How can I fill out family law intake forms automatically from chat?

Instead of asking clients to download and fill in static PDFs, Chatref's AI agents lead a friendly, step‑by‑step chat that mirrors your existing family law intake fields. You define the questions - client name, spouse details, children, assets, case background - and the bot will ask them naturally, one at a time. The agent can be trained on your practice's tone and terminology so it feels like a trained paralegal, not a generic form.

Because Chatref uses custom actions, the bot can even adapt the next question based on previous answers - for example, skipping child‑related questions if the client says they have no children.

Every answer a client gives is securely saved through Chatref's lead capture. Name, email, phone, and all case‑specific responses are collected in a structured record. This turns every chat into a complete family law data collection point.

You can see the captured details inside your Chatref dashboard and export them when needed. No more copy‑pasting from email chains or illegible handwritten forms.

Here's where automated client onboarding really shines. Once a client has answered all the intake questions, Chatref's custom actions can compile those answers and generate a finished intake form. For example, a custom action can merge the collected data into a formatted document and email it to your firm's designated address.

Chatref can also push that data directly into your practice management software if the system supports webhooks or a simple integration. The result: legal form filling that takes seconds, not hours.

Automated intake means your team stops spending hours on manual data entry and chasing incomplete forms. Clients can complete intake any time - even outside business hours - so you start every meeting with a full, accurate client profile.

Because the AI does the heavy lifting of family law data collection, you reduce manual intake tasks by up to 90%. Your paralegals and attorneys can focus on high‑value work, not paperwork, while you onboard more clients without adding headcount.

What intake forms can the AI fill out?
Chatref can handle any family law intake form your practice uses - divorce petitions, custody declarations, financial affidavits, retainer agreements, and client information sheets. You define the questions inside the bot's custom actions; it will then collect the answers and populate a corresponding document.

Can the AI send completed forms to my email?
Yes, absolutely. One of the built‑in custom actions can compile all the captured answers and email the completed intake form directly to your firm. You can configure which email address receives it, and whether the client gets a copy too.

How do I customize the intake questions?
Inside the Chatref app, you build your AI agent's conversation flow using the custom actions editor. There you can set the exact questions, the order they're asked, and even show different questions based on earlier answers (for example, skipping asset questions if the case is an uncontested divorce). No coding required.

Will clients still get a human review?
Yes. The automated intake is designed to capture information, not make legal decisions. The custom action can send the filled‑out form to your team for review before it becomes part of the official file. You decide when a staff member signs off, so nothing is final without a human's oversight.

Can I connect the forms to my case management system?
Custom actions in Chatref support sending data to external tools via webhooks or API calls. If your case management system accepts incoming data (for example, Clio, MyCase, or PracticePanther), you can create an action that pushes the client's intake details directly into the right matter.

How do I set up automated intake?

1. Sign up for Chatref and claim your free $50 credit, no credit card required.
2. Create a new AI agent and define its purpose as family law intake.
3. Use the custom actions builder to add intake questions and the form output you want (email, PDF, or system integration).
4. Enable lead capture so every response is stored.
5. Embed the chat widget on your website or send clients a direct link.
6. Test the flow, then let the AI handle intake while you stay in control through the built‑in review step.