Locked & Read-Only Transactions: When They Lock and How to Unlock

What's new: Once a transaction reaches a final status, its coversheet and documents become read-only so the deal's details stay accurate after it wraps up. You can still view and download everything at any time — and if you genuinely need to make a change, you can unlock the transaction yourself in a couple of clicks. No request, no waiting. This release also starts keeping some statuses up to date for you automatically, so your status stays accurate on its own. This guide covers when a transaction locks, which statuses update automatically, and how to make edits.

The short version

• Finished transactions lock. When a transaction is Closed, Canceled, Expired, Lost, Rejected, or WITHDRAWN the coversheet and documents become read-only.

• You can still see everything. Viewing and downloading documents always works, locked or not.

• Need to edit? Unlock it. Open the transaction → click Unlock → pick a reason → make your change. You can manually re-lock it afterwards or the system will re-lock on its own when you're done.

When does a transaction lock?

A transaction's coversheet becomes read-only when its status is one of the final statuses below. Transactions that are still in progress stay fully editable.

Which statuses update automatically?

Some statuses are now set for you automatically — based on where your transaction is in the compliance and closing process — and can no longer be set by hand. This keeps your status accurate without you having to remember to update it.

Status look wrong? Your transaction's status reflects where it is in the compliance process, so a status that looks off almost always means the file hasn't been moved forward there yet. What to do depends on what you're expecting:

Think it should be canceled? Request a cancelation in compliance.

Think it should be further along (e.g. Pending or Closed)? Make sure the file has been submitted and moved through compliance review.

Once that's done, your status updates on its own — there's nothing to change manually.

Older transactions: As part of this update, we did a one-time cleanup so existing transactions reflect their current compliance and closing activity — you may notice some older ones now show a more accurate status. Nothing you need to do. And if anything ever looks off, reach out via in-app chat or help@side.com.

What does "locked" mean?

While a transaction is locked, you can still: Open and read every tabView and download any document

You can't do the following until you unlock: Edit coversheet fields (sale price, close date, commission, etc.)Add, replace, or remove documentsSend envelopes for signature

 

How to unlock and make changes

If you need to edit a locked transaction, you can unlock it yourself — no approval needed.

1. Open the transaction and find the lock banner

When you open a locked transaction, you'll see a banner at the top of the coversheet and documents pages letting you know it's read-only.

 

2. Click Unlock

Select Unlock in the banner.

3. Choose a reason

A short window appears asking why you're unlocking. Pick the reason that fits (or choose Other to type your own). The Unlock button stays greyed out until you select a reason.

• Change sale price or commission amount

• Change close date

• Void documents

• Update or send documents

• Update closing timeline

• Other (type your own)

 

4. Make your changes

The transaction is now editable, just like an in-progress one. A banner stays on screen to remind you it's currently unlocked.

 

5. You're done — re-lock it

When you've finished, click Lock. If you forget, no problem — it re-locks automatically when you close the tab or sign out (and after one week at the very latest).

Good to know