Create a request

Select New request on the Requests page, work through the four steps, then send it to your client or save it as a draft.

Steps

1. 1

   Client & template

   Search for a client, or add a new one with their name, type, contact name and email. Then pick a template, or Start from scratch for an empty checklist. Select Continue to checklist.

2. 2

   Checklist

   Give the request a Title, which the client sees at the top of their upload page, and an optional Subtitle. A template fills in the documents and a title such as "Annual Tax Return 2026". Add, remove or reorder documents for this client. Set an item to Short answer to ask for a fact, such as a date of birth, as one line of text. See Ask for a short answer. Select Continue to due date & message.

3. 3

   Due date, message & reminders

   Set the Due date, choose who it's Assigned to (you, unless you change it) and edit the Message to client, which starts from your default request message. Leave Automatic reminders on to use your workspace schedule. Under Client access, tick Send with its own link only if someone else at your client handles this request. Select Continue to review.

4. 4

   Review & send

   Check the summary and the invitation email preview, then select Send request.

If something's missing

Each Continue checks the steps so far, and nothing is saved until you save or send. If a field needs fixing, the wizard goes back to that step and tells you what's wrong, for example "Give this request a title", "Choose at least one file type" or "Choose a due date from tomorrow onwards".

Client link or its own link

Your client opens the request from their client link, a private page with all their requests from you. New requests show up there, so they keep one link.

Tick Send with its own link when someone else handles this request, such as a colleague of your client or a family member:

• The emails link to this request only.
• The request isn't listed on the client's page with their other requests.
• You can't change this once the request is sent. If you picked the wrong one, cancel the request and send it again.

Copy or share the client link

Protect it with a PIN

A PIN on the client link covers this request, so you add it from the client's page. For a request you send with its own link, tick Protect with a PIN under Send with its own link instead. Either way GarnerDocs makes the PIN, and you give it to your client by phone or text, never by email. Protect a request with a PIN

Save as draft or send

Save as draft appears from the second step onwards. A draft doesn't need a due date, and your client sees nothing until you open the request and select Send request.

Sending needs a due date from tomorrow onwards, at least one document and a free active request on your plan. GarnerDocs then emails your client a link to the request on their client link, or its own link if you chose that, and schedules the reminders.

When your plan is full

Drafts don't count towards your plan's active requests. If every active request is in use, sending shows Send more requests on a bigger plan with the message "You've reached your plan's … active requests. Complete or cancel one, or upgrade for more." The request isn't saved, so select Save as draft to keep it. See Plans and limits.

Request statuses

Each request on the Requests page has one of these badges.