How to upload a Microsoft Word document and create a .PDF file

How to upload a Microsoft Word document and create a .PDF file

At DocuGuardian, we prioritize security and authenticity when it comes to storing your most important documents. For this reason, Microsoft Word documents (.doc, .docx) cannot be uploaded because they are editable and can be altered after being stored. Legal and estate planning documents should be stored in non-editable formats to ensure their integrity and prevent accidental or unauthorized changes.

To upload your documents to DocuGuardian, please convert them to PDF format first. PDFs are secure, widely accepted, and preserve formatting, making them the best choice for storing important files.

How to Convert a Word Document to a PDF

Option 1: Using "Save As" (Windows & Mac):

• Open the Word document you want to convert

• Click File in the top menu:

• Select Save As (or Save a Copy):

• Select Browse and a list of locations where you can save the file will appear.  You may also rename your file here:

• In the Save as type dropdown, select PDF (.pdf):

• Click Save—your document is now a PDF!

Option 2: Printing to PDF (Windows & Mac):

• Open your Word document

• Click File, then Print:

• In the Printer dropdown, select Microsoft Print to PDF (Windows) or Save as PDF (Mac):

• Click Print (don’t worry—it won’t print a physical copy):

• Choose a file name for your file:

• Choose a location to save the PDF file click Save:

Option 3: Google Drive Upload / Download (For those with a Gmail account and Google Drive) - Laptop & Desktop instructions:

• Open your Google Drive

• If you do not have the files on your Google Drive that you want to upload to DocuGuardian, simply drop the file from your desktop to the location of your choosing in your Google Drive

• Once the file is saved in Google Drive, simply right click to access the Download option:

Or, you can select from the 3 dots on the right side of the file information:

• Saving the file to a location on your desktop can be done 2 ways:

1. If you have Adobe Acrobat already on your laptop or desktop, the download should automatically open and you can choose to save to the location of your choice by selecting Menu at the top right, and then selecting Save as… once the Menu opens:

2. Google Chrome browser, you will receive notification of the completion of the download and can access your downloaded PDF by selecting the download icon shown below.  This will open the download folder for you to either grab the file and move it to your desired location, or if you click on the file showing, open it in Adobe Acrobat and save as described in Step 1 above:

Microsoft Edge browser, you will receive notification of the completion of the download and can access your downloaded PDF by selecting the download icon shown below.  This will open the download folder for you to either grab the file and move it to your desired location, or if you click on the file showing, open it in Adobe Acrobat and save as described in Step 1 above:

Once your document is saved as a PDF, you can easily upload it to DocuGuardian.

 Tip: If you have a scanned document or printed/physical file, you can use your phone’s scan   feature (available on iPhones and Android devices) to create a PDF.

We’re here to help you protect your legacy with secure, reliable document storage!