Manage contract status

Update agreements through their lifecycle from draft to completion.

Contract status overview

Track where each contract stands in its lifecycle:

• Draft – contract is being created or edited
• Sent – delivered to client for review and signature
• Signed – executed by all parties, legally binding
• Active – currently in effect and governing the relationship
• Expired – past its expiry date, no longer in effect
• Cancelled – terminated before natural completion

Changing contract status

From Table View:

1. Click the status pill next to any contract.

2. Select the new status from the dropdown menu.

3. Status updates immediately across the system.

From Actions Menu:

1. Click the ⋮ menu at the end of any contract row.

2. Find the Change Status section.

3. Choose the appropriate new status.

4. Current status shows with a checkmark.

Mobile Card View:

1. Tap the status pill on any contract card.

2. Select the new status from the options.

3. Changes save automatically.

Status transition workflows

Draft → Sent:

• Automatically happens when you send the contract
• Can manually mark as sent if delivered outside the platform
• Indicates contract is under client review

Sent → Signed:

• Client has reviewed and executed the contract
• All required signatures have been obtained
• Contract becomes legally binding

Signed → Active:

• Contract effective date has arrived
• Terms and conditions are now in force
• Ongoing work can proceed under the agreement

Active → Expired:

• Contract has reached its natural expiry date
• Terms no longer govern the relationship
• May trigger renewal discussions

Any Status → Cancelled:

• Contract terminated before completion
• Mutual agreement or breach of terms
• Work stops under this agreement

Status-based contract management

Draft Contracts:

• Continue editing terms and conditions
• Refine language and legal clauses
• Prepare for client review and approval

Sent Contracts:

• Monitor for client responses and questions
• Follow up on contracts awaiting signature
• Track turnaround times for future planning

Signed Contracts:

• File executed copies for legal compliance
• Begin transition to active project work
• Prepare invoicing and milestone tracking

Active Contracts:

• Monitor ongoing compliance with terms
• Track performance against deliverables
• Manage renewals before expiry dates

Expired Contracts:

• Archive completed agreements
• Evaluate for renewal opportunities
• Review performance for lessons learned

Cancelled Contracts:

• Document reason for termination
• Handle any outstanding obligations
• Archive for future reference

Tracking contract dates

Effective Dates:

• When signed contracts become legally binding
• Filter contracts by those becoming active soon
• Plan resource allocation around start dates

Expiry Dates:

• Monitor contracts approaching expiration
• Set reminders for renewal negotiations
• Prevent service interruptions from lapsed agreements

Contract reporting and analytics

Status Distribution:

• View breakdown of contracts by current status
• Identify bottlenecks in your contract process
• Monitor conversion rates from sent to signed

Timeline Analysis:

• Track how long contracts spend in each status
• Optimize contract turnaround times
• Improve client experience with faster processing

Best practices

• Update status promptly when you learn of changes
• Set calendar reminders for upcoming expirations
• Follow up proactively on sent contracts
• Document status changes with notes when helpful
• Monitor active contracts for compliance issues
• Plan renewals early to avoid service gaps