Transactions with Multiple Signers – Proof Help Center

There are three options for when documents need to be signed by multiple parties. This article explains the options and answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

🎯Primary Audience: Proof for Business

For information on setting up a transaction with multiple signers, see Step 3 of Prepare a Business Transaction for Multiple Signers.

For the process from the signer's perspective, read Sign a Document from a Business Requiring Multiple Signers.

Co-Located Signing

Signers are in the same room and join the same notary meeting together on one device (computer or mobile).

Split Signing

Signers are in different locations and are either unable or unwilling to join the same online notary meeting. Separate notary meetings take place, and fees are paid for each meeting. (Also known as Sequential Signing.)

When one signer is signing, the other cannot be signing at the same time. A Notary must always see the most up-to-date version of the document.

Concurrent Signing

Signers are in different locations and join the same notary meeting from separate devices at the same time:

If a signer starts a Concurrent Signing and they choose to move forward instead of waiting in the virtual Waiting Room, it becomes a Split Signing.
You will be unable to add annotations prior to a Concurrent Signing. All annotations must be made during the meeting.
Concurrent Signing is available when you use your employee notary, OnDemand Notaries, or In-House Notaries on the Notarize Network.

Enabling Concurrent Signing

This feature must be enabled by Proof. Please contact Customer Support at support@proof.com to request this feature for your account. If you were assigned a Customer Success Manager (CSM), work with your CSM.

Concurrent Signing - The Notary's View

Once the signers are in the meeting with the notary, they will see each other on separate video feeds.

FAQs

If an organization is set to Signer Pays, how is it decided which signer is charged for a Concurrent Signing?

The current logic is that whoever enters the pre-meeting flow first will be charged for the meeting and any additional seal costs upon meeting completion.

What if one signer never shows up for a Concurrent Signing?

The meeting can continue with the present signer, and the missing signer can come back later on their own. The present signer would select Continue without others to exit the Waiting Room. This is now a Split Signing.

What if one of the signers loses connection during a Concurrent Signing?

If one signer loses connection and drops during the meeting, they can return through their text link, complete KBA and ID capture, and return to the same meeting.

If the dropped signer returns to the meeting, there may be two instances of their video feed. Before proceeding, the Notary should lock any fulfilled designations/annotations and remove the old feed by selecting Remove Signer in the signer’s kebab menu (3 dots).

The Notary should lock any fulfilled designations/ annotations and select Remove Signer before proceeding with the remaining signer(s) if the dropped signer cannot return to the meeting.

If one of the signers is late for a Concurrent Signing, can the meeting start with the present signers?

Yes. If a signer is late and the Notary wants to start the signing process with the present signer, they can do so. However, all previously locked documents will unlock upon the 2nd Signer joining.

Each signer must be present for each document (even if their signature is not required on that document). Your Notary must review and lock each document with both signers present.

If one signer has completed their portion of a Concurrent Signing, can they leave the meeting early, or do they need to be there until everyone finishes signing?

Yes. The signer may leave the meeting when finished signing. The signer who is finished may close their browser window. (If they leave it open, the window will close automatically when the Notary completes the meeting.)

The notary should not select Remove Signer in this case.

How many signers can I add to a transaction?

You may add up to 10 signers.