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Matter Types

Matter types are the backbone of Cadence IP. Each type — a provisional patent, a PCT application, a trade mark, a design — defines its own workflow: the steps a matter moves through, the data fields it tracks, the roles involved, and the templates used for its correspondence and invoices. This screen lists the types your firm handles.

Every matter type your organisation handles, with a count of matters using each one.

The matter types list

The table shows each matter type with:

  • Name — the type's name, as it appears when creating a matter.
  • Matters — how many matters currently use this type.
  • Enabled — whether the type is available for new matters.

Enabling and disabling types

Use the Enabled toggle to turn a type on or off. A disabled type no longer appears when creating a matter or building an intake form, but existing matters of that type are untouched and keep working as normal. This is the safe way to retire a workflow you no longer take on without deleting its history.

Adding a matter type

You can add a type in two ways — start from a ready-made workflow, or from a blank type.

Start from a workflow template

Start from Template opens the workflow library: a set of ready-made matter types for common IP work — PCT, US, Australian, Canadian and European patent applications, US and Australian provisionals, US, Australian and Madrid trade marks, plus generic patent and trade mark starting points.

Pick a workflow on the left to preview everything it sets up on the right.

Selecting a workflow previews exactly what it will create: its steps, roles, data fields (with deadline fields flagged), the automations that calculate deadlines and send reminders — written out in plain English — the email templates it includes, and any related matter types it links to. Adjust the name if you wish, then click Use this workflow: Cadence IP builds the fully-configured matter type and opens it for you to fine-tune.

Important

The statutory deadlines built into the templates — for example the PCT Article 19/34 and 30-month dates, or US maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5 and 11.5 years from grant — are convenience defaults calculated from a reference date. Review them against the applicable rules before relying on them for a live matter.

Start blank

Blank creates an empty type with just a name. Names must be unique within your organisation. A new type starts with a default Start and Closed step in place, ready for you to build out its steps, fields, roles and templates from scratch.

A blank matter type — just give it a name to begin.

Configuring a type

Click a matter type to open its configuration screens, where you set up everything that type does. Because this is a large area of the app, it has its own section of the documentation — start with Matter Type Overview.

Tip

Matter types are referenced by intake forms, imports and automations. Set them up thoughtfully — they define how work of each kind flows through your firm.