What stage comes immediately after 'Draft' in the contract lifecycle?

In the contract lifecycle, the stage that comes immediately after 'Draft' is 'Active.' Once a contract has been prepared and is in the draft stage, it typically undergoes reviews, negotiations, and amendments until it is finalized and signed by all relevant parties. Once fully executed, the contract transitions to the active stage, where the terms of the contract are in effect, and both parties are expected to fulfill their obligations as stipulated.

The active stage is crucial because it represents the point at which a contract is operational and enforceable. This phase encompasses the execution and administration of the agreement, ensuring that both parties adhere to the terms laid out during the drafting process.

Other options like 'Expired,' 'Canceled,' and 'Renewal' occur at different stages of the contract lifecycle, typically following the active phase. An expired contract refers to one that has reached the end of its defined term without renewal, a canceled contract signifies one that has been terminated before the intended end date, while renewal pertains to the actions taken to extend or re-establish the agreement once its term is nearing conclusion. Thus, they are not the immediate successive stage following 'Draft.'