Now that you understand what signatories are and who should hold this role (see Understanding signatories), you're ready to designate signatories in Pulley.
This configuration determines who signs which types of equity documents: option grants, SAFEs, stock certificates, and other agreements. You'll complete this once during initial setup, though you can update signatories later if needed.
Before you begin
One thing must be true before you can configure signatories:
You've identified who should be signatories. See Understanding signatories if you're unsure
Once you've configured signatories, they'll receive signature requests as you issue equity. See Complete a signatory request for what happens on their end.
Adding someone as a signatory automatically grants them admin access. When you add a signatory, Pulley invites them as an admin with read/write permissions at the same time. You don't need to add them as an admin separately first. If you're adding someone who is already an admin, their existing access level is unchanged.
What you'll be configuring
Signatories are assigned by document type. Each type requires a separate designation. Adding a signatory for one type does not make them the signatory for all types.
Document type | Signatory role | Required? |
Stock certificates | Certificate Primary | Yes |
Stock certificates | Certificate Secondary | Optional |
Option grants | Options | Yes, if issuing options |
SAFEs | SAFEs | Yes, if issuing SAFEs |
Restricted stock awards | RSAs | Yes, if issuing RSAs |
Warrants | Warrants | Yes, if issuing warrants |
You only need to configure signatories for the document types you'll actually use. If you're not issuing SAFEs, you don't need to assign a SAFE signatory.
Common configurations
CEO signs everything: Add the CEO as Certificate Primary, Options, SAFEs, RSAs, and Warrants
CEO signs certificates, CFO signs grants: Add the CEO as Certificate Primary, add the CFO as Options, SAFEs, and RSAs
Dual certificate signatures: Add the CEO as Certificate Primary and the CFO as Certificate Secondary
1. Navigate to the Signatories section
Click Company in the left navigation bar
Scroll down to the Signatories section
2. Add a signatory
Add a signatory
Click Add Signatory
In the Signatory Type dropdown, select the document type this person will sign (for example, Options, Certificate Primary, or SAFEs)
Enter the signatory's details:
Email: enter their email address. If they're already an admin, use the email on their admin account. If they're new to Pulley, they'll be invited as an admin with signatory authority automatically
Title: select their officer title from the dropdown (CEO, President, CFO, Secretary, etc.)
Click Add Signatory to save
If their title isn't in the dropdown, use Secretary as the default. You can update this later if needed.
Repeat for each document type. If the same person signs multiple document types, complete these steps once for each type. For example, if your CEO signs both Options and SAFEs, you'll add them twice (once as the Options signatory and once as the SAFEs signatory). Each document type requires a separate signatory designation.
One signatory per document type. Pulley only allows one signatory assignment for each document type at a time. If a type is already assigned, it won't appear in the dropdown. To change a signatory for a given type, you must remove the existing signatory first.
Certificate signatories: a special case
Stock certificates are the only document type that supports two signatories: a Primary and an optional Secondary. All other document types support a single signatory only.
When to add a secondary signatory:
Your bylaws require dual signatures on stock certificates
You want a backup signatory for operational continuity
Your legal counsel recommends it
When a single signatory is sufficient: A Certificate Primary alone is legally valid. If you've issued certificates in the past with a single signature, you can continue that pattern.
Can the same person be both Primary and Secondary?
Yes. The same person can hold both the Primary and Secondary roles, including under the same officer title.
Change or remove a signatory
You may need to update signatories when an officer leaves the company, signing authority changes, or you need to correct a mistake.
To remove a signatory
Go to Company and scroll to the Signatories section
Locate the signatory you want to remove
Click Delete next to their name and confirm
Note: Deleting a signatory removes their signatory designation only. It does not affect their admin access.
To change a signatory
Remove the current signatory first, then add the new one using the steps above. You cannot add a replacement until the existing signatory for that document type is removed.
When you add or change a signatory, any pending signature requests for that document type are automatically rerouted to them. They'll see the tasks in their notification queue once they're added.
Verify your configuration
Before moving on, confirm your signatory setup is complete. Go to Company → Signatories and check that each document type you use has a signatory assigned.
Certificate Primary signatory assigned
Certificate Secondary assigned (if using dual signatures)
Options signatory assigned (if issuing option grants)
SAFEs signatory assigned (if issuing SAFEs)
RSAs signatory assigned (if issuing RSAs)
Warrants signatory assigned (if issuing warrants)
All signatories have accepted their admin invitations
Email addresses are correct for each signatory
What happens next
Once signatories are configured, the workflow runs automatically. When you issue equity documents that include added fields for signatory signatures; the designated signatory receives an email notification and an in-app task to sign. Signatories access pending tasks via the clipboard icon in the top right corner. The stakeholder and the signatory are notified at the same time (there's no required signing order).
Important: Signatures will only appear on documents if your templates are formatted with the correct signature placeholder fields (for example, {{signatory_signature}} and {{stakeholder_signature}}). If signatories and stakeholders are signing successfully but signatures aren't appearing on the final PDFs, check your template configuration under Company > Templates. See Configure document templates for details.
Note: If you're recording options or RSUs that were issued and signed offline before Pulley, you may see signature tasks appear for signatories even though no action is required for those specific securities. For shares, signature tasks are valid. Signatories will receive a request to sign the Pulley-generated certificate.
Ready to work through pending signature tasks? See Complete a signatory request Ready to issue your first option grant? See Grant options to an employee
Troubleshooting
The Add Signatory button is disabled or grayed out
All signatory slots for that document type are already filled. Remove the existing signatory first, then add the new one.
A person's name doesn't appear in the signatory dropdown
You can type their email address directly into the field to add them without navigating away. If you prefer to check their invitation status first, go to Company > Admins.
A signatory isn't receiving signature request notifications
Work through these checks in order:
Confirm they've accepted their admin invitation. This is the most common cause. Go to Company > Admins to check their status
Verify their email address is correct in the signatory configuration under Company > Signatories
Confirm they're assigned as the signatory for the specific document type being issued. For example, if you're issuing a SAFE but they're only assigned as the Options signatory, they won't receive the notification
I need to add a signatory for a document type that's not in the dropdown
A signatory is already assigned to that type. Remove the existing signatory first, then add the new one.
The signatory's title isn't in the dropdown
Use Secretary as the default. You can update the title later if needed.