create_contract
Create and customize contracts for electronic signatures using templates, assign signers, set expiry dates, and manage document fields for secure signing workflows.
Instructions
Creates a new contract. The contract can be a draft which the user can customize/send, or the contract can be sent instantly. So called 'signature fields' like Name/Date/signature-line must be left out, they are all handled automatically. Contract owners can customize the content by replacing {{placeholder fields}} inside the content, and the signers can fill in Signer fields when they sign the contract.
Input Schema
TableJSON Schema
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| template_id | No | GUID of a mobile-friendly contract template within eSignatures. The template provides content, title, and labels. Required unless document_elements is provided. | |
| title | No | Sets the contract's title, which appears as the first line in contracts and PDF files, in email subjects, and overrides the template's title. | |
| locale | No | Language for signer page and emails. | |
| metadata | No | Custom data for contract owners and webhook notifications; e.g. internal IDs. | |
| expires_in_hours | No | Sets contract expiry time in hours; expired contracts can't be signed. Expiry period can be extended per contract in eSignatures. | |
| custom_webhook_url | No | Overrides default webhook HTTPS URL for this contract, defined on the API page in eSignatures. Retries 6 times with 1 hour delays, timeout is 20 seconds. | |
| assigned_user_email | No | Assigns an eSignatures user as contract owner with edit/view/send rights and notification settings. Contract owners get email notifications for signings and full contract completion if enabled on their Profile. | |
| labels | No | Assigns labels to the contract, overriding template labels. Labels assist in organizing contracts without using folders. | |
| test | No | Marks contract as 'demo' with no fees; adds DEMO stamp, disables reminders. | |
| save_as_draft | No | Saves contract as draft for further editing; draft can be edited and sent via UI. URL: https://esignatures.com/contracts/contract_id/edit, where contract_id is in the API response. | |
| signers | No | List of individuals required to sign the contract. Only include specific persons with their contact details; do not add generic signers. | |
| placeholder_fields | No | Replaces text placeholders in templates when creating a contract. Example: {{interest_rate}}. Do not add placeholder values when creating a draft. | |
| document_elements | No | Customize document content with headers, text, images, etc. Owners can manually replace {{placeholder fields}} in the eSignatures editor, and signers can fill in Signer fields. Use placeholders for signer names unless names are already provided. The contract title is automatically added as the first line. | |
| signer_fields | No | Set default values for Signer fields. | |
| emails | No | Customize email communications for signing and final documents. | |
| custom_branding | No | Customize branding for documents and emails. | |
| contract_source | Yes | Identifies the originating system. Currently only mcpserver supported for MCP requests. | |
| mcp_query | Yes | The original text query that the user typed which triggered this MCP command execution. Used for logging and debugging purposes. |