diff --git a/src/compose_docusign_template.py b/src/compose_docusign_template.py
index 7997806..db1393f 100644
--- a/src/compose_docusign_template.py
+++ b/src/compose_docusign_template.py
@@ -325,6 +325,46 @@ def merge_tabs(acc: dict, new: dict) -> dict:
     return acc
 
 
+# Tab types DocuSign forbids as conditional parents (auto-filled or action tabs)
+_INVALID_PARENT_TAB_TYPES = {
+    "signHereTabs", "initialHereTabs", "dateSignedTabs",
+    "fullNameTabs", "emailTabs", "titleTabs", "signerAttachmentTabs",
+}
+
+
+def _strip_invalid_conditionals(signers: list, warnings: list) -> None:
+    """
+    Remove conditionalParentLabel/Value from any tab whose parent label either
+    doesn't exist in the template or points to a tab type DocuSign forbids as a
+    parent (signature, initial, auto-filled). Mutates signers in place.
+    """
+    for signer in signers:
+        tabs = signer.get("tabs", {})
+
+        # Collect valid parent labels: only tab types allowed as parents
+        valid_labels: set[str] = set()
+        for tab_type, tab_list in tabs.items():
+            if tab_type in _INVALID_PARENT_TAB_TYPES:
+                continue
+            for tab in tab_list:
+                label = tab.get("tabLabel") or tab.get("groupName")
+                if label:
+                    valid_labels.add(label)
+
+        # Strip references to invalid/missing parents
+        for tab_type, tab_list in tabs.items():
+            for tab in tab_list:
+                parent = tab.get("conditionalParentLabel")
+                if parent and parent not in valid_labels:
+                    warnings.append(
+                        f"Conditional parent '{parent}' not found or not a valid "
+                        f"parent tab type — conditional stripped from tab "
+                        f"'{tab.get('tabLabel', '?')}'"
+                    )
+                    tab.pop("conditionalParentLabel", None)
+                    tab.pop("conditionalParentValue", None)
+
+
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Main compose function
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -386,6 +426,10 @@ def compose_template(template_dir: str, output_path: str) -> tuple[dict, list[st
         tabs = _apply_conditional_to_tabs(tabs, field, warnings)
         signers[idx]["tabs"] = merge_tabs(signers[idx]["tabs"], tabs)
 
+    # Post-process: strip conditionalParentLabel references that point to
+    # non-existent or invalid parents (signature/initial tabs can't be parents).
+    _strip_invalid_conditionals(signers, warnings)
+
     template = {
         "name": metadata.get("name", template_dir.name),
         "description": f"Migrated from Adobe Sign — original owner: {metadata.get('ownerEmail', '')}",
diff --git a/tests/test_api_verify.py b/tests/test_api_verify.py
index af74361..37189bb 100644
--- a/tests/test_api_verify.py
+++ b/tests/test_api_verify.py
@@ -51,7 +51,14 @@ class TestVerifySend:
 
     @respx.mock
     def test_send_returns_envelope_id(self):
-        """Authenticated + valid template → envelope_id returned."""
+        """Authenticated + valid template → role names fetched, envelope_id returned."""
+        respx.get(
+            f"{DS_BASE}/v2.1/accounts/{DS_ACCOUNT}/templates/{TEMPLATE_ID}"
+        ).mock(return_value=httpx.Response(200, json={
+            "recipients": {
+                "signers": [{"roleName": "Customer", "recipientId": "1"}],
+            }
+        }))
         respx.post(
             f"{DS_BASE}/v2.1/accounts/{DS_ACCOUNT}/envelopes"
         ).mock(return_value=httpx.Response(201, json={"envelopeId": ENVELOPE_ID}))
@@ -67,10 +74,32 @@ class TestVerifySend:
         )
         assert resp.status_code == 200
         assert resp.json()["envelope_id"] == ENVELOPE_ID
+        assert resp.json()["roles"] == ["Customer"]
+
+    @respx.mock
+    def test_send_falls_back_to_signer_role_on_template_error(self):
+        """Template fetch failure → falls back to 'Signer' role name."""
+        respx.get(
+            f"{DS_BASE}/v2.1/accounts/{DS_ACCOUNT}/templates/bad-id"
+        ).mock(return_value=httpx.Response(404, json={"message": "Not found"}))
+        respx.post(
+            f"{DS_BASE}/v2.1/accounts/{DS_ACCOUNT}/envelopes"
+        ).mock(return_value=httpx.Response(201, json={"envelopeId": ENVELOPE_ID}))
+
+        resp = client.post(
+            "/api/verify/send",
+            json={"template_id": "bad-id", "recipient_name": "X", "recipient_email": "x@x.com"},
+            cookies={_COOKIE_NAME: _ds_session()},
+        )
+        assert resp.status_code == 200
+        assert resp.json()["roles"] == ["Signer"]
 
     @respx.mock
     def test_send_propagates_docusign_error(self):
-        """DocuSign 400 → 502 with error detail."""
+        """DocuSign 400 on envelope create → 502 with error detail."""
+        respx.get(
+            f"{DS_BASE}/v2.1/accounts/{DS_ACCOUNT}/templates/bad-id"
+        ).mock(return_value=httpx.Response(200, json={"recipients": {}}))
         respx.post(
             f"{DS_BASE}/v2.1/accounts/{DS_ACCOUNT}/envelopes"
         ).mock(return_value=httpx.Response(400, json={"message": "Invalid templateId"}))