Sample templates in eCourtDate give you a library of ready-made message templates built for common court communication scenarios. Browse by use case, import with one click, and customize the content to match your agency's voice and requirements.

### Overview

- **What it is:** A curated library of pre-built message templates covering common court communication scenarios such as hearing reminders, payment notices, check-in confirmations, and warrant notifications.
- **Why it matters:** Building message templates from scratch takes time and requires knowledge of best practices for court communications. Sample templates give you a proven starting point that you can customize, reducing setup time from hours to minutes.
- **Who uses it:** Court clerks, administrators, communication managers, and new agencies setting up their messaging workflows for the first time.
- **Expected outcomes:** A populated template library with professionally written, customizable messages ready for immediate use.

### Prerequisites

- An active eCourtDate account with the **Messaging** permission enabled
- Administrator or Communication Manager role (importing templates may require elevated permissions)
- An understanding of which communication scenarios your agency needs to cover

### How-To Steps

#### Step 1: Open the Sample Templates Library

1. Click **Messaging** from the main navigation menu.
2. Click **Sample Templates** to browse the available template library.

#### Step 2: Browse Templates by Use Case

1. Review the template categories displayed on the page (for example, Court Reminders, Payment Notices, Supervision Check-Ins, Warrant Notifications, General Notices).
2. Click a category to view the templates within it.
3. Click on any template to preview its content, including the subject line, body text, and merge tags used.

#### Step 3: Import a Template

1. Find the template you want to use and click **Import**.
2. The template is copied to your agency's template library.
3. A confirmation message appears indicating the template was imported successfully.
4. Repeat for any additional templates you want to import.

#### Step 4: Customize the Imported Template

1. Navigate to **Messaging** > **Templates** to view your agency's template library.
2. Find the imported template and click to open it.
3. Edit the **Subject Line** to match your agency's naming conventions.
4. Update the body text to reflect your agency's specific language, court names, addresses, and policies.
5. Review and adjust merge tags to ensure they match the data fields your agency uses.
6. Click **Save** to store your customized version.

#### Step 5: Use the Template

1. Navigate to the messaging module where you want to use the template (for example, **Messaging** > **Send Message** or an automated workflow).
2. Select the imported and customized template from the **Template** dropdown.
3. Preview the message with client data to verify it looks correct.
4. Send or schedule the message as needed.

### What to Expect

Imported templates appear immediately in your agency's template library. They function exactly like templates you create from scratch. You can edit, duplicate, translate, or delete imported templates at any time. The original sample templates in the library remain unchanged, so you can reimport them if needed. Importing a template does not overwrite any existing templates in your library.

### Best Practices

- Import a core set of templates during initial setup to accelerate your agency's onboarding.
- Always customize imported templates before sending. Replace placeholder court names, addresses, and contact information with your agency's real details.
- Review imported templates with your legal or compliance team to ensure the language meets your jurisdiction's requirements.
- Use imported templates as a starting point for creating variations (for example, import the court reminder and create versions for different hearing types).
- Delete or archive sample templates you do not plan to use to keep your template library organized.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: Do sample templates include merge tags?**
A: Yes. Sample templates come with commonly used merge tags such as {client_name}, {court_date}, {court_location}, and {case_number}. Review and adjust these tags to match the fields available in your agency's configuration.

**Q: Can I import the same template more than once?**
A: Yes. Each import creates a new copy in your template library. This is useful if you want to create multiple variations from the same starting template. Each copy is independent and can be edited separately.

**Q: Will importing a template overwrite my existing templates?**
A: No. Imported templates are added as new entries in your library. They do not replace or modify any existing templates.

**Q: Are sample templates available in multiple languages?**
A: The sample template library currently provides templates in English. After importing, you can use the **Translate** feature or the **AI Generator** to create versions in other languages.

**Q: How often is the sample template library updated?**
A: The library is updated periodically with new templates based on common use cases and feedback from agencies. Check back regularly for new additions.

### Troubleshooting

**Issue:** The **Import** button is grayed out or unresponsive.
**Symptoms:** Clicking **Import** does not copy the template to your library.
**Solution:** Verify that your account has the necessary permissions to import templates. This typically requires an Administrator or Communication Manager role. Contact your agency administrator if you need elevated access.

**Issue:** An imported template contains merge tags that do not resolve.
**Symptoms:** After importing and previewing, some merge tags display as raw text instead of client data.
**Solution:** Open the imported template in **Messaging** > **Templates** and compare the merge tags against the available tags listed in the merge tag reference. Replace any tags that do not match your agency's configuration with the correct ones.

### Related Articles

- [How to Create Message Templates](how-to-create-message-templates)
- [How to Use the AI Generator](how-to-use-ai-generator)
- [How to Preview Messages](how-to-preview-messages)