Contract Lifecycle Audit (QA)

Contract Lifecycle Audit (QA)

1. 01

   Inventory every active client contract and its current signing status

   Pull the full list from your document management system, noting which agreements are fully executed, pending signature, or in renewal negotiation. This baseline drives the rest of the audit.

2. 02

   Verify that each contract has a complete and unbroken audit trail

   Check that every send, view, and signature event is timestamped and logged in the platform's audit report. Missing entries signal a compliance risk that could invalidate the agreement in a dispute.

3. 03

   Confirm the legal validity of signatures under the governing jurisdiction

   Review whether the eSignature method used (e.g., typed, drawn, or click-to-accept) meets the standards of the contract's governing law, such as the ESIGN Act or eIDAS. Some platforms, like Xodo Sign, provide compliance documentation you can reference.

4. 04

   Check that all signer identities were verified according to your policy

   For high-value agreements, ensure that identity verification steps (e.g., email OTP or knowledge-based authentication) were applied. Gaps here can expose your agency to repudiation claims.

5. 05

   Review document storage and access permissions for each contract

   Confirm that executed contracts are stored in a secure, access-controlled repository, and that only authorized team members can view or edit them. This is especially critical when using self-hosted options like DocuSeal, where you control the infrastructure.

6. 06

   Flag any contracts with missing or incomplete fields or attachments

   Scan for placeholders, unfilled blanks, or missing exhibits that could render a clause unenforceable. Address these with the client before the contract is relied upon for delivery.

7. 07

   Document audit findings and assign remediation owners

   Create a summary report that lists each contract, its risk level, and the specific action needed. Assign a team member to resolve each issue and set a follow-up date to verify completion.