Signing a document feels final — but it isn't always, and "undoing" one is rarely as simple as deleting a file. What you can do depends on two things: whether everyone has signed yet, and whether the other party agrees. Just as important is what you should never do, which is quietly edit a signed file. Here's how to void, cancel, or correct a signed document the right way.

First, figure out which situation you're in

There are three, and they have very different answers:

Still being signed (one or more parties haven't signed yet)
Fully executed (everyone has signed — it's now a binding agreement)
An error surfaced after signing and you need to fix it

Situation 1: It hasn't been fully signed yet — void it

This is the easy case. While a document is still in flight, you can cancel it outright. In an e-signature platform this is usually a "void" action on the document: it immediately invalidates the signing links, notifies anyone who was asked to sign, and marks the document cancelled so no one can sign it afterward.

Open the document in your sending dashboard.
Choose Void (or Cancel) and add a short reason — that reason is recorded for everyone's reference.
Send a fresh, corrected version if you still need the agreement signed.

Voiding before completion leaves no binding obligation, which is exactly why catching a mistake before the last signature is so much cheaper than catching it after.

Situation 2: Everyone signed — you can't just cancel it

Once all parties have signed, you have a binding contract, and one side generally cannot undo it alone. Your real options are:

Mutual rescission. Both parties agree to unwind the agreement and sign a short rescission (or cancellation) document that says the original is terminated and, ideally, that neither owes the other anything further.
Use a termination clause. Many contracts include a "termination for convenience" or "for cause" clause with a notice period. If yours does, follow it — that's the contractually agreed exit.
Amend rather than cancel. If you only need to change a term, an amendment (signed by both parties) is cleaner than tearing up the whole thing.

The common thread: cancelling a fully executed contract is itself a new signed agreement between the parties, not a delete button.

Situation 3: There's an error — never edit the signed file

If you spot a typo, wrong figure, or missing clause after signing, the instinct is to open the PDF and fix it. Don't. A completed e-signed document is sealed against tampering: any change after signing breaks the cryptographic integrity and invalidates the audit trail that makes the signature defensible. An edited "signed" file is worse than useless — it looks like exactly what it is.

Instead, issue a correction both parties re-sign:

For a small fix, a one-page amendment referencing the original document and stating the change.
For a significant error, void the original (if possible) or mutually rescind it, then execute a corrected version cleanly.

What "voided" means for your records

A voided document doesn't vanish — and it shouldn't. Keep the voided version and its reason alongside the replacement, so your records show what happened and when. That history is part of a clean paper trail if anyone ever asks why a document was cancelled.

Frequently asked questions

Can I cancel a document after I've signed but the other party hasn't? Yes. Until every party has signed, the agreement isn't complete — void it in your e-signature platform and it can no longer be signed.

Can I delete a signed contract to get out of it? No. Deleting your copy doesn't erase the agreement or the other party's copy, and a fully executed contract binds you regardless. To exit, use mutual rescission or a termination clause.

Why can't I just edit the PDF to fix a mistake? Editing a completed e-signed PDF breaks its tamper-evident seal and audit trail, which destroys its evidentiary value. Issue a signed amendment or a re-signed corrected version instead.

Is a voided document legally binding? No. A document voided before completion creates no obligation. A fully executed document that's later cancelled is unwound by the rescission or termination agreement, not by voiding.

How to Void or Cancel a Signed Document