This guide covers how Signer Sessions work, what users will see, and how community staff can manage active sessions.
Why Signer Sessions Exist
In real-life scenarios, like spouses sitting at the kitchen table completing move-in paperwork together, multiple people may open the same document at the same time. Previously, this could cause:
Overwritten responses
Lost data
Signer Sessions prevent these issues by managing access in real time.
How It Works (At a Glance)
When a signer clicks Sign, they begin an active signing session
Anyone else who has access to the same document will see:
A flag showing who is current signing
A read-only mode button
The Sign button disabled
The system updates in real time so non-signers can still follow along in “read-only”
Community users can view active sessions and end a session if needed
Scenario 1: Two Signers Try to Sign at the Same Time
What the first signer sees:
They open the packet and select Sign on the document
The document opens fully editable
A banner does not warn them yet - because they are the active signer
What the second signer sees:
They open the same packet and navigate to the same document
The Sign button is disabled
They can only view in Read-Only
A badge shows who is currently signing (eg. Signing in Progress: [email protected])
When selecting read-only they get a modal explaining why editing is locked
Scenario 2: Viewing Live Updates While Someone Else is Signing
Even in read-only mode, other collaborators can:
View the document
Watch updates appear in real time as the active signer completes fields
Return to the packet overview at any time
Work in any other open documents
Scenario 3: Community Managers Ending an Active Sessions
Sometimes a signer may:
Leave their device idle
Close their browser without exiting
Get stuck
Block another signer who needs access
Community users now see active session indicators directly in the packet on the document list.
Steps for community users:
Open the packet
Navigate to the documents tab
Look for the document with a ‘Signing in Progress’ flag
Click the kebab; select View Active Sessions
A modal displays showing:
Active signer name and email
Signer type (resident or collaborator)
Device information
Date stamp
Click ‘End Session’ to immediately unlock access for others.
Scenario 4: After a Session Ends
When a session is ended by community staff:
The signer sees a message: “Your signing session was ended by the community. Your changes have been saved.”
They can return to the packet and wait until the document becomes available again
Other signers can now click Sign and take over
Troubleshooting & FAQs
What if a signer things the session is locked by error?
They should contact the community or wait for the active signer to exit.
Will any data be lost when a session ends?
No. All entered data saved automatically before the session closes.
Can two signers view the document at the same time?
Yes — but only one can actively sign.
Does this apply to Sign in Person?
Yes. Anytime multiple devices could access a packet at once, Signer Sessions protect the data.