A document in GetAccept moves through clearly defined lifecycle stages that reflect its progress, status, and allowed actions. This article explains each stage, how updates work after sending, when a new version is needed, and the differences between Lost, Deleted, and Recalled.
1. Lifecycle Stages in GetAccept
Active
Documents currently in progress.
Includes all documents that are Sent, Viewed, or Reviewed, and still awaiting actions from Recipients.
Draft
A document being prepared.
All content, recipients, roles, and settings can be edited.
No recipients have access.
Editor blocks and structure are fully editable.
Sent
The document has been delivered to recipients.
Recipients receive unique access links.
Sender can still adjust certain details (value, expiration, recipients, signing order).
Editor content can still be updated depending on the document type.
Reviewed
Viewed
A recipient has opened the document.
Reviewed
A recipient has scrolled through to the end of the document (or the whole document fitted on their screen).
Any recipient can set these statuses, including recipients who only receive a copy. A document stays Viewed or Reviewed until all required signers have signed, even if some of them have already signed.
Signed
All required signers have completed their signatures.
The document becomes legally binding.
A signed PDF and certificate are generated.
Final content is locked.
Document expiration
Expiration is not a status. It is determined by the document's expiration date alone. When the expiration date passes:
Recipients can no longer sign or access the document.
The document keeps whatever status it already had (such as Sent or Reviewed). GetAccept does not change the status to "Expired".
The sender can extend the expiration date or create a new version to reopen the process.
Rejected
A recipient has declined the document.
The signing flow stops, and the other recipients and the sender are notified.
The document moves to the Inactive tab.
A rejected document can’t be edited or resent. To continue, use Create new version, which makes a new draft you can adjust and send.
If the recipient belongs to a signing group and the rest of the group can still provide the signatures needed, the document stays open for them.
Deleted
When you delete a document, recipients immediately lose access and the document moves to the Inactive tab (filter on Status → Deleted to find it).
Deleted documents are permanently removed 30 days after they were deleted. This can’t be undone, and the document can’t be recovered afterwards. Deleting a document again from the Inactive tab removes it permanently straight away.
A deleted document can’t be restored or made active again. While it is still in the Inactive tab, you can use Create new version to make a new draft based on it.
If you only want admins to be able to delete documents, turn on “Restrict document deletion to admins” in your document settings. Without this setting, anyone who can edit a document can delete it, including signed documents.
2. Updating Send-outs (Editor-first Logic)
GetAccept allows flexible updates after sending, especially when using the Editor.
Editing a Send-out using the Editor
If a document contains Editor blocks, you can update it without creating a new version:
Modify text
Update images, video, and links
Publish changes instantly
Send an update message that appears in email, chat, and audit logs
This keeps the signing flow active and does not restart the process.
Non-signable documents
Existing Editor blocks can be edited
New Editor blocks can be added
Signable documents
Editor content within existing blocks can be changed
New Editor blocks cannot be added once sent
Adding new blocks requires creating a new version
3. When a New Version Is Required
Create a new version when:
Working with a PDF-based document
You need to add structural changes or new blocks
Recipient roles or signing flow need a full reset
Substantial content changes require new signatures
New versions maintain full version history and require signers to sign again.
4. Lost vs Deleted vs Recalled
Lost
Marks a document as no longer active.
Used when a deal is closed-lost or abandoned.
The document cannot be restored.
To continue the process later, create a new version.
Deleted
When you delete a document, recipients immediately lose access and the document moves to the Inactive tab (filter on Status → Deleted to find it).
Deleted documents are permanently removed 30 days after they were deleted. This can’t be undone, and the document can’t be recovered afterwards. Deleting a document again from the Inactive tab removes it permanently straight away.
A deleted document can’t be restored or made active again. While it is still in the Inactive tab, you can use Create new version to make a new draft based on it.
If you only want admins to be able to delete documents, turn on “Restrict document deletion to admins” in your document settings. Without this setting, anyone who can edit a document can delete it, including signed documents.
Recalled
Recalling a document is the same as deleting it. In the app this action is called Delete document; in the API the status is called “recalled”.
When a sent document is recalled (deleted), recipients lose access immediately. The document can’t be edited, resent or made active again, and it is permanently removed after 30 days.
To correct a sent document and send it again, use Create new version. This creates a new draft that you can edit and send; recipients will need to sign the new version. If the document is signable and nobody has signed or approved yet, you may be able to edit it directly instead (see Editing a send-out).
Summary
GetAccept documents follow a clear lifecycle, they usually moves from Draft to Sent, then Viewed and possibly Reviewed as recipients open and read it, and finally Signed.
Along the way it can instead end as Rejected (a recipient declines), Lost (you mark the deal as lost) or Deleted (you delete it; it is permanently removed after 30 days). Expiry is controlled separately by the expiration date and does not change the status.
In your Documents list you’ll find these under the Active, Draft, Signed, Expired and Inactive tabs.