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

# Claim a case and understand locks

> Why you claim before acting, what each lock state means, and what happens when you leave.

export const Shot = ({id, alt, caption}) => <Frame caption={caption}>
    <img className="block dark:hidden rounded-lg" src={`/images/guides/${id}.light.png`} alt={alt} loading="lazy" decoding="async" />
    <img className="hidden dark:block rounded-lg" src={`/images/guides/${id}.dark.png`} alt={alt} loading="lazy" decoding="async" />
  </Frame>;

A claim is a short-lived lock on the case. While you hold it, no one else can decide the same case; while someone else holds it, the case is read-only for you.

## Why claiming exists

Several analysts work the same queue. The claim guarantees a case gets exactly one decision. Locks expire on their own five minutes after the last heartbeat, so a closed laptop blocks a case for at most a few minutes.

## Claim a case

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open a waiting case">
    The banner reads **Ready to review — claim case to take action.** The decision rail is disabled with the hint **Claim case to take action**.

    <Shot id="analyst/lock-01-claim-banner" alt="Claim banner" caption="Nothing can be decided until the case is claimed." />
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Claim case or press C">
    The banner disappears and the header shows **Locked to you**. The console keeps the lock alive while the tab is open.

    <Shot id="analyst/lock-02-locked-to-me" alt="Locked to you badge" caption="You hold the claim." />
  </Step>
</Steps>

Claiming is only offered once the workflow has parked the case in a review queue. A case that is still being processed shows no claim banner.

## Locked by another analyst

The banner names who holds the claim and since when. Every action is disabled until they release it or the lock expires.

<Shot id="analyst/lock-03-locked-by-other" alt="Locked by another analyst banner" caption="Read-only while a colleague holds the claim." />

## When your claim expires

If the heartbeat stops (for example the tab was asleep), the banner changes to **Your claim expired — re-claim to continue.** Click **Re-claim**. If the console reports **Sync issues — your lock may have stalled**, it could not confirm the lock three times in a row; re-claim before deciding.

## Leaving a claimed case

Navigating to another page while holding a claim opens **Release case claim?**. **Release & Navigate** frees the case for others; **Cancel** keeps you on it. Closing the tab does **not** release the claim: the lock stays with you until it expires, up to five minutes, so release it first when you can.

<Shot id="analyst/lock-06-release-dialog" alt="Release case claim dialog" caption="Leaving releases the claim." />