---
title: "How to Properly Set Up Contacts for a Family-Based Petition"
url: "https://primalaw.productfruits.help/en/article/how-to-properly-set-up-contacts-for-a-family-based-petition-in-primalaw"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2026-09-10T19:07:37.328Z"
---

# How to Properly Set Up Contacts for a Family-Based Petition

Correct contact setup is the foundation of every successful family-based case in Prima.Law. Before opening a matter, it is critical to ensure that every required party is created, properly linked, and assigned the correct relationship. This guide walks you step-by-step through the correct structure for family-based petitions such as I-130, I-485 family cases, and similar filings.

## Core Principle

Always open the case under the Beneficiary’s contact.

Even if the petitioner is the paying client, the case should be created under the beneficiary. This ensures:

-   Proper role assignment in forms
-   Accurate autofill behavior
-   Clean Smart Interview structure
-   Long-term case consistency

## Step 1: Create the Beneficiary Contact

1.  Go to the Home page.
2.  Click the + button under Contacts.
3.  Select Individual.
4.  Enter required details:
5.  -   First name
    -   Last name
6.  Add:
7.  -   Email (recommended)
    -   Phone number
    -   Known biographic information (DOB, country of birth, etc.)
8.  Click Save.

You are now on the Beneficiary’s Contact Page.  
This contact will be used to open the case.

## Step 2: Add the Spouse (For Marriage-Based Cases)

If the petition involves a spouse:

1.  Go to the Information tab.
2.  Click Marriage History.
3.  Add the spouse’s information.
4.  Click Save & Create as Contact.

This automatically:

-   Creates the spouse as an individual contact
-   Links them correctly to the beneficiary

Using Marriage History is preferred because it maintains structured marital records.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/a8ec492d-dea0-4abf-be59-ba7bf151f0d4)

## Step 3: Add Other Family Members (If Needed)

If the petition requires listing:

-   Children
-   Parents
-   Siblings

Go to:

Information → Family Members

Add each person and, if necessary, select Save & Create as Contact.

Important distinction:

-   If the person has a formal legal role (Petitioner, Joint Sponsor), they must be created as a contact.
-   If they are only mentioned in the form but are not a party to the petition, creating a contact is optional.

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/9ee8c404-7bf7-4328-b305-c47b56234f89)

## Step 4: Confirm All Required Legal Roles

Now verify that every required role exists as a contact.

For example, in an I-130 spouse case you typically need:

-   Beneficiary
-   Petitioner
-   Possibly Joint Sponsor

To add or confirm:

1.  Go to the Related Contacts tab.
2.  Click New.
3.  Select the correct relationship type.
4.  Either link an existing contact or create a new one.

Every role that appears in the form must correspond to a structured contact.

## Step 5: Verify Structure Before Opening the Case

Before creating the case, confirm:

-   The Beneficiary exists.
-   The Petitioner exists.
-   Any Sponsor exists.
-   All relationships are correctly defined.

This prevents:

-   Role selection confusion
-   Autofill errors
-   Duplicate contacts
-   Case restructuring later

![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/e627a5c8-5702-4f09-9a2d-4fc641b9c472)

## Step 6: Open the Case Under the Beneficiary

1.  Go to the Beneficiary’s Contact Page.
2.  Click the Cases tab.
3.  Select New Case.
4.  Choose the appropriate family-based matter.

The case is now correctly structured for:

-   Smart Interviews
-   Form autofill
-   Role assignment
-   Portal sharing

## ![](https://cdn-assets.productfruits.com/913af709-87c4-4689-909f-3ab1db704cf4)

This visual summarizes the complete family-based setup flow.

## Why This Setup Matters

Proper contact setup ensures:

-   Accurate form autofill
-   Clean role mapping
-   Easier document collection
-   Long-term reusability for future filings

Taking a few extra minutes to structure contacts correctly prevents hours of corrections later.