Related Matters
Matters rarely exist in isolation — a provisional leads to a PCT, a PCT leads to national-phase filings abroad. The Related Matters section defines those relationships between matter types and maps which fields and roles carry across, so that when a fee-earner spawns a related matter the new file starts pre-populated with the parent's data. This is the configuration behind the linked matters shown on a matter.
The related types list
Each row is a relationship to another matter type. The columns show the Related Matter Type, the number of Field Mappings, the number of Role Mappings and an Enabled toggle. Click a row to edit the relationship, or + Add Related Type to define a new one.
Mapping fields and roles
In the editor you first choose the Related Matter Type — the child that will be created from matters of this type. You then build two sets of mappings:
- Field Mappings — pair a field on this (parent) type with a field on the child, so its value copies across. For example, the parent's Title maps to the child's Title.
- Role Mappings — pair a role on the parent with a role on the child, so the same contacts are carried over. For example, Applicant → Applicant, Client → Client, Inventor → Inventor and Attorney → Attorney.
Add as many mappings as make sense, then Save Changes. Only complete mappings are kept — an incomplete row (missing a source or target) is skipped.
The child matter type's own fields and roles determine what is available to map to, so define those on the child type first. Once set up, creating a related matter becomes a quick, reliable step instead of retyping the same title, numbers and parties by hand — reducing both effort and transcription errors as a matter progresses through its family of related filings.
Tip