Decide who signs first, and who waits their turn
Some documents only make sense in order. The customer signs before you countersign. Both tenants sign before the landlord does. The manager approves before the vendor ever sees it. A signing order makes SignMaster hold each person's link until the people before them have finished.
Updated November 5, 2026 · 3 min read
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The two settings
When you add people to an envelope, the Signing order switch has two positions. Order matters for signers only: someone who receives a copy gets the finished PDF at the end either way.
| Setting | What happens | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| In order | One turn at a time. Each person is emailed when the turn before them is done. | Someone's signature depends on another's, like a countersignature |
| All at once | Everyone gets their link straight away and signs in any order. | Signers are independent, like two partners each agreeing to the same terms |
In order is the default. You can switch per envelope, and set it once for a whole batch when you bulk send.
Set it up
- 1
Add the people
Add each signer by name and email, or add a role per person on a template. Choose Add me if you sign too.
- 2
Drag them into order
With In order on, drag the rows so the first signer is on top. Each row shows its turn number.
- 3
Share a turn where it fits
On any row after the first, switch Then to Same turn as above. Those people are emailed together and can sign in either order, and the next turn waits for both.
- 4
Send
Only the first turn is emailed. As each turn finishes, SignMaster emails the next people a fresh request to sign.
Dragging resets shared turns
If you drag rows after pairing them with Same turn as above, check the pairs again before you send.
Orders people actually use
- Customer, then youThe classic for contractors and freelancers: the client signs the estimate or agreement, then you countersign. See countersign after the client.
- Co-owners together, then youTwo homeowners or two tenants share turn one, and you sign once both have. Neither waits on the other.
- Approval firstA sales manager approves the price, then the customer signs. Give the manager an approve field instead of a signature.
- Anyone from accountsMake one turn a signer group: any one of several people can sign for it, and the first to finish signs for the group.
What signers and you see along the way
Someone who opens their link before their turn sees that the document is still with an earlier signer and that they'll get an email when it's ready. Reminders go only to people whose turn it is, so nobody further down the line gets nagged about something they can't sign yet. You can follow the turns on the envelope's page, and you get one email when everyone has signed.
With a signer group, every person in the group gets their own link and the same reminders. When one of them signs, the others are told who signed for the group and their links stop working. The certificate of completion names the person who signed and the group they signed for.
Questions? Answers.
Can two people sign at the same step?
Yes. With In order on, switch a row to Same turn as above. Both are emailed together, and the next turn starts only when both have signed.
Can I change the order after sending?
Yes, for people who haven't signed yet: Correct lets you reorder turns and change who shares one. Switching between In order and All at once isn't possible after sending.
Does the sender get an email after each signature?
No. You get one email when the last person signs. The envelope page shows each turn as it finishes, and the dashboard shows when it's your turn.
How many people can be in a signer group?
Between 2 and 10. Each gets their own link, and the first to finish signs for everyone in the group.