How to Send an NDA for Electronic Signature
NDAs are one of the most commonly e-signed documents in business. Freelancers, startups, enterprises, and law firms send them constantly. Here is how to get one signed electronically in minutes instead of days.
Step-by-Step Walkthrough
1. Prepare Your NDA as a PDF
Start with your NDA document. If you have a template in Word or Google Docs, export it as a PDF. The document should include all terms, definitions, obligations, and signature blocks for each party.
Decide whether you need a unilateral NDA (one party discloses, the other receives) or a mutual NDA (both parties share confidential information). Mutual NDAs are more common in partnerships, vendor relationships, and M&A discussions.
2. Upload to an E-Signature Platform
Open The Drive AI and upload your NDA PDF. The platform preserves your document exactly as formatted.
3. Place Signature Fields
Add fields for each signer. At minimum, each party needs:
- Signature field — where they sign
- Printed name — full legal name
- Date — auto-filled or manually entered
- Title — their role or position (e.g., CEO, Contractor)
If it is a mutual NDA, both parties need identical field sets. Place fields where your signature blocks are in the document.
4. Set Signing Order
For most NDAs, the disclosing party signs first, then the receiving party. This establishes that the disclosing party agreed to the terms before sharing confidential information.
If both parties are equal (mutual NDA), parallel signing works fine. Both signers receive the document at the same time and sign independently.
5. Send for Signature
Enter each signer's email address and send. The recipient gets an email with a link to review and sign the document. They do not need to create an account or install software. They open the link, review the NDA, and sign.
6. Everyone Gets a Signed Copy
Once all parties have signed, each signer receives a completed copy with a full audit trail. The audit trail records who signed, when, and from where, making the NDA enforceable if disputes arise later.
Tips for Sending NDAs
Use templates. If you send NDAs regularly, save your document with pre-placed fields as a template. Next time, you just enter the recipient's email and send.
Set an expiration date. Give recipients a deadline to sign, typically 7 to 14 days. This prevents documents from sitting unsigned indefinitely and keeps deals moving.
Include the effective date. Specify whether the NDA is effective on the date of the last signature or a specific calendar date. This avoids ambiguity about when obligations begin.
Keep a copy of the audit trail. The signed PDF plus audit trail is your proof of execution. Store it somewhere accessible. The Drive AI keeps all signed documents and their audit trails in your account automatically.
Why E-Sign an NDA Instead of Printing
Printing, signing, scanning, and emailing a PDF back and forth takes days. E-signing takes minutes. The signer clicks a link, signs, and both parties have an executed copy with a stronger audit trail than a scanned document could ever provide.
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