Follow the agency setup checklist in eCourtDate to make sure your agency is fully configured and ready to operate. The checklist guides you through every essential setup step so nothing gets missed.

### Overview

When you first set up an agency in eCourtDate, there are several configuration steps required before you can start sending messages, managing clients, and using the full platform. The agency setup checklist provides a visual progress tracker that shows which items are complete and which still need attention.

The checklist covers all the essentials: general settings, phone numbers, email addresses, users, roles, locations, and portals. Each item links directly to the relevant configuration page, so you can jump straight to the section that needs work without searching through menus. A progress bar at the top shows your overall completion percentage, making it easy to track how close you are to being fully operational.

### Prerequisites

Before working through the setup checklist, make sure you have:

- An active eCourtDate user account with **Admin** access to your agency
- Your agency's general information ready (name, address, timezone, contact details)
- Phone numbers you plan to use for messaging (or information needed to request new ones)
- Email addresses your agency will use for outbound communications
- A list of staff members who need user accounts, along with their roles
- Location details for courthouses, offices, or facilities your agency operates

### How-To Steps

#### Accessing the Setup Checklist

1. Log in to your [eCourtDate agency](https://app.ecourtdate.com).
2. Navigate to the **Dashboard**.
3. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the **Agency Setup** link.
4. The setup checklist displays with a progress bar at the top showing your current completion percentage.

#### Completing General Settings

1. From the setup checklist, click the **Settings** item to go to **Admin** > **Settings**.
2. Review and complete your agency's general settings, including:
   - **Agency Name** and **Description**
   - **Timezone** (ensure this matches your local court timezone)
   - **Default Language**
   - **Contact Email** and **Contact Phone**
3. Click **Save** to apply your settings.
4. Return to the checklist to confirm the **Settings** item now shows as complete.

#### Setting Up Phone Numbers

1. Click the **Phone Numbers** item on the checklist.
2. Review your current phone numbers. If none are configured, follow the steps in [How to Manage Agency Phone Numbers](/how-to-manage-agency-phone-numbers).
3. Ensure at least one phone number is active and configured for outbound messaging.
4. Return to the checklist to verify completion.

#### Configuring Email Addresses

1. Click the **Emails** item on the checklist.
2. Add or verify your agency's email addresses. Follow [How to Manage Agency Emails](/how-to-manage-agency-emails) for detailed steps.
3. Confirm that at least one email address is active and ready for outbound communication.
4. Return to the checklist to confirm the item is marked complete.

#### Adding Users

1. Click the **Users** item on the checklist to navigate to **Admin** > **Users**.
2. Create accounts for each staff member who needs access to the platform. See [How to Manage Users](/how-to-manage-users) for detailed instructions.
3. Assign the appropriate role to each user based on their responsibilities.
4. Return to the checklist to verify the **Users** item shows as complete.

#### Configuring Roles and Permissions

1. Click the **Roles** item on the checklist.
2. Review the default roles available in your agency. Customize roles as needed to match your agency's structure.
3. Ensure each role has the correct permissions for the features your staff needs to access. Refer to [Roles and Permissions](/roles-and-permissions) for guidance.
4. Return to the checklist to confirm completion.

#### Adding Locations

1. Click the **Locations** item on the checklist to navigate to **Admin** > **Locations**.
2. Add each courthouse, office, or facility your agency uses. Include the location name, address, and any relevant details.
3. Click **Create** for each location you add.
4. Return to the checklist to verify the **Locations** item is complete.

#### Setting Up Portals

1. Click the **Portals** item on the checklist.
2. Configure at least one web portal for your agency. Portals allow clients to view event details, check in, and access case information online. See [How to Create Web Portals](/how-to-create-web-portals) for full instructions.
3. Customize the portal's branding, domain, and settings to match your agency's needs.
4. Return to the checklist to verify the **Portals** item is marked complete.

### What to Expect

As you complete each checklist item, the progress bar at the top of the checklist updates to reflect your progress. When all items are marked complete, your agency is fully configured and ready for day-to-day operations.

Some checklist items may require coordination with your IT department (such as custom domain setup) or with eCourtDate support (such as phone number provisioning). You do not need to complete all items in a single session. The checklist saves your progress automatically, so you can return at any time to pick up where you left off.

### Best Practices

- **Complete the checklist in order.** The items are arranged in a logical sequence. General settings should be configured first because other settings (like phone numbers and portals) depend on them.
- **Assign a setup coordinator.** Designate one admin-level staff member to own the setup process. This avoids duplicate work and ensures consistent configuration.
- **Test each component after setup.** After configuring phone numbers, send a test message. After setting up a portal, visit the portal URL to confirm it loads correctly. Testing as you go catches issues early.
- **Document any customizations.** If you change default roles, add custom settings, or configure specific portal options, document those decisions so future administrators understand why the choices were made.
- **Revisit the checklist periodically.** Even after initial setup, review the checklist when onboarding new staff, adding locations, or expanding your agency's use of the platform.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Do I need to complete every item on the checklist before I can use the platform?**
A: You can begin using the platform before completing every item. However, certain features (like sending messages) require phone numbers and email addresses to be configured first. Completing all items ensures you have access to the full range of platform capabilities.

**Q: Can multiple admins work on the checklist at the same time?**
A: Yes. Multiple admin users can work on different checklist items simultaneously. The progress bar updates for all users as items are completed.

**Q: What happens if I skip a checklist item?**
A: The checklist tracks completion but does not block you from using other features. Skipped items remain marked as incomplete until you address them. You can return to any incomplete item at any time.

**Q: How do I know which checklist items are required versus optional?**
A: All items on the checklist represent recommended configuration steps. Items like **Settings**, **Phone Numbers**, and **Users** are essential for core platform functionality. Items like **Portals** may be optional depending on whether your agency plans to use client-facing web portals.

**Q: Can I reset the checklist and start over?**
A: The checklist reflects the actual configuration state of your agency. It cannot be manually reset. If you remove a configuration (such as deleting all phone numbers), the corresponding checklist item reverts to incomplete.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** Checklist item shows as incomplete even though the configuration is done.
**Symptoms:** You have completed the required setup (for example, added a phone number), but the checklist still shows the item as incomplete.
**Solution:**

1. Refresh the page to reload the checklist status.
2. Verify the configuration meets the minimum requirements. For example, a phone number must be active (not pending) to count as complete.
3. If the item still shows as incomplete after confirming the configuration, sign in to eCourtDate and create a support ticket by clicking the ticket button in the bottom right corner of the screen.

**Issue:** Cannot access the setup checklist.
**Symptoms:** The **Agency Setup** link is not visible at the bottom of the **Dashboard**, or clicking it does not load the checklist.
**Solution:**

1. Confirm you are logged in with an **Admin** role. Non-admin users may not have access to the setup checklist.
2. Try accessing the checklist from a different browser or clear your browser cache.
3. If the issue persists, contact support through the ticket button in the bottom right corner.

### Related Articles

- [How to Set Up a New Agency](/how-to-set-up-a-new-agency)
- [How to Manage Users](/how-to-manage-users)
- [Roles and Permissions](/roles-and-permissions)