By Lawyers - Modifying a Precedent

14/01/2026
Knowledge

How To

By Lawyers precedents are written using a plain language even handed style and to suit the most common circumstances.

They can be modified on a once off individual basis or the changes can be saved for future use.

Desktop
Web

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents will open in a new window.
To modify the precedent for that matter only:
- Locate the precedent in the Legal Guides tab and click to open.
- Make the changes and select Save.
To modify the precedent on a more permanent basis:
- Locate the precedent in the Browse tab hover the mouse over the precedent name and click which appears on the right-hand side.
- Click Modify Precedent.
  - Make any required edits and select Save & Close.
- This will open a Word copy of the precedent.
- A copy of the modified precedent will now be saved.
- To use it again, use the Browse tab and the relevant area of law.
- The precedent name will be coloured blue to indicate it has been modified.

A copy of the modified precedent will now be saved into your matter. Next time you open this precedent from the Browse tab your modifications will automatically appear. The precedent name will be coloured blue in the Browse tab to indicate it has been modified.

Open the matter.
Make sure you're on the Details & Correspondence tab.
Click Forms & Precedents.

The Forms & Precedents will open in a new window.
Locate the precedent in the Legal Guides tab and click to open.
To modify the precedent for that matter only, simply make your changes and select Save.
To modify the precedent on a more permanent basis, from the Legal Guides tab hover your mouse over the precedent name and click which appears on the right-hand side, then click Modify Precedent. This will open a word copy of the precedent.
Make any required edits and select Save & Close.

Click to edit heading

By Lawyers update their commentaries and precedents on an on-going basis incorporating the changes to the law and practice as they occur. Modified precedents saved to the matter will not be automatically updated. The next time a modified precedent is opened from the Browse tab after By Lawyers have made a change to the original precedent the user will be asked if:

they want to see the changes;
they want to update the precedent to keep the By Lawyers changes, which will overwrite any firm modification; or
they want to retain their modified precedent, which means the precedent will not include the recent amendments made by By Lawyers.

Last Modified Date

14/01/2026 7:02 pm

Title

By Lawyers - Modifying a Precedent

URL Name

By-Lawyers-Modifying-a-Precedent-NZ

Resolution