Welcome to the HotDocs Models documentation. Models exist to allow non-HotDocs-using contributors and editors to mark up or edit a document in preparation for that document's use in HotDocs.
A HotDocs model is a document that uses model markup. Model markup is a human readable set of brief identifiers contained within brackets ( [ ] ) that enable you to manually convert an existing document's changeable text (text that varies from one client to another, such as names, dates, and institutions) into variables such as [ClientName]and [ClientLender].
Once you have created these variables, you are left with a generic or exemplar document you can use as the basis for drafting documents of the same type for various specific clients.
By replacing these generic variables with a client's particular data, a HotDocs model works as a reusable template that enables you to collect client specific information for a particular document type. Once the client data collection process is complete, you can use the HotDocs model to generate documents that incorporate the client data into the standard (non-changing) text in your model document. You can use HotDocs models to create wills, legal filings, real estate contracts, and so forth. When you are done creating your model document, you can convert it into a true HotDocs template.