Using a Template on a New File

Select a custom template when creating a loan file to pre-populate the checklist.

Once you've created a custom template, you can select it whenever you create a new loan file. BorrowerDocs seeds the checklist from your template instead of from a standard pack.

Selecting a template

Go to Loan Files → New Loan File.

In the Document Template selector, standard packs appear first:

W2 / Salaried
Self-Employed
Bank Statement (Non-QM)

Below them, under My Templates, your custom templates are listed by name. Select the one that fits the loan.

The rest of the form works the same as always — choose the loan type, enter the borrower's name and email, and click Create Loan File.

What gets created

BorrowerDocs copies all items from your template into the new loan file's checklist. The checklist is an independent copy — changes to the template later don't affect this file, and changes to this file's checklist don't affect the template.

Each item comes in with:

The title and description from your template
The category you assigned
A starting status of Requested

Adding items after creation

Even when using a custom template, you can still add individual items to a specific loan file from the checklist. Use Add Request on the Checklist tab for anything the template didn't cover.

This is useful for one-off items unique to a particular borrower — you don't need a whole new template just for an extra document.

Template not showing up?

Custom templates only appear for Pro plan users. If you don't see a My Templates section in the selector, check your plan at Settings → Billing.

If your template was recently created and isn't showing, try refreshing the page.

Choosing the right template

If you have several templates, name them clearly so the right one is obvious at loan file creation time. A template selector with options like these makes the choice easy:

"FHA Purchase – W2"
"Conventional Refi – W2"
"Self-Employed Purchase"
"DSCR Investment Property"
"VA IRRRL Streamline"

Versus one where everything is called "Custom Template 1–5."

Next steps

Creating a Template — build your first custom template
Editing & Reordering Items — update a template you've already created
Creating a Loan File — the full new loan file flow