Award Letter Signature Flow
Understanding the signing order for Award Letters.
Award letters get signed in a specific order on purpose. The insured appraiser goes first because they are typically the one negotiating on behalf of the policyholder and the award has to reflect what was agreed for the insured's benefit. The carrier appraiser signs second to confirm the insurance side agrees. If an umpire was utilized, they sign last to certify the panel's majority decision. This is the standard flow. If the umpire is deciding the award and one appraiser never responds, see "Umpire-Owned Awards With One Agreeing Appraiser" below.
If you sent all three signature requests at the same time, you would get back signatures in random order and no clear record of who agreed to what when. Worse, if a later signer wants a change, the earlier signatures are already locked and you have to void the whole envelope and start over. Sequential signing means each party reviews and accepts the final document state before the next signer is even notified.
You do not have to manage the order yourself. Once you click Send for Signature, SignWell handles the handoff automatically and notifies each party when it is their turn.
Signing Order
1. Insured Appraiser
Signs first
2. Carrier Appraiser
Signs second
3. Umpire
Signs last (if utilized)
Sequential Signing
Sending for Signature
Generate the Award Letter
Create the PDF with all award items.
Click "Send for Signature"
Opens the signature dialog.
Verify Signers
Confirm the email addresses for all parties.
Send
Click "Send" to initiate the signing process.
Umpire-Owned Awards With One Agreeing Appraiser
On a case the umpire is deciding, the award is binding once the umpire and at least one appraiser agree. You do not have to wait on a non-responding appraiser. "Send for Signature" appears on the award review as soon as one appraiser has agreed, and the appraiser who has not responded is left off the signature envelope automatically, not put on hold.
Once everyone required has signed, the completed award is emailed to the whole panel, both appraisers and the umpire, including anyone who was not part of the actual signing.
After Sending
You can track the signature status in the Award Letter tab:
- Pending - Waiting for signatures
- Viewed - Signer has opened the document
- Signed - Individual signer has completed
- Completed - All parties have signed
- Declined - A signer declined to sign