> ## 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.
# Portal Messages
> The two-way message thread between your firm and the client.
The **Portal** stream (under the Communication tab) is your direct message thread with the client — the firm side of the conversation they see in their portal. It's a simple, secure back-and-forth, separate from email.
## The Conversation
Messages appear as a chat thread: your firm's messages on one side, the client's replies on the other, each labeled with who sent it and when. New messages arrive live, so you don't need to refresh. When there's no conversation yet, the panel invites you to send the first message.
## Sending a Message
At the bottom is a message box — type and press Enter to send (Shift+Enter for a new line). Sending requires permission to send communications on the case, so a read-only team member will see a note instead of the composer.
## Where the Other Portal Controls Live
This tab is messaging only. The rest of the portal's functions are handled where they naturally belong:
* **Inviting a client and seeing what's shared** — the Client Portal panel on the case **Overview**.
* **Reviewing files a client uploaded** — the **Documents** tab, filtered to client uploads, with medical attachments also flagged on the Email stream.
So think of this tab as the conversation, and the Overview and Documents tabs as where you manage access and files.