---
title: "How to Configure Assignment Settings on Collateral Investigate™"
slug: "how-to-configure-assignment-settings"
tags: ["Investigate"]
updated: 2026-09-28T20:44:10Z
published: 2026-09-28T20:44:10Z
canonical: "docs.cotality.com/how-to-configure-assignment-settings"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cotality.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Configure Assignment Settings on Collateral Investigate™

## Overview

Configuring assignment settings in **Collateral Investigate™** helps you automate file routing and optimize review workflows. By establishing customized tiers, you ensure that files are automatically directed to the most qualified reviewers and that high-priority files receive immediate attention. This optimization reduces manual assignment overhead and enhances overall team efficiency.

---

## Configure Assignment Settings

Follow the instructions below to configure your **Assignment Settings**. Click each accordion to expand it and access the media walkthrough and corresponding step-by-step instructions.

## Manage Parent Settings in Organization Settings

[Embedded content](https://app.storylane.io/demo/9j3xdyrjq51t?embed=inline)

To establish how auto-assignment operates across your organization, configure the parent settings first.

1. Select **Organization Settings** from the **Settings** (cog) menu.
2. Click **Edit Settings** in the top-right corner.
3. Scroll to the **Get next** section at the bottom of the screen.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: This setting is only enabled by a Cotatily Admin.
4. Configure the **auto-assignment** toggle to match your workflow requirements:
  1. Turn on the toggle (it will display in purple) to assign files only to a tier.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: Reviewers must click **Get next** in the top-right corner of their **Queue** screen to receive eligible files. Related article: [Queue Overview](/ext/docs/your-queue-overview#overview)
  2. Turn off the toggle to assign files to both the **tier** and the eligible **reviewer** automatically as soon as the file becomes available in **Collateral Investigate™**.
5. Click **Save Settings** to apply your changes.

## Access Tier Settings from the Assignment Settings

[Embedded content](https://app.storylane.io/demo/whbvgwxklhnb?embed=inline)

Once you complete the organization settings, navigate to the assignment settings to manage your tiers.

1. Select **Assignment Settings** from the Settings (cog) menu.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: Tiers act as review types. Use each tier to define which files are eligible, which files are prioritized, which checklists are used, which findings are applied, and which reviewers can be assigned.
2. Manage existing tiers in the grid using the available options:
  1. Reorder tiers by grabbing the dots to the left of the tier name and dragging them to your desired position.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: The **Get next** priority column displays the priority order when a reviewer clicks Get next from their queue.The Get next priority column displays the priority order when a reviewer clicks Get next from their queue.
  2. .Click **Edit** to update settings for an existing tier.
  3. Click **View** to inspect tier settings in read-only mode
3. Click **+ Add a tier** to create a new tier.
4. Define the basic tier information on the new screen:
  1. Enter a name in the **Name** field. All required fields are marked with a red asterisk (*).
  2. Select the appropriate checklist from the **Associated checklist** menu.
    1. If no checklist is applicable, select **None**.
  3. Select the desired review artifacts from the **PDF artifacts for finalization** multi-select menu.
  4. Turn on the **Lock tier** toggle to ensure that resubmissions (such as a revised appraisal) remain with the same reviewer and tier, even if the file's parameters change.
  5. Turn on the **Use auto-assignment** toggle to automate task distribution.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: Turn off this toggle if you want the tier to handle escalations only.
  6. Select the appropriate options in the **A reason for decision multi-select drop-downs** to set the choices available to reviewers when finalizing, requesting revisions, completing reconciliations, or requesting a ROV.

## Configure Assignment Logic Criteria

[Embedded content](https://app.storylane.io/demo/cxyclqnerxfo?embed=inline)

Use the **Assignment logic** tab to specify the criteria that files must meet to enter this tier.

> [!NOTE]
> **Warning:** Ensure your tiers do not have completely overlapping logic. If a file cannot match any tier's logic, it will appear in the **Orders** tab with an **Unassigned** status.

1. Select the **Assignment logic** tab.
2. Configure your file classification and type criteria:
  1. Select the **Check all** checkbox to quickly select all valuations under Valuation type.
    1. Deselect any individual valuation types that are not needed to save time.
  2. Select the applicable MISMO 3.6 report types from the **Valuation type** list.
  3. Select the appropriate options under **Loan purpose** and **Sub loan type**.
  4. Select the applicable properties under **Property type** and **Order product type**.
  5. Select your **Loan classification** options.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: **Loan classification** options are only available for **Collateral Management System® (CMS)** clients.
3. Establish risk and appraisal score thresholds in the **Scores** section:
  1. Enter the minimum and maximum acceptable thresholds for the **CU risk score**, **LCA risk score**, or **Cotality score**.
  2. Select the **Require either CU or LCA score threshold** checkbox to ensure files fall within at least one of these ranges.
  3. Select the **Required** checkbox next to any field if you want to ensure the file is only tiered if that specific field exists and matches your parameters (no nulls allowed).
  4. Select the **If any** checkbox to require that at least one of the fields marked as If any is present and matches your criteria.
4. Define values, geographic locations, and dates:
  1. Enter the **minimum** and **maximum** dollar thresholds under **Values** for **Loan amount**, **Appraised Value**, or **Owner Estimated Value**.
  2. Select options from the **Channel**, **Customer**, and **Order Attribute** multi-select menus.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: Available only for **CMS** clients.
  3. Select specific states in the **State** menu, and select cities in the **City** menu to target geographic locations.
  4. Enter the number of days in the **Minimum Days** and **Maximum Days** fields under **Dates** to set threshold ranges.
5. Configure the overall criteria toggles at the bottom of the tab:
  1. Turn on **Allow rush orders** to include orders marked as rush.
  2. Turn on **Allow non-rush orders** to include standard orders.
  3. Turn on **Allow escalated reviews** to let reviewers escalate files to this tier.
    1. Turn off **Allow non-escalated reviews** to define an escalate-only tier where only escalated or manually assigned reviews are eligible.
  4. Select all eligible tiers from the **Escalate** **to whom** menu.
  5. Turn on the **Reconciliation** toggle if you want files with multiple appraisals (such as jumbo loans) to enter this tier.
  6. Turn on **Is auto-review tier** to set this tier as an automated review that runs rules and approves files without assigning a reviewer.
  7. Use tier for PDF-only orders to handle standard orders.

## Add Findings Rules and Severities

[Embedded content](https://app.storylane.io/demo/jg1da3xbkrml?embed=inline)

Use the Findings tab to establish rules or rule severities that automatically route or block files.

1. Click the **Findings** tab.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: This tab is optional. The configuration toggles will only display after you select at least one rule or severity.
2. Select the appropriate rules from the available **rules list** or **severities** (such as **Fatal**, **High**, **Medium**, or **Low**) from the available rule severities list.
3. Configure your findings behavior using the toggles:
  1. Use the **Require All / if Any** toggle to specify whether all selected items must be met or if at least one selected item is sufficient.
  2. Use the **Force Tier / Reject Tiering** toggle to force a matching file into this tier or block matching files from entering this tier.
  3. Use the **Consider with Previous Tab / Consider Only** toggle to define how these findings interact with the **Assignment logic** tab.

## Define Get Next Prioritization Rules

[Embedded content](https://app.storylane.io/demo/ef4lurtsxpgt?embed=inline)

Use the **Get next** prioritization tab to define which subset of eligible files should be worked on first.

1. Click the **Get next** prioritization tab.

> [!NOTE]
> **Tip**: Set a broad threshold on the **Assignment logic** tab, and then use a narrower range on the **Get next** prioritization tab to prioritize files that need urgent attention (such as those closing within 5 days).
2. Click **+ Add another prioritization rule** to create a new criteria set, and then select the rule you want to add.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: The options in this menu are generated based on the fields you selected on the **Assignment logic** screen.
3. Organize your prioritization hierarchy:
  1. Drag and drop fields in the list to change their priority order. Higher items are prioritized first.
  2. Click the **Trashcan** icon to remove a field entirely.
  3. Use the caret to expand or collapse fields with enumerations, and click the red x to remove individual enumerations.
  4. Enter numbers in the date or dollar fields to target a specific subset for prioritization (for example, to prioritize loan amounts over $650,000 within a tier that specifies up to $850,000, select Loan amount and enter 650000).

## Assign Members to Tiers

[Embedded content](https://app.storylane.io/demo/spwjpotomglj?embed=inline)

Identify the reviewers who are eligible to receive work from this tier.

1. Click the **Members** tab.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: This tab is required to save your tier settings.
2. Identify and assign reviewers using the following options:
  1. Enter a user's name in the **Search bar** to find them quickly.
  2. Select the **checkbox** to the left of a user's name in the grid to assign them to the tier.

> [!NOTE]
> **Note**: Reviewers can be assigned to multiple tiers.
  3. Click the **X** on the right side of a user's name pill in the Selected list to remove them.
3. Click **Save Tier** or **Add tier** to apply your configurations.

## Analyze How Assignment Logic Works

Recognizing how the system processes assignment logic helps you optimize your tier setups.

- **Field Dependency**: A data field must be completed on the **Assignment logic** tab to appear in the **Get next** prioritization tab drop-down.
- **Priority Subsets**: Use the **Get next** prioritization tab to target a subset of files rather than all files in the tier. Leaving all options selected under a parameter (such as selecting both purchase and refinance under loan purpose) will prioritize all files matching that category.
- **Tier Ordering**: The order of the tiers on the main **Assignment settings** screen determines the sequence in which the Get next button pulls prioritized files.
- **The Get Next Workflow**:
  - When a reviewer clicks **Get next**, the system searches for prioritized files across all tiers the reviewer is assigned to, following the listed tier order.
  - If the first tier has no priority files, the system continues searching down the list of tiers.
  - If no priority files are found, the system assigns non-priority files in tier order.

---

## Outcome

You have successfully configured the parent settings and assignment tiers in Collateral Investigate. With these settings active, your team can benefit from automated file distribution and priority-based routing, ensuring that files are always routed to the appropriate reviewer according to your customized business logic.