How to Create a Signature and eSign a Word Document Electronically

Need to add your electronic signature to a contract, offer letter, or other agreement in a Word document? Here's how to sign a Microsoft Word document electronically without ever leaving the application.

How to electronically sign a Word document

To add your e-signature in Word, you’ll need to start by making sure that you’ve installed theDocusign add-in.

In Word, go to the “Insert” tab, then choose “Get Add-ins.” This will open up the Office Store. Type “Docusign” into the search bar. Then, click the “Add” button next to Docusign for Word and confirm the installation.

If you need a Docusign account, sign up for a free trial to create an electronic signature in 

Microsoft Word. Then, you’ll be ready to start signing documents electronically.

Watch this video to learn how to sign or send a document in Microsoft Word, or follow the steps below:

How to sign a Word document, step by step

To add a signature to a Word document that someone has sent you with Docusign eSignature, follow these simple steps:

1. Go to the Docusign tab in Word, then click “Sign Document.”

2. Drag and drop the signature field to add your electronic signature to the document. You can also add your initials, the date signed, your name, and other information if you choose.

3. Click the “Adopt and Sign” button at the bottom of the window. Your signature will appear in the desired place on the document.

4. Click the “Finish” button at the top of the page.

Docusign for Microsoft Word - Adopt Signature screenshot

Your e-signed document is now ready to send and download.

If you need to send the document to another party, enter the recipient’s name and email address in the “Full Name” and “Email Address” fields in the pop-up menu, then click “Send and Close.”

You can then log into your Docusign account to see all of the documents you’ve signed and sent.

How to insert a signature line in a Word document

If you’re creating an agreement in Microsoft Word, you can insert a signature line that shows exactly where the other party should sign. Here’s how to do it:

• Put the cursor where you want the signature line to appear.

• On the “Insert” tab, choose “Signature Line.”

• In the dialog box that pops up, enter any details you want to appear below the signature line, such as the signer’s name and title.

• Click “OK.” You should now see your signature line on the page.

• To add a clickable signature field using the Docusign for Word opens in a new tab add-on, go to the Docusign tab and choose “Request Signatures,” then add your recipient details. You’ll then be able to drag clickable fields onto your document from the menu on the left.

How to create your own e-signature in Word

When adding an electronic signature to any document, you can choose to simply adopt a Docusign pre-made signature using your name. But if you love your unique autograph and would rather sign a Word document using that, you can also choose to upload or draw your own electronic signature. To create your electronic signature:

• Log into your Docusign account. Click your profile image, then click “Signatures.”

• To change your signature, click “Edit” and then select “Draw.”

• To draw an e-signature in Word, click and hold within the “Draw your signature” box, then draw the desired signature with your cursor or on your touch screen.

• Click and hold within the “Draw your initials” box to draw the desired initials. 

• Click “Create” to save your signature.

How to send a Word document for electronic signature

Need someone else to sign a Word document next? With Docusign eSignature, you can request signatures from one or more parties in just a few steps without converting your file or switching between applications.

• Open the Word document you'd like to send. Go to the Docusign tab and select "Request Signatures."

• Add your recipients by entering their names and email addresses. If multiple people need to sign, you can set a signing order to control who receives the document first.

• Click "Next" to open the document in Docusign. Drag and drop the fields each recipient needs to complete like signature, initials, date, name, or any custom fields required for your agreement.

• Add an optional email message for your signers, then click "Send."

Your recipients will receive an email notification with a link to sign. You can track the status of the document at any time from your Docusign account, and you'll be notified automatically once all parties have signed. The completed document is saved to your Docusign account and can be downloaded or shared from there.

You can also send Word documents for signature directly from the Docusign mobile app, making it easy to manage agreements on the go.

Why use Docusign to e-sign Word documents?

Microsoft Word includes a basic signature line feature, but it's primarily a placeholder to show where a signature should go without capturing a legally binding electronic signature or producing any verification record. Docusign is built for agreements that need to hold up, whether that's a client contract, an employment offer, or a formal business agreement.

Here's what that difference looks like in practice:

Legal compliance and audit trail

Every document signed with Docusign generates a Certificate of Completion that records when the document was signed, by whom, and from where. Docusign signatures comply with the ESIGN Act opens in a new tab and UETA opens in a new tab in the United States, as well as equivalent electronic signature laws opens in a new tab internationally, giving your agreements a defensible legal record that Word's native tools don't provide.

Identity verification 

Docusign offers multiple ways to verify signer identity, including email authentication, SMS verification, and advanced identity checks for higher-stakes agreements. This reduces the risk of unauthorized signing and adds a layer of confidence that a signature line in Word simply can't match.

Multi-signer workflows 

If an agreement requires more than one signature, Docusign lets you route documents to multiple recipients in sequence or in parallel, set signing orders, and automate reminders so nothing stalls waiting on a single party. This is particularly useful for contracts involving multiple stakeholders or approvals across departments.

Cross-platform flexibility 

Docusign works across Word documents, PDFs, and Google Docs, so your team can standardize on a single signing workflow regardless of how agreements are created or shared. Completed documents are stored centrally in your Docusign account with full status history, making it easy to retrieve, audit, or share them without hunting across folders or inboxes.

Frequently asked questions

Can I sign a Word document without Docusign? 

Microsoft Word does include a native signature line feature that lets you designate where a signature should appear. However, this is a visual placeholder rather than a true electronic signature and doesn't capture signer identity, produce an audit trail, or meet the legal requirements of the ESIGN Act or UETA. For agreements that need to be legally binding and verifiable, Docusign provides the compliance and documentation that Word's built-in tools lack.

Is an electronic signature on a Word document legally binding? 

Yes, when it meets the legal requirements established by laws like the ESIGN Act and UETA in the United States including intent to sign and consent from all parties. Docusign signatures are designed to satisfy these requirements and come with a Certificate of Completion that documents the full signing record, making them suitable for contracts, HR documents, and other formal agreements.

Can I use Docusign on Word and other file types? 

Yes. Docusign works across a range of file formats, including Word documents, PDFs, and Google Docs. This means you can manage your entire signing workflow in one place regardless of how your agreements are created or shared without converting files or switching between tools.