Sequential vs parallel signing

An envelope is either:

• Parallel — every recipient gets it at once and can sign in any order. Fastest when the signers are independent.
• Sequential — recipients sign in the order you set. Recipient 2 cannot access the document until recipient 1 has finished, recipient 3 waits on 2, and so on.

Pick sequential when order is meaningful: an employee signs before a manager countersigns, or a preparer completes fields a later signer relies on.

The most common confusion here is a sequential envelope that looks stalled. If recipient 2 shows Waiting and recipient 1 has not signed, that is the order working as configured — recipient 2 has not been contacted yet.