Assign files to custodians from the file context menu, in bulk via multi-select, during file upload, or by asking the AI agent. A file can belong to multiple custodians, and you can change assignments at any time.
From the file context menu
The most common way to assign a file is through the document browser. Right-click any file (or click its menu icon) and select Assign to Custodian. A submenu lists all custodians in the case. Click a custodian name to assign the file. A checkmark appears next to custodians the file is already assigned to.
To remove an assignment, open the same submenu and click the checked custodian. The checkmark disappears and the file is unlinked from that custodian. You can toggle assignments on and off without affecting the file itself. For a full overview of menu options, see file actions.
Bulk assignment with multi-select
When you need to assign many files to the same custodian at once, use multi-select in the document browser. Select the files by clicking their checkboxes, then right-click the selection and choose Assign to Custodian. Every selected file gets assigned to the custodian you pick.
This is much faster than assigning files one at a time and is the recommended approach when you receive a batch from a single custodian. For more about selecting multiple files, see multi-select.
During file upload
The upload dialog includes a custodian dropdown that lets you assign files before they're uploaded. Select one or more custodians, and all files in the batch get assigned automatically once the upload completes.
This is the most efficient workflow when you know the custodian at ingestion time. It eliminates the need to go back and assign files after upload. If the custodian doesn't exist yet, you can create one directly from the dropdown. For a complete guide, see uploading files by custodian.
Using the AI agent
You can ask the AI agent to assign files to custodians using natural language. For example, type "Assign these files to custodian John Smith" or "Move the selected documents to the Jane Doe custodian." The agent interprets your request and performs the assignment on your behalf.
This is useful when you're already working in the AI agent panel and want to manage assignments without switching to the context menu. The agent can also identify which files are assigned to a given custodian. Learn more in the AI agent section.
Multiple custodians per file
A single file can be assigned to multiple custodians at once. This is common when the same document appears in more than one custodian's collection. An email thread between two custodians, for instance, may need to be linked to both the sender and the recipient for accurate tracking.
When a file has multiple custodians, it appears in custodian-filtered views for each one. During export, the file can appear in each custodian's directory if you choose "Organize by Custodian." No duplicate uploads are needed. For details on custodian-based exports, see exporting custodian data.