---
title: "Default Information / Required Fields"
slug: "default-information-required-fields"
updated: 2026-05-04T17:36:56Z
published: 2026-05-04T17:36:56Z
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://knowledge.technolutions.net/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Default Information / Required Fields

Slate uses submitted form data to match a form response to an existing person record. When a form does not pass a unique identifier, mapped name, birthdate, and email fields help Slate find an existing record and reduce duplicate records.

**📖 Further reading:** [Matching Criteria for Person Records](/v1/docs/matching-criteria-for-person-records)

## Match form responses to person records

Slate can use either of the following field combinations to match a form response to an existing person record:

- **First Name** + **Last Name** + **Email**
- **First Name** + **Last Name** + **Birthdate**

If the form data does not match an existing record, Slate can create a new person record when the submitted data includes either of the following:

- **First Name** + **Last Name**
- **Email**

To reduce duplicate records, include required fields that save to standard Slate fields when a form is intended to create or update person records.

## Default field configurations

Configure the following settings:

- **Status**: Leave the status set to *Active*.
- **Type**: Leave the type set to *Text Box*.
- **Label**: Customize the label if needed.
- **Options**: Keep **Required** selected. Required fields prevent submission when the respondent does not enter a value.