The deal needs sign-off from legal, then the CFO, then the CEO. If the CEO signs before legal has reviewed, you've got a problem. Signing order isn't a nicety — it's a control.
When order matters
Order matters when later signers need to see earlier ones — for review purposes, for approval gates, for legal review chains. It also matters for deeds where a signatory signs and a witness countersigns immediately after.
Order matters less for parallel confirmations where each signer is independent — board members confirming receipt, for example. Use parallel signing there for speed.
Setting it up in Flint
In Flint's signing tool, add each signer with a sequence number. Signer 1 receives the document first; once they sign, it routes to signer 2; and so on. Signers who haven't been reached yet don't receive any email.
Mix sequential and parallel: signers 1 and 2 in parallel, then 3, then 4 and 5 in parallel. Useful for complex approval chains.
Avoiding order mistakes
Common error: putting the CEO first because they're senior. The right order is usually reverse-seniority for reviews — the reviewer goes first, the approver goes last.
Another mistake: making everything sequential when parallel would do. If three board members all need to sign and none depends on the others, send to all three in parallel. You save days.
FAQ
Can I change the order mid-flight?
Most platforms let you cancel an in-progress request and resend with a new order. Anyone who's already signed has signed; you can't unsign them.
What if a signer is unavailable?
Use signer delegation — the signer can assign to a colleague with the audit trail recording the substitution. Or amend the order to skip them with documented reason.
Should I notify all signers when I send?
Only the current signer in the sequence receives the live request. You can CC others informationally if needed.
Does the order affect signature validity?
No, but it affects evidence. If a CEO signs before legal review, you may struggle to argue 'we relied on legal review' in a dispute.
Order matters where it matters. Define the chain in Flint and let the platform route accordingly.