Matters · 7 guides
Close a matter
Check what's still open on a matter, close it when the work is done, and reopen it if you need to.
Before you close
Closing a matter keeps everything on it: notes, documents, hearings, time and invoices. It moves the matter out of your active lists and into the Closed view on Matters.
When you open the close option, Chronica lists anything that still needs attention:
- money still outstanding, and the invoice it's on
- how many tasks are still open
- a hearing that's still scheduled, with its date
None of these stops you closing the matter, but it's worth dealing with them first.
| If Chronica says | What to do |
|---|---|
| An amount is still outstanding | Record the payment if the client has paid |
| Tasks are still open | Mark them done on the matter's Tasks tab, or reassign them |
| A hearing is still scheduled | Log its outcome, or cancel it if it isn't going ahead |
Cancel any scheduled hearing that won't go ahead before you close the matter. Cancelling takes it off the calendar and stops the client's reminders for it.
Close the matter
- Open the matter and click Settings.
- Click Close matter in the list of sections, or scroll to the bottom.
- Read the list of anything still open.
- Click Close matter.
- Check the confirmation. It repeats anything still open.
- Click Close matter to confirm, or Keep it open to go back.
Chronica shows "Matter closed." The matter's status changes to Closed, and it now appears under Closed on Matters.
Reopen a matter
- Go to Matters and click Closed.
- Open the matter and click Settings.
- In the Reopen matter section, click Reopen matter.
The matter goes back to Active and returns to your active lists.
Questions
Can I close several matters at once?
No. Close each matter from its own settings.
Can I record a matter that finished before we started using Chronica?
Yes. When you open the matter, set Status to Closed on the first step.
Will the client be told?
Chronica doesn't send a "matter closed" email. If your firm has the closing survey follow-up turned on, closing the matter queues a survey for the client, but only if they agreed to be contacted.