How to create a PI case
- Click + New PI Case in the sidebar or from the PI Cases index page
- Fill in the case details across the form sections
- Click Create Case
Case details
| Field | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Client name | Yes | Select existing contact or create new |
| Date of loss | Yes | Do not leave blank — this drives the SOL calculation |
| Incident type | Yes | Select from the list or type a custom type |
| Case type | Yes | Must be selected explicitly — does not default |
| Assigned attorney | Yes | Required, locked as first team member |
| Additional team members | No | Add paralegal, legal assistant, or other roles |
Minor clients
If the client is a minor, check Client is a minor on the client section of the form. This reveals the guardian section.Adding guardians
At least one guardian is required for minor clients. Each guardian row captures:| Field | Notes |
|---|---|
| Guardian name | First and last name |
| Relationship | e.g. Mother, Father, Legal Guardian |
| Phone | Primary contact number |
| Address | Guardian’s home address — used in generated documents |
Primary guardian
If there are multiple guardians, designate one as primary. The primary guardian’s name and address are used as the signatory and address fields in generated documents such as the HIPAA Authorization and Retainer. To change the primary guardian after case creation, go to the Parties tab and edit the client row.Client address
Adult clients: The address field appears directly on the client section of the new case form. Fill it in here — it populates the address fields in generated documents immediately. Minor clients: Address is captured on the guardian rows, not the client row. The primary guardian’s address is used in documents.What generates automatically at case creation
When a PI case is created, Matter Vault automatically:- Assigns a matter number (MV-YYYY-NNN)
- Calculates the statute of limitations deadline from the date of loss and creates a deadline record
- Provisions a Google Drive folder with PI subfolders (Medical Records, Legal Docs, Demands, Court Filings, Correspondence, Settlement, Documents)
- Creates the Opening Documents tracker (Retainer, HIPAA Authorization, Letter of Representation)
After creation
You land on the PI case overview. The recommended next steps are:- Complete the Intake Questionnaire — captures incident details, liability notes, and valuation
- Generate opening documents from the Opening Documents section
- Add insurance carriers from the Parties tab
- Upload medical records and other documents from the Documents tab