diff --git a/src/lib/forms-shared.ts b/src/lib/forms-shared.ts
index de5ff4b..978c481 100644
--- a/src/lib/forms-shared.ts
+++ b/src/lib/forms-shared.ts
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ export function applyVariables(
     homeowner?: HomeownerLite | null;
     firmName?: string;
     customValues?: Record<string, string>;
+    clientCustomValues?: Record<string, string>;
     fieldValues?: Record<string, string>;
   },
 ): string {
@@ -215,11 +216,12 @@ export function applyVariables(
 
   let out = body;
 
-  // System variables: {{name}} or {{name|modifier}}
+  // Client custom-field variables: {{client.custom.key}} or {{client.custom.key|modifier}}
+  // Must run BEFORE the generic {{custom.key}} pattern so the prefix isn't swallowed.
   out = replaceWithModifier(
     out,
-    /\{\{\s*([a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_]*)\s*(\|\s*([a-zA-Z]+)\s*)?\}\}/g,
-    (name) => systemValues[name],
+    /\{\{\s*client\.custom\.([a-zA-Z0-9_]+)\s*(\|\s*([a-zA-Z]+)\s*)?\}\}/g,
+    (name) => ctx.clientCustomValues?.[name],
   );
 
   // Custom case-field variables: {{custom.key}} or {{custom.key|modifier}}
@@ -236,6 +238,13 @@ export function applyVariables(
     (name) => ctx.fieldValues?.[name],
   );
 
+  // System variables: {{name}} or {{name|modifier}} — run LAST so dotted vars above win.
+  out = replaceWithModifier(
+    out,
+    /\{\{\s*([a-zA-Z][a-zA-Z0-9_]*)\s*(\|\s*([a-zA-Z]+)\s*)?\}\}/g,
+    (name) => systemValues[name],
+  );
+
   return out;
 }