> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.matter-vault.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating a Matter

> How to open a new matter and configure it for your team.

A matter is the central record for any case or legal engagement in Matter Vault. Everything — documents, parties, deadlines, communications, and productions — lives under a matter.

## How to create a matter

1. Click **+ New Matter** in the top right of any page
2. Fill in the matter details (see fields below)
3. Click **Create Matter**

Matter Vault assigns a matter number automatically in the format MV-YYYY-NNN. A Google Drive folder is created for the matter at the same moment.

## Matter fields

| Field                 | Required | Notes                                                                           |
| --------------------- | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Matter title          | Yes      | The name of the case or engagement                                              |
| Practice area         | Yes      | Select from the list — determines which features are available                  |
| Primary client        | No       | Select an existing contact or create a new one inline                           |
| Assigned attorney     | Yes      | The lead attorney responsible for this matter                                   |
| Status                | Yes      | Defaults to Active                                                              |
| BATES prefix override | No       | Overrides the firm-wide default for this matter only                            |
| AI analysis           | No       | Defaults to off — turn on to auto-analyze all documents uploaded to this matter |

## Adding parties after creation

The new matter form captures the primary client. All other parties — opposing counsel, witnesses, insurance carriers, experts — are added from the Parties tab after the matter is created.

## Matter AI mode

Every matter has an AI mode setting that controls whether uploaded documents are automatically analyzed. It defaults to off so no firm is surprised by AI usage.

* **Off (manual)** — documents are stored but not analyzed. Use the Analyze document button in the document panel to run analysis on individual files.
* **On (auto)** — all future uploads are analyzed automatically. Existing documents are not analyzed retroactively.

You can change this setting at any time from the matter's Settings tab.

## After creation

Once a matter is created you land on the matter overview. From here you can:

* Add parties from the Parties tab
* Upload documents from the Documents tab
* Add deadlines from the Deadlines tab
* Send a client portal invite from the Portal tab
* View all communications from the Communications tab