Time-sensitive deadlines on workflows

Some workflows must be completed by a specific date. With the time sensitive deadline feature, you can mark any workflow with the date it must be completed by, add an optional note explaining why, and build a report of everything coming due.

🎥 Watch the walkthrough: Time-sensitive deadline feature overview (Loom)

Overview

A time sensitive deadline is the date a workflow must be completed by. Tracked in reports. Marking a workflow as time-sensitive means setting that date; you can also add a note explaining why the workflow is time-sensitive. Clearing the date removes the marking — a workflow is time-sensitive exactly when it has a deadline.

There are two ways to mark a workflow: during creation (in the workflow creation steps) or at any time afterward (in the workflow's Settings).

Mark a workflow when you create it

When you create a new workflow — or link a workflow to an existing group of workflows — you'll find the Time sensitive deadline step near the end of the creation steps:

1. Answer the question: Is there a time-sensitive deadline? Choose Yes if the workflow must be completed by a specific date, or No if it isn't time-sensitive.
2. If No: that's it — continue to the next step.
3. If Yes: pick the date the workflow must be completed by (required), and optionally add a note explaining why this workflow is time-sensitive.

The review step at the end shows the deadline and note before you finish.

Mark or update an existing workflow

For workflows that already exist, open the workflow's Settings. Just under Pause, you'll find Time-sensitive deadline — the date this workflow must be completed by, tracked in reports. From there you can:

• Mark the workflow as time-sensitive by setting the date it must be completed by
• Add or edit the note
• Change the date
• Clear the marking if the workflow is no longer time-sensitive

Spot time-sensitive workflows at a glance

Once a workflow is marked, an indicator appears in its summary bar. Click it to open the deadline dialog, where you can:

• See the note explaining why the workflow is time-sensitive
• Change the date
• Add or edit the note
• Clear the marking if the workflow is no longer time-sensitive

Deadlines carry over within a group

When you initiate an associated workflow in a group — for example, a bankruptcy matter linked to an intake workflow — the Time sensitive deadline step defaults to the group's latest marking, with the same date and note prefilled.

So if you marked the intake workflow as time-sensitive for August 28 with a note, the associated workflow's creation step starts with that same August 28 date and note already filled in. You can keep it, change the date or note, or choose No if the new workflow isn't time-sensitive — the prefill is there to save you a step, not to lock you in.

Build a report of time-sensitive workflows

Custom reports on workflows now include a Time-sensitive deadline column:

1. Create a report: go to custom reports and create a new report (or edit an existing one).
2. Add the column: select Time-sensitive deadline — it shows the date each workflow must be completed by.
3. Filter by deadline: filter on when the deadline falls — for example, overdue, the next 7 days, or the next 30 days.
4. Save the report: save it to keep an always-current list of your time-sensitive workflows.

Saved reports also power dashboard widgets — create a report of time-sensitive workflows and add it to your dashboard to keep upcoming deadlines in view.

FAQ

Q: What makes a workflow "time-sensitive"?
A: Having a deadline. There's no separate flag — if a workflow has a date it must be completed by, it's time-sensitive; clear the date and it isn't.

Q: Is the note required?
A: No. The date is required when you answer Yes, but the note is optional. You can add or edit the note later from the summary-bar indicator or Settings.

Q: Can workflows in the same group have different deadlines?
A: Yes. Each workflow carries its own marking. The creation step only prefills the group's latest date and note as a starting point — you can set a different date or answer No for each workflow.

Q: How do I remove a deadline?
A: Click the indicator in the workflow's summary bar (or open Settings → Time-sensitive deadline) and clear the marking.

Q: Do existing reports change?
A: No. The Time-sensitive deadline column is opt-in — your saved reports stay exactly as they are until you add the column.