Who This Guide Is For
This guide is intended for any individual who has been sent a request to review, approve, and/or sign a document in dealhead using dhSign.
If you are a Team Captain on a dealhead Project and want to learn about managing signatures, check out dhSIgn - Guide for Team Captains.
⚠️ Important: You do not need to be an administrator or Team Member of a Project in dealhead to use dhSign - anyone can sign document(s).
What Is dhSign?
dhSign is dealhead’s built-in e‑signature solution, designed specifically for M&A, legal, and professional services workflows. With dhSign, Signatories can:
Review and approve documents securely
Apply legally binding electronic signatures
Track pending and executed documents
Access completed documents forever, with no subscription required
All signature activity takes place directly within dealhead.
How You’ll Be Notified
When a document is ready for your review and signature, you will receive an email from: [email protected]. The email will inform you that you have been requested to review, approve, and sign one or more documents.
⚠️Important: You must sign in using the same email address that received the request.
Quick Guide to Signing
Here are the 3 basic steps to signing and approving documents.
1️⃣ Sign In (or Create an Account)
Click Review Documents button in the email, or go directly to dealhead and sign in using the email address where you received the request. If you do not already have a dealhead account, you will be prompted to create one.
2️⃣ Access the dhSign Dashboard
Once logged in, click on dhSign in the main navigation bar. You may land on this page by default. Your dhSign Dashboard shows:
My Signature Requests – Not Executed (documents awaiting your approval)
My Executed Documents (documents you’ve already signed)
Your saved signature
This dashboard is your central hub for all signature activity. Fig 1., below, shows an example of the dhSign Dashboard:
Fig 1. dhSign Dashboard Example
3️⃣ Review & Approve Document(s)
From the dhSign Dashboard, you will see document(s) that need your Approval in the "My Signature Requests - Not Executed" section. If you have not yet added a signature to your User Profile, you will be prompted to do so.
Download and review the document(s). When ready, click on the "Approve" button associated with each document.
📝 Note: Approval does not immediately finalize the document. Execution occurs when all required approvals and signatures are complete.
dhSign Dashboard Features
The dhSign Dashboard is your central workspace for managing all signature-related activity in dealhead. From this page, you can create and manage your profile signature, review and approve documents awaiting your action, withdraw approvals if needed, and access copies of all fully executed documents. The dashboard provides clear visibility into document status at every stage of the signing process, ensuring you remain in control from initial review through final execution and record retention.
More detail about each dhSign Dashboard feature can be found below:
The dhSign Dashboard
The dhSign Dashboard
Fig 2., below, shows the key elements of the dhSign Dashboard.
Fig 2. dhSign Dashboard
Creating & Managing Your Profile Signature
Creating & Managing Your Profile Signature
Before approving any document, a signature is required as part of your User Profile. You can add your Profile Signature at any time.
On the dhSign Dashboard, locate My Signature in the upper right.
Select Edit Signature
Draw or Upload your signature
Select attorney-client relationship box to authorize your attorney to execute documents on your behalf
Save your signature
Your saved signature will be applied automatically once you approve a document.
You can modify your signature at any time. Fig. 3, below, shows an example of a completed (drawn) signature for Emma Sinclair.
Fig 3. Adding a Signature to User Profile
Viewing Your Signature Requests
Viewing Your Signature Requests
Under My Signature Requests – Not Executed, documents are grouped by Project (if applicable). Each document card shows:
Document name
Current stage (e.g., Ready for Signature)
Approval status
Approving a Document
Approving a Document
To approve a document:
Download and Review the document
Select Approve
📝 Note: Approval does not immediately finalize the document. Execution occurs when all required approvals and signatures are complete.
Withdrawing Approval
Withdrawing Approval
You may withdraw your approval at any time before the signature is applied.
Options include:
Withdrawing approval on an individual document
Selecting Withdraw All Approvals for a given Project, or All Projects (if applicable).
This gives you full control up until execution.
Executed Documents
Executed Documents
Once a document has been fully signed and executed:
It will move to My Executed Documents
You can download a copy at any time
Access is retained permanently
Each executed document includes a Certificate of Completion.
Certificate of Completion (CoC)
Certificate of Completion (CoC)
The CoC is automatically generated for every executed dhSign document. The CoC provides an audit trail that includes:
Document details
Signer identities
Timestamps for approvals and execution
Confirmation of signature integrity
This certificate serves as proof that the document was completed using dhSign and is legally binding. For more info, see dhSign - Certificate of Completion.
Key Things to Remember
Review all documents carefully before approving
Review all documents carefully before approving
You can modify your signature before execution
You can withdraw approval at any time before signing is finalized
All executed documents remain accessible forever
Frequently Asked Questions
Here's a list of FAQ's about using dhSign:
Q: What’s the difference between approving a document and it being executed?
Q: What’s the difference between approving a document and it being executed?
A: Approving a document means you’ve confirmed you’re ready to sign it. A document is executed only when all required signatories have approved and the signing process is complete and signatures have been released by a deal "Team Captain" administrator. Execution is what generates the finalized PDF and Certificate of Completion.
Q: What if I can’t find the dhSign option after signing in?
Q: What if I can’t find the dhSign option after signing in?
A: Make sure you’re signed in with the email address that received the signature request, and that the request is still active. Click on dhSign at the top of the screen in dealhead. If you still don’t see dhSign, contact the Project’s Team Captain or dealhead support.
Q: Why do I need to create a profile signature before approving?
Q: Why do I need to create a profile signature before approving?
A: A profile signature is required for dhSign to apply your legally binding e-signature. You can draw or upload your signature under My Signature before approving any document.
Q: I approved a document by mistake. Can I undo it?
Q: I approved a document by mistake. Can I undo it?
A: Yes — you can withdraw your approval at any time before the document is executed. You can withdraw approval on individual documents or select “Withdraw All Approvals” for a specific Project (if applicable).
Q: Where do I find documents that I’ve already signed?
Q: Where do I find documents that I’ve already signed?
A: Signed and fully executed documents appear under My Executed Documents on the dhSign Dashboard. You can download these at any time, and access is retained permanently.
Q: Will I be notified when a document is executed?
Q: Will I be notified when a document is executed?
A: Execution notifications depend on how the Project admin has configured alerts. If you do not receive a confirmation by email, you can always check My Executed Documents on your dhSign dashboard.
Q: Can someone else sign on my behalf?
Q: Can someone else sign on my behalf?
A: If you’ve selected the attorney-client relationship checkbox when creating your signature, your authorized attorney can execute documents on your behalf. This also requires that an attorney-client relationship has been established between your organization/company and your law firm in the dealhead Teams interface. Otherwise, dhSign does not support signing on someone else’s behalf without explicit authorization.
Q. What happens when I withdraw my approval?
Q. What happens when I withdraw my approval?
A: When you withdraw your approval, your signature authorization is removed and the document will no longer be eligible for execution (with you as a Signatory) until you approve it again. Withdrawing approval does not delete the document or affect other signatories’ approvals. You can withdraw approval at any time before the document is executed.
Q. Can I change my signature after approving a document?
Q. Can I change my signature after approving a document?
A: If you’ve already approved a document and want to use a different signature, withdraw your approval, update your signature, and then re-approve the document.
Q. Can I withdraw my approval after the document is executed?
Q. Can I withdraw my approval after the document is executed?
No. Once a document has been fully executed, approvals can no longer be withdrawn. At that point, the document is finalized and legally binding.
Q. What is the Certificate of Completion?
Q. What is the Certificate of Completion?
A: A Certificate of Completion (CoC) is automatically attached to every executed document in dealhead. It provides an audit trail — including signer identities, timestamps, and confirmation of signature integrity — and serves as legal proof of execution.