This guide explains how to configure ordered flows for Signers and Approvers, how to change the order, and what changes when you also control link delivery.

A Signature Request can include Signers and Approvers. The custom_recipient_order parameter, available on the Initiate and Update Signature Request endpoints, controls how these recipients are ordered.

Standard ordering (custom_recipient_order = false)

All Approvers act first. Once every Approver has approved, Signers are notified.

Within each group, two parameters on the Initiate Signature Request endpoint control the execution order:

When ordering is disabled (default), all recipients within a group are notified at the same time and can act independently.

Set the sequence

By default, ordered recipients follow their creation order. To change the position of a recipient, use insert_after_id on the Create or Update Signer / Approver endpoints.

• Set insert_after_id to another recipient's ID to place them after that recipient.
• Set insert_after_id to null to move them to the beginning of their group.

insert_after_id only works within the same role: a Signer can reference another Signer, an Approver can reference another Approver.

Custom ordering (custom_recipient_order = true)

When custom_recipient_order is enabled, you define the execution order of all recipients together. Approvers and Signers can be freely interleaved.

When enabled:

• ordered_signers and ordered_approvers are ignored.
• Recipients follow their creation order by default.

Enable custom ordering

Set custom_recipient_order to true on the Initiate or Update Signature Request endpoint.

Set the sequence

Use insert_after_id on the Create or Update Signer / Approver endpoints to control their position. Unlike standard ordering, insert_after_id can reference a recipient of any role: a Signer can be placed after an Approver, and vice versa.

Parallel execution within a step

Use group_with_id on the Create or Update Signer / Approver endpoints to place multiple recipients in the same step. Recipients in the same group are notified at the same time and can act in parallel. The next step starts only when all members of the group have completed their action.

QES

When using QES (Qualified Electronic Signature), additional ordering constraints apply. See QES capabilities and limitations for details.