Questionnaires let your firm build your own set of questions and put them in front of a client in the Client Portal. Use them to gather background on an estate, understand where a probate matter stands, or collect the personal details you need before an estate planning meeting.
A questionnaire is created once and reused as often as you like. You build it on the Questionnaires page, assign it to an individual client portal, and the client answers it as a step in their portal. Your firm then reviews the answers and accepts them.
š What is a questionnaire?
A questionnaire is a reusable set of questions your firm writes. Each questionnaire has a title, an introduction, and any number of questions. You choose the answer type for each question, such as short text, a date, or a list of options the client picks from.
Questionnaires are available for all matter types. Unlike default key files, they are not split by matter type, so any questionnaire can be assigned to any client portal. If you name a questionnaire after a matter type, that is a naming convention for your own benefit, not a restriction.
š How questionnaires work
Build it. Create a questionnaire and publish it when it is ready. (How to Create a Questionnaire)
Assign it. Assign a published questionnaire to a client portal. It appears as a new step in that client's portal. (How to Add a Questionnaire to a Client Portal)
The client answers it. The client works through the questions and submits them. Your firm can also fill it in on the client's behalf, for example during a call.
Review and accept. Your firm reviews the answers, edits them if needed, and accepts them. You can also send the questionnaire back to the client with a note asking for changes. (How to Review a Client's Questionnaire)
It becomes part of the record. Accepted questionnaires are saved as numbered versions, appear on the Estate Files tab, and sync to Clio as PDFs.
š§ Where questionnaires live
The Questionnaires page is your firm's library, and you open it from the menu in the top right corner of EstateMin. Everything is built and managed here. (How to Manage Your Questionnaire Library)
The Client Portals tab on a matter is where you assign a questionnaire to a client and review what they send back.
The Estate Files tab on a matter lists every accepted questionnaire under Accepted questionnaires.
š·ļø Questionnaire statuses
The status shows on the Questionnaire step on the Client Portals tab.
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Not assigned. No questionnaire is assigned to the portal.
Not started. Assigned, but no answers have been entered.
In progress. The client or your firm has started entering answers.
Submitted - awaiting review. The client has submitted the questionnaire for your firm to review.
Changes requested. Your firm has returned it to the client for updates.
Accepted. Your firm has accepted the submitted questionnaire.
š” Good to Know
A questionnaire is assigned to an individual client portal, not to a matter. Two clients on the same matter can have different questionnaires, or none at all.
Assigning a questionnaire adds a step to that client's portal, so the number of steps a client sees depends on whether they have one.
Clients are emailed when a questionnaire is assigned to a portal they have already been invited to, and when your firm requests changes.
Editing a published questionnaire updates it for every portal it is already assigned to. Duplicate it instead if you want to change the wording without affecting matters already underway.
š All Questionnaire Articles
āBuilding and managing
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āUsing with clients
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āFor your clients
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š¬ Need Help?
Use the chat bubble in the lower-right corner of EstateMin or email [email protected] for support.