diff --git a/acapy_agent/messaging/models/paginated_query.py b/acapy_agent/messaging/models/paginated_query.py
index b938af772d..670c3cda2b 100644
--- a/acapy_agent/messaging/models/paginated_query.py
+++ b/acapy_agent/messaging/models/paginated_query.py
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ class PaginatedQuerySchema(OpenAPISchema):
     descending = fields.Bool(
         required=False,
         load_default=False,
+        truthy={"true", "1", "yes"},
+        falsy={"false", "0", "no"},
         metadata={"description": "Order results in descending order if true"},
+        error_messages={"invalid": "Not a valid boolean."},
     )
 
 
@@ -67,5 +70,9 @@ def get_paginated_query_params(request: BaseRequest) -> Tuple[int, int, str, boo
     limit = int(request.query.get("limit", DEFAULT_PAGE_SIZE))
     offset = int(request.query.get("offset", 0))
     order_by = request.query.get("order_by", "id")
-    descending = bool(request.query.get("descending", False))
+
+    # Convert the 'descending' parameter to a boolean
+    descending_str = request.query.get("descending", "False").lower()
+    descending = descending_str in {"true", "1", "yes"}
+
     return limit, offset, order_by, descending
diff --git a/acapy_agent/messaging/models/tests/test_base_record.py b/acapy_agent/messaging/models/tests/test_base_record.py
index 36bf7fa7db..672705dfd7 100644
--- a/acapy_agent/messaging/models/tests/test_base_record.py
+++ b/acapy_agent/messaging/models/tests/test_base_record.py
@@ -164,9 +164,9 @@ async def test_query(self):
             result = await BaseRecordImpl.query(session, tag_filter)
             mock_storage.find_all_records.assert_awaited_once_with(
                 type_filter=BaseRecordImpl.RECORD_TYPE,
-                tag_query=tag_filter,
                 order_by=None,
                 descending=False,
+                tag_query=tag_filter,
             )
             assert result and isinstance(result[0], BaseRecordImpl)
             assert result[0]._id == record_id
diff --git a/acapy_agent/multitenant/admin/routes.py b/acapy_agent/multitenant/admin/routes.py
index a569902ad4..470e4e059b 100644
--- a/acapy_agent/multitenant/admin/routes.py
+++ b/acapy_agent/multitenant/admin/routes.py
@@ -399,7 +399,6 @@ async def wallets_list(request: web.BaseRequest):
                 descending=descending,
             )
         results = [format_wallet_record(record) for record in records]
-        results.sort(key=lambda w: w["created_at"])
     except (StorageError, BaseModelError) as err:
         raise web.HTTPBadRequest(reason=err.roll_up) from err
 
diff --git a/acapy_agent/multitenant/admin/tests/test_routes.py b/acapy_agent/multitenant/admin/tests/test_routes.py
index 87dcdde88d..de989bf2b4 100644
--- a/acapy_agent/multitenant/admin/tests/test_routes.py
+++ b/acapy_agent/multitenant/admin/tests/test_routes.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ async def test_wallets_list(self):
                 ),
             ]
             mock_wallet_record.query = mock.CoroutineMock()
-            mock_wallet_record.query.return_value = [wallets[2], wallets[0], wallets[1]]
+            mock_wallet_record.query.return_value = wallets
 
             await test_module.wallets_list(self.request)
             mock_response.assert_called_once_with(
diff --git a/acapy_agent/protocols/connections/v1_0/routes.py b/acapy_agent/protocols/connections/v1_0/routes.py
index bafe178ede..8277484e40 100644
--- a/acapy_agent/protocols/connections/v1_0/routes.py
+++ b/acapy_agent/protocols/connections/v1_0/routes.py
@@ -414,20 +414,6 @@ class EndpointsResultSchema(OpenAPISchema):
     )
 
 
-def connection_sort_key(conn):
-    """Get the sorting key for a particular connection."""
-
-    conn_rec_state = ConnRecord.State.get(conn["state"])
-    if conn_rec_state is ConnRecord.State.ABANDONED:
-        pfx = "2"
-    elif conn_rec_state is ConnRecord.State.INVITATION:
-        pfx = "1"
-    else:
-        pfx = "0"
-
-    return pfx + conn["created_at"]
-
-
 @docs(
     tags=["connection"],
     summary="Query agent-to-agent connections",
@@ -488,7 +474,6 @@ async def connections_list(request: web.BaseRequest):
                 alt=True,
             )
         results = [record.serialize() for record in records]
-        results.sort(key=connection_sort_key)
     except (StorageError, BaseModelError) as err:
         raise web.HTTPBadRequest(reason=err.roll_up) from err
 
diff --git a/acapy_agent/protocols/connections/v1_0/tests/test_routes.py b/acapy_agent/protocols/connections/v1_0/tests/test_routes.py
index 7ae1129a19..05e279e75b 100644
--- a/acapy_agent/protocols/connections/v1_0/tests/test_routes.py
+++ b/acapy_agent/protocols/connections/v1_0/tests/test_routes.py
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ async def test_connections_list(self):
                     )
                 ),
             ]
-            mock_conn_rec.query.return_value = [conns[2], conns[0], conns[1]]  # jumbled
+            mock_conn_rec.query.return_value = conns
 
             with mock.patch.object(test_module.web, "json_response") as mock_response:
                 await test_module.connections_list(self.request)