{"schemaVersion":1,"kind":"article","path":"/help/en-us/articles/sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation/","htmlLang":"en-US","localeRoute":"en-us","slug":"sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation","title":"Sign a document from an email invitation | Sign For Free Help Center","description":"Open a private Sign For Free invitation, confirm your recipient email, and complete the fields assigned to you.","chrome":{"brandLabel":"Sign For Free","helpCenterLabel":"Help Center","skipLabel":"Skip to main content","publicNavigationLabel":"Sign For Free navigation","publicNavigation":[{"href":"/#features","label":"Features"},{"href":"/#pricing","label":"Pricing"},{"href":"/verify","label":"Verify"},{"href":"/blog","label":"Blog"},{"href":"/help/en-us/","label":"Help Center"}],"loginAction":{"href":"/envelopes","label":"Log in"},"createAction":{"href":"/envelopes/new","label":"Get started"},"languageLabel":"Help language","themeLabel":"Theme","themeModes":{"system":"System theme","light":"Light theme","dark":"Dark theme"},"localeOptions":[{"route":"en-us","htmlLang":"en-US","label":"English","href":"/help/en-us/articles/sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation/"},{"route":"ko-kr","htmlLang":"ko-KR","label":"한국어","href":"/help/ko-kr/articles/sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation/"},{"route":"ja-jp","htmlLang":"ja-JP","label":"日本語","href":"/help/ja-jp/articles/sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation/"},{"route":"ru-ru","htmlLang":"ru-RU","label":"Русский","href":"/help/ru-ru/articles/sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation/"},{"route":"de-de","htmlLang":"de-DE","label":"Deutsch","href":"/help/de-de/articles/sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation/"},{"route":"fr-fr","htmlLang":"fr-FR","label":"Français","href":"/help/fr-fr/articles/sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation/"},{"route":"zh-tw","htmlLang":"zh-TW","label":"繁體中文","href":"/help/zh-tw/articles/sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation/"},{"route":"zh-cn","htmlLang":"zh-CN","label":"简体中文","href":"/help/zh-cn/articles/sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation/"},{"route":"es-es","htmlLang":"es-ES","label":"Español","href":"/help/es-es/articles/sign-a-document-from-an-email-invitation/"}],"footerGroups":[{"title":"Product","links":[{"href":"/verify","label":"Verify"},{"href":"/#pricing","label":"Pricing"},{"href":"/licenses","label":"Open-source licenses"}]},{"title":"Resources","links":[{"href":"/blog","label":"Blog"},{"href":"/help/en-us/","label":"Help Center"}]},{"title":"Compare","links":[{"href":"/blog/free-docusign-alternative","label":"Sign For Free vs DocuSign"}]},{"title":"Legal","links":[{"href":"/legality","label":"E-signature legality"},{"href":"/legal-docs/terms","label":"Terms of Service"},{"href":"/legal-docs/privacy","label":"Privacy Policy"},{"href":"/legal-docs/cookie-policy","label":"Cookie Policy"},{"href":"/cookie-settings","label":"Privacy choices"},{"href":"/legal-docs/account-deletion","label":"Delete your account"}]}],"footerTagline":"Sign simply. Keep the proof.","verifyLabel":"Verify"},"breadcrumbsLabel":"Breadcrumb","breadcrumbs":[{"href":"/help/en-us/","label":"Help Center"},{"label":"Sign a document from an email invitation"}],"eyebrow":"Signing","headline":"Sign a document from an email invitation","summary":[{"kind":"text","value":"Open your private invitation, complete the fields assigned to you, and finish signing without creating a Sign For Free account."}],"role":"recipient signer","plan":"free basic","platform":"web email","categoryId":"sign-a-document","metadata":[{"kind":"element","tag":"dl","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"div","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"dt","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Role"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"dd","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Signer"}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"div","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"dt","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Plan"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"dd","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Free and Basic"}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"div","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"dt","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Platform"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"dd","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Web browser and email"}]}]}]}],"sections":[{"sectionId":"before-you-start","title":"Before you start","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"ul","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Use the invitation sent specifically to you. Each signing link is private to the Recipient email assigned to that link."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Be ready to enter the exact email address that received the invitation."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"A Signer does not need a Sign For Free account."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Open the invitation promptly. The Envelope expires 72 hours after it is created."}]}]}]},{"sectionId":"steps","title":"Sign the document","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"ol","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"h3","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Open the private signing link"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"In the invitation email or message from the Sender, select the link for your Envelope."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"h3","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Confirm your Recipient email"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Enter the email address that received the invitation. It must match the Recipient on the Envelope."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"h3","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Review the document"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Read the PDF and locate every field assigned to you before you sign."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"h3","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Complete your fields"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Fill each required Signature, Date, Text, or Stamp field assigned to you."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"h3","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Review the electronic-signature consent"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Read the consent shown in the signing flow and confirm it only if you agree to use electronic records and signatures for this Envelope."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"h3","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Finish signing"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Select "},{"kind":"element","tag":"strong","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Sign and complete"}]},{"kind":"text","value":", then keep the confirmation page open until the submission finishes."}]}]}]}]},{"sectionId":"what-happens-next","title":"What happens next","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Your signing step is recorded. When every required party has signed and final document processing succeeds, the Sender and all Recipients receive the completed PDF and "},{"kind":"element","tag":"code","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"audit_trail.pdf"}]},{"kind":"text","value":" by email. Save both attachments promptly."}]}]},{"sectionId":"warnings-and-limitations","title":"Warnings and limitations","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"ul","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Do not forward your private signing link or post it publicly."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Email matching is a self-claim plus access to the invitation. It is not strong identity verification."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Completing an Envelope does not restart its 72-hour expiration clock."}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Sign For Free does not provide a long-term completed-document archive. Keep the emailed files in storage you control."}]}]}]},{"sectionId":"troubleshooting","title":"Troubleshooting","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"dl","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"div","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"dt","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Your email does not match"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"dd","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Enter the exact address that received the invitation. If the Sender used the wrong address, ask the Sender to create a new Envelope with the correct email address."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"div","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"dt","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"The link is invalid or expired"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"dd","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Ask the Sender to check the Envelope status. An expired Envelope cannot be reopened by signing again."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"div","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"dt","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"The Envelope is already signed or completed"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"dd","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"No further signing action is needed. Watch for the completion email after all signing and final processing finish."}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"div","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"dt","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"A required field is incomplete"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"dd","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Return to the highlighted field, enter the requested value, and select "},{"kind":"element","tag":"strong","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Sign and complete"}]},{"kind":"text","value":" again."}]}]}]}]},{"sectionId":"related-articles","title":"Related articles","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"ul","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"a","attributes":{"href":"/help/en-us/articles/open-and-verify-your-private-signing-link/"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Open and verify your private signing link"}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"a","attributes":{"href":"/help/en-us/articles/understand-envelopes-senders-recipients-signers-and-audit-trails/"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Understand Envelopes, Senders, Recipients, Signers, and audit trails"}]}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"li","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"a","attributes":{"href":"/help/en-us/articles/save-your-completed-pdf-and-audit-certificate/"},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Save your completed PDF and audit certificate"}]}]}]}]},{"sectionId":"support","title":"Still need help?","content":[{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Ask the Sender to confirm your Recipient email and Envelope status, then send you the private link intended for you."}]}]}],"footerMeta":[{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"strong","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Last reviewed:"}]},{"kind":"text","value":" July 22, 2026"}]},{"kind":"element","tag":"p","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"element","tag":"strong","attributes":{},"children":[{"kind":"text","value":"Product version:"}]},{"kind":"text","value":" Web open beta, July 2026"}]}]}