Event Types

Events are the key dates on a matter: the closing, the signing appointment, the conditions deadline. Event types define what kinds of dates exist, whether a matter can have one or many of each, and whether clients see them in the portal by default.

The Built-in Types

Laminar ships five system types:

Type	Per matter	Portal default
Expected Completion Date	One	Visible
Signing Appointment	Many	Visible
Closing Date	One	Visible
Possession Date	One	Visible
Conditions Deadline	Many	Hidden

“One per matter” types (called singleton types) reject a second active event: if a matter already has a Closing Date, you edit the existing one rather than adding a rival. That’s the system protecting you from a matter with two closing dates.

System types can’t be edited or deactivated, but you can override their portal-visibility default for your firm: if your practice prefers clients not see possession dates, flip the default. The override affects new events only; existing events keep their setting.

Custom Types

Settings > Event Types > Add Event Type. Give it a name (unique within your firm), a description, choose singleton or multi-instance, and set the portal-visibility default.

Custom types are for the dates your practice genuinely tracks per matter: “Requisition Deadline,” “Rate Lock Expiry.” If a date only comes up once a year, a plain task with a scheduled date is simpler.

Deactivating

Deactivating a type removes it from the “add event” dropdowns without touching existing events; history stays intact. Reactivate anytime.

The Portal Angle

Each event on a matter has its own “Visible in client portal” toggle, and the type’s default just sets the starting position. Defaults are policy, the per-event toggle is judgment. Set defaults so that the common case needs no thought: client-facing dates default visible, internal deadlines default hidden.