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# How buyers sign a document

Signing a Katalyz envelope is designed to feel **as seamless as opening the room itself** — because usually, it is. The signer is already in the room. Here's what they experience.

> [SCREENSHOT: A signature widget inside a room showing the "Awaiting signatures" badge and a "Sign" button]

## The signer's journey

### 1. They see the envelope in the room

When you send an envelope, Katalyz notifies each recipient by email. If they're already in the room where the signature widget lives, they also see it inline — status badge, documents count, deadline — with a **Sign** button on their side.

### 2. They open it

Clicking **Sign** (or the link in the email) opens the envelope: the documents, the recipients and the fields they have to fill. Signers and approvers who are Katalyz users see **Sign now** or **Approve** in the envelope view.

![Envelope view opened by a signer, with the "Sign now" button](https://storage.crisp.chat/users/helpdesk/website/-/5/5/4/8/554891f22af0b400/envelope-signer-view_1udxsym.png)

### 3. They authenticate (if required)

Depending on the authentication method you set on their card:

- **Email link** — the link in the email authenticates them; nothing more to do
- **SMS code** — they enter the one-time code sent to their phone
- **Access code** — they enter the code you shared with them
- **ID verification** — they verify their identity before they can sign

### 4. They fill fields and sign

They go through the documents, fill each field (signature, initials, date, text) and confirm. Their row switches to **Signed**.

### 5. Everyone gets the signed copy

Once every signer has signed, the envelope turns **Signed**, the sealed PDF is generated and every signer, approver and follower receives it by email. In the room, the widget shows **Download signed copy**.

## What the signer doesn't have to do

- **No account creation** — they never sign up for Katalyz
- **No password** — authentication comes from the email link, a code or the room session
- **No app install** — everything happens in the browser
- **No paper** — fully digital, legally binding

This is a big part of why Katalyz rooms close faster: there's no "let me forward this to Legal and get back to you" — the legal action happens in the same place as the pricing discussion.

## Sequential signing

When the envelope uses **sequential** signing, recipients act one at a time in the order you set. A recipient whose turn hasn't come yet shows as **Waiting**; they are notified when the previous recipient is done.

With **parallel** signing, all recipients are notified at once and can act in any order.

## What if a signer doesn't sign?

The envelope stays **Awaiting signatures** until every signer has signed, someone declines (**Declined**), the deadline passes (**Expired**) or you void it (**Voided**).

Automatic reminders, configured on the envelope's **Setup** tab, nudge recipients who haven't completed yet. See [Tracking signature status](https://katalyz.crisp.help/en/article/tracking-signature-status-rzacwr/).

## Related articles
- [Adding a signature block to a room](https://katalyz.crisp.help/en/article/adding-a-signature-block-to-a-room-u85qg0/)
- [Tracking signature status](https://katalyz.crisp.help/en/article/tracking-signature-status-rzacwr/)
- [Legal validity of Katalyz signatures](https://katalyz.crisp.help/en/article/legal-validity-of-katalyz-signatures-133h7gd/)