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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

Click + Add Matter Type and give it a name. Names must be unique within your organisation. A new type starts with a default Start and End step already in place, ready for you to build out its steps, fields, roles and templates.

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.