Once a lease is ready, both residents and landlords sign it electronically through Rocket Lawyer — no printing or scanning required. Here's how the signing flow works for each party.
Resident Signing
How does a resident sign?
From the emailed "Please sign" link, review the document
For each signature or initial field, choose Draw or Type
Click Sign now, then Next box to move to the next field
Repeat until the final step, then click Save to submit everything at once
Does the resident need a Stessa account to sign?
No. The emailed link opens Rocket Lawyer's own signing portal directly — no Stessa login required.
Why does the step counter show more steps than I expect (e.g., "Step 3 of 4")?
It reflects however many signature or initial fields are on that particular lease — some documents require initials on individual pages in addition to the final signature block.
What happens right after a resident finishes signing?
A confirmation banner appears, and they'll be notified once every party, including the landlord's countersignature, has completed.
What if the resident isn't ready to sign yet?
They can choose to decline instead of signing. See Canceling or Declining a Lease Signature.
Multiple Co-Tenants Signing
Do co-tenants sign together, or does each one sign separately?
Each tenant and co-tenant signs independently, using their own individually emailed link — one tenant signing has no bearing on when or whether another tenant signs.
Can one co-tenant sign on behalf of another?
No. Every signer only ever sees and can fill in their own signature block.
How do I remind a co-tenant who hasn't signed yet?
Click the ⋮ menu next to the lease and choose Remind signers. A single "Send reminder" button emails only the people who haven't signed yet.
What does "Countersign required" mean?
It means every tenant or co-tenant has signed, and only the landlord's signature is left before the lease is fully executed.
Landlord Signing
How do I sign or countersign a lease?
Go to Documents → Agreements
Click Sign lease (if a resident already signed) or Start signing (if you're signing first)
Click Sign now, choose Draw or Type for your signature, and use Next box if there's more than one field
What's the difference between "Ready to sign" and "Countersign required"?
Both just reflect whether another party has already signed — the signing steps for the landlord are the same either way.
As the landlord, how do I see who's signed and who hasn't?
In Documents → Agreements, the Tenant column lists every tenant on the lease, and the Status stays Awaiting signature until everyone has signed. For a detailed timeline, open Actions → View history.
What happens once every signer has signed?
The status badge changes to Complete, and a finished, fully executed PDF is generated.
Can I let someone view the completed lease without asking them to sign?
Yes. From the "Next step" dialog or Actions → Share document, enter the viewer's name, email, and an optional message, then click Share.
Can I share the document with someone who's already a signer?
No. Stessa blocks sharing with an email already listed as a signer — sharing is for outside parties who need to view, not sign, the document.