Issue a precedent
Pick a precedent on a matter, fill in the recipient and body, and issue it as a PDF and a Word file.
On this page
Find the precedent
Open the matter. Click the Precedents tab.
The list shows precedents for this matter's type. Click the only button at the top right to switch to All, or click Show more precedents from the full library at the bottom.
Type in Search precedents... to search the whole library. Click a category heading to collapse it.
Precedents
Customise for this matterSimple Will - Single Person
Prepared 04/09/2026Whole estate to one beneficiary with a substitute gift.
Testamentary Trust Will
Prepared 04/09/2026For clients wanting asset protection for beneficiaries.
Enduring Power of Attorney
Prepared 04/09/2026NSW prescribed form with the firm's certificate.
Probate Application - Affidavit of Executor
Prepared 04/09/2026Supreme Court of NSW probate application.
Recently issued
Nothing issued yet
Issue it
Click Issue on the precedent.
Type the Recipient name and address. Type a Salutation, or leave it blank to use the matter's default.
Type the Subject line and the Body. Click Draft subject with AI or Draft with AI instead to get a first draft from a short brief, then edit it.
Tick up to four people under Sign off. Click Issue document.
Issue: Simple Will - Single Person
Recipient
Salutation (optional, leave blank to use the default)
Subject line
Body
Sign off (up to 4, defaults to this matter's usual signers)
Open the document
Click Open PDF to read it. Click Download Word version to edit it before it goes out. Click Done.
The document is listed under Recently issued on the tab. Click it to download the PDF again, or click Word for the editable file.
Edit in Word appears once your workspace uses OneDrive and the matter has a folder there. You find it above Download Word version, and on each row under Recently issued. Click it to open the letter in Word for the web, in a new tab. The row’s download link then reads Download Word.
The first click copies the letter into the matter’s folder, beside its PDF when your firm saves issued precedents to a folder. Every later click opens the same copy, with your edits in it. After it opens, Open in the Word app instead opens it in the Word program on your computer.
Document issued
Will of Thomas Ellis
Open PDFDownload Word versionSign or mark up an issued letter
Under Recently issued, click Edit PDF on the letter. It opens in the PDF editor, where you can sign it, stamp it, add pages or black out text.
Click Save. Diract keeps your edit as a new version, and the letter as issued never changes.
The row lists the letter’s versions below it: 1 (as issued), then a number for each edit. Click a number to open that version. Edit PDF always opens the latest one.
Set the matter's defaults
Click Customise for this matter at the top of the tab.
Pick the Subject line style and the Salutation style. Pick the Default signature for this matter and tick the Signers for this matter.
Each change saves as you click it. Click Use company default to drop the matter's own settings.
Precedent settings for this matter
Currently using the company-wide defaults.
Subject line
Salutation
Default signature for this matter (always included, whatever's picked at issue time)
Signers for this matter (up to 4)
Add your signoff details →