How to Redact Documents in Clio

Clio does not have built-in redaction. The standard workflow is to download a document from a matter, redact it in a separate tool, then upload the redacted version back to the same matter as a new file. The original stays in the matter for reference, and the redacted version is what gets shared, filed, or produced. Some redaction tools (including RedactifyAI) integrate directly with Clio so the download-redact-upload cycle becomes a single click.

The standard download-and-upload workflow

1. Open the matter in Clio. Find the document under Documents.
2. Download the file. Make a note of the matter ID for traceability.
3. Open the document in a redaction tool: Adobe Acrobat Pro for one-off PDFs, Microsoft Word for .docx with Find and Replace, or a dedicated redaction tool like RedactifyAI for larger volumes or AI-based PII detection.
4. Apply permanent redaction and verify by trying to copy text from redacted areas.
5. Upload the redacted file back to the same Clio matter with a new name like contract_2026_REDACTED.pdf. Never overwrite the original, keep both versions for audit purposes.

Why native Clio redaction integration matters

The download-redact-upload loop adds 5 to 10 minutes per document. For a single contract, that is fine. For a discovery production with 50 documents, it is two to three hours of context switching. A direct integration that pulls from Clio matters, redacts, and saves back automatically removes the friction and reduces the chance of forgetting to upload the redacted version.

What to keep in Clio for compliance

Always keep both the original and the redacted version in the matter. Bar associations and courts may require proof of the unredacted source. Use a clear naming convention so the redacted version is identifiable at a glance. _REDACTED as a suffix is common.

Try it free: RedactifyAI integrates with Clio so you can redact documents directly from a matter without downloading and re-uploading. Try it at redactifyai.com. Free tier available, no card required.