Bug: “Specify Recipients” – Name field marked as required but must be empty + misleading error message

Hi ​@JanSpacek,

We appreciate you reaching out to the Docusign Community and are delighted to have you join us.

I understand your concern regarding the standard name field and the specify recipient feature. I’m sorry for the confusion this has caused you, and I’m happy to help clarify.

If you’re referring to the required standard name field when creating an envelope, this is expected behavior. The sender must enter the recipient’s name and email address so Docusign can identify who should receive the envelope.

Regarding the Specify Recipient feature and the error you encountered, this is also expected behavior. This feature is designed for situations where the sender doesn’t know the final signer’s name or email address. The sender invites a designated recipient, who can assign the envelope to the appropriate signer. Once the designated recipient accesses the envelope, they’ll be prompted to enter the signer’s information, and Docusign will send the signing invitation to that recipient.

For more detailed information, please feel free to check these articles: 

When To Use Specify Recipients 

Set Up an Envelope with a Specify Recipients Manager 

What the Specify Recipients Manager Sees 

I hope the information provided is helpful. Feel free to click the “Best Answer ✅” button below the post. That helps others in the Community find trusted answers faster.

Best regards,

Noralynn | Docusign Community Moderator

Dear Noralynn,

that is misunderstanding of what I tried to describe. What I am referring to is that in case of Specify Recipient the name field for the person which should be “specified” (so the signatories which you as sender do not know and only the person who specify knows them) is marked with asterix. So let’s have the case - I as sender write down:

1. our company signature person - that is working fine, there I fill name and email - totally fine
2. third party company “Specify recipient” person - that is working fine, there I fill name and email - totally fine
3. third party company signatory - there I as the sender of envelope need to write down role - that is fine. BUT field of “Name” is for the signatory is marked with asterix - so as envelope sender it looks like that I need to fill it BUT it is opposite and it should not be filled at all. Only Role should be filled. But why in that case for the third party signatory the field Name which will be “specified by Specify recipient” it is marked with Asterix? And last part of the issue is if I fill the name, the error I receive is totally wrong, because it speaks about order… Order is correct but real issue why the error is being received is that name which should be kept empty (even is with Asterix) is filled

Test please Specify recipient and look at it with business end users eyes. Or we can make a quick call and I can explain you the bug.

Jan

Hi ​@JanSpacek,

Thank you for your response and for the update.

I would like to check and review how you set up your document workflow to better understand and provide an accurate resolution. Please provide a screenshot showing the recipient signing order, including the specified recipient and the third-party company.

Also, I have replicated the "specify recipient" on my end and didn’t encounter any errors. This is how I set up the signing order and workflow. Please take a look at the image below and try to apply the same. I hope it’ll work on your end.

Please do not enter the name and email for Test 1 and Test 2 yet.

Then, click the Next button to assign fields. Once done, click the Next button to assign fields. The first recipient (specify recipient) will be prompted to enter the name and email for the Test 1 and Test 2 recipients.

The image below shows the details after the first recipient completes the envelope.

I hope this is helpful. I look forward to your update.

Best regards,

Noralynn | Docusign Community Moderator

 

 

 

Please do not enter the name and email for Test 1 and Test 2 yet.

 

 

Hi ​@Noralynn.Niduaza

thanks for looking at this. But that “Please do not enter the name and email for Test 1 and Test 2 yet. “ is exactly item I consider that is causing the problem / misunderstanding.

1. The “Name” is containing the “asterix / star” - so from end user perspective it looks like name should be filled.
2. Email correctly do not contains “asterix / star” - so yes, there probably user would not try to fill it
3. Please you try to fill that name - and tell me what error message you received if you click on Next - would you receive error which would help you as end user to understand that the problem is in the situation that you filled the name and that it should stay empty? Or you would receive the error message which is not relevant?

Jan

Hi ​@JanSpacek,

I appreciate your prompt response.

I encountered this error after entering the names and email addresses for the remaining recipients. However, if I only enter the name and email for Test 1 and leave the Test 2 recipient blank, no error occurred.

The Specify Recipients feature is intended to allow recipients to designate the remaining recipient(s) during the signing process. Because of that, it shouldn’t require all recipient roles to be pre-filled. If every recipient role must already be completed before sending, it would defeat the purpose of using the Specify Recipients feature.

I understand that the Name field for the recipient role is marked with an asterisk (*), which typically indicates that the field is required. From an end user’s perspective, this suggests that the field must be completed before the envelope can be sent. However, if you have set up a different recipient role, such as Specify Recipient, the expectation is that the recipient’s name and email can be provided later during the signing process. Because of this, the required indicator will be overridden by the way the Specify Recipient feature works.

If you have encountered a different error message, we recommend submitting a Support Case and including details such as the affected flow, screenshots of the error, and any troubleshooting steps already attempted. If you have already submitted one, please provide the case ID via private message so I can check for any updates. 

 Open a case in the Docusign Support Center

We sincerely apologize for the confusion, and we hope the information provided helps clarify matters.

Best regards,

Noralynn | Docusign Community Moderator

​@Noralynn.Niduaza 
1) Yes, I have exactly the same error message. Let me know how from the sentence "This recipient type must have at least one recipient to specify at the same or later position in the signing order.” You understand that problem in your case is that you have filled “Name” instead you were supposed to keep it empty. The error message is speaking about order, not at all that you by mistake filled the name.

I am really sorry, I thought that this page is to raise the improvements / Product enhancement requests. That’s why I am pointing this out - as this is for sure not clear error message and leads to the misunderstanding.

2) You wrote “I understand that the Name field for the recipient role is marked with an asterisk (*), which typically indicates that the field is required. From an end user’s perspective, this suggests that the field must be completed before the envelope can be sent. “

YES exactly that is my point.

Again I thought that this page is designed to suggest Product enhancement requests, that’s why I raised it here.

I am really missing out the point why you are trying to convince me that this incorrect behavior of the tool (or at least far from being ideal behavior) is working as it should.

Can you maybe again check my original post, which indicates why this should be product enhancement request?

Jan

Hi ​@JanSpacek,

I apologize for the confusion. We appreciate the feedback and will ensure this is reviewed. 

We just wanted to make sure that we have provided troubleshooting steps and offer available workarounds that might help you. 

Your insights are valuable, and I would be happy to convert your request into an idea for our team's future consideration.

Thank you again for sharing your input and helping us improve the Docusign experience!

Best regards,

Noralynn | Docusign Community Moderator

Yes, perfect. If you can transfer it to the idea for improvement