only access to the final signed document without requiring a signature.

Term

Definition

Envelope

A container used in DocuSign to send, sign, and manage one or more documents.

Statement of Work (SOW)

A formal document that details the specific services, deliverables, and timelines of a project.

Signing Order

The sequential workflow that dictates the order in which recipients receive and sign a document.

Custom Fields

User-defined input fields created in DocuSign to capture specific data not covered by standard fields, such as Entity Type.

Receives a Copy

A recipient role in DocuSign that grants view-only access to the final signed document without requiring a signature.