How to Electronically Sign Documents in Google Docs
Add your electronic signature to a contract, offer letter or non disclosure agreement from a Google Doc in less than 5 min.
It’s easy to create an electronic signature on a Google Doc without ever leaving the application. Electronic signatures create a binding and enforceable legal contract that is widely accepted throughout the industrialized world, and more secure than traditional paper-based signatures because they’re less susceptible to forgery. Read on to discover how to do an electronic signature in Google Docs in just a few steps with this easy guide.
Add eSignature to a Google Doc in less than 5 minutes.
A step-by-step guide to electronically sign documents in Google Docs
First, install the Docusign add-on.
Create or open a Google Doc. Go to “Add-ons” and navigate to “Get add-ons.”
This will open up the G Suite Marketplace.
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Use the G-Suite marketplace search bar and type in Docusign.
Click the plus icon for Google Docs or for Google Drive and confirm the installation. This is free.
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Once the add-on has loaded successfully, you will see a new menu option on the Add-ons drop down in Google Docs called “Docusign eSignature.” Click on that and choose “Sign with Docusign.”
The first time you use the add-on, Docusign asks for permission to run. Click Continue.
![Add eSignature to Google Docs](/sites/d8/files/styles/body_max_width/public/blog/migrated/ca/2020/05/Google-doc-image-3-MKC-9733-Blog-Image-2-Polished.png?itok=YfvHd9mm)
Docusign then asks for permission to manage the documents in your Google Drive. Click on your account.
![Add eSignature to Google Docs](/sites/d8/files/styles/body_max_width/public/blog/migrated/ca/2020/05/Google-doc-image-4-MKC-9733-Blog-Image-3-Polished-1.png?itok=qhkev8oV)
You can now use the Docusign for Google Docs Add-on to sign or send for signatures on documents.
To electronically sign a document within Google Docs
- From your Google Drive account, create a new Google doc (or find and select the document you want to electronically sign).
- From the open document click Add-ons in the header.
- Click Docusign Electronic Signature for Docs > Sign with Docusign.
The Docusign log-in page appears. If you don’t already have a Docusign account, you can sign up for a free account by clicking the Sign up for a Docusign Account link.
- Click LOG IN then enter your Docusign user name and password.
- The Ready to Sign landing page appears
Note: If you are creating a new document, you must finish editing it before you can sign it.
If you haven’t finished your document, click Finish Editing to return to it.
- Click START.
The Docusign landing page appears for you to select who should sign your document.
- Click Only Me.
A read-only copy of your document opens, ready for you to add fields.
- Drag and drop your signature and any other fields you want to use into your document.
- When you’re done signing your document, click Finish.
The window closes, and within a few minutes, the completed document is added to your Drive account in a folder labeled Docusign – Completed, which is created automatically the first time you sign or send a Google doc for signature.
On the Signing Completed page, you can close the browser tab, click the next step buttons to return to Docs, email a copy of the document, see document details, or download the document to your hard drive.