Document Management

November 3, 2026

The Documents tab of a matter keeps its files and folders in one place. You can upload files, create documents from templates, send documents for signature and share them with the client.

Table of contents

The Documents tab

Open the matter and click the Documents tab.

Documents tab of a matter
The Documents tab.
  1. The Documents tab.
  2. The folder tree. The number next to a folder shows how many items it holds. Click a folder to open it, or search folders.
  3. Create: new folder, document or upload.
  4. Generate: new document from a template.
  5. Sync refreshes the files from the storage.
  6. The filter panel, the column selector and help.
  7. The columns: Name, Signature Status, Description, Owner, Participant, Category and Date Received.
  8. The edit button and the actions arrow of each file or folder.
  9. The share button shares the item with the client in the Client Portal.
  10. An icon shows files stored in Google Drive.

Note. Where files are stored depends on your firm’s document storage settings. See Managing Document Storage Strategy.

Create folders and documents

Create menu of the Documents tab
The Create menu.
  1. Click the arrow next to Create.
  2. Select Folder, Standard Document, Signature Document, Signature Document from Signed PDF or Upload.

The Documents tab of a contact works the same way, but its Create menu has no Upload option and there’s no Sync button.

Use Upload to add files from your computer. For each file, you can set the name, category, description and date received. File and folder names must be unique in the same folder.

Generate documents from templates

Generate menu of the Documents tab
The Generate menu.
  1. Click the arrow next to Generate.
  2. Select Standard Document or Signature Document.
Generate Documents From Templates panel
The Generate Documents From Templates panel.
  1. Select the Template (required). See Managing Document Templates.
  2. Enter the Document Name (required).
  3. Select the Category.
  4. Or click + to add a category.
  5. Check the Date Received (today).
  6. Add a Description.
  7. Click Generate.

Maatdesk replaces the template’s merge fields with the data of the matter.

File actions

Actions menu of a file
Actions of a file.
  1. Click the actions arrow of the file.
  2. The actions: Edit (file details), Move to (another folder), Preview, Download, Share (with the client in the Client Portal), Duplicate, Versions, Audit Logs and Delete.

Folders have fewer actions: Edit, Move to, Download, Share and Delete (Preview is disabled for folders). Deleting a folder also deletes its files and subfolders, and removes them from the Client Portal if they were shared.

For documents sent for signature, the Signature Status column shows their progress. See E-Signatures module Overview.

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