diff --git a/src/components/quick-add/quick-add.tsx b/src/components/quick-add/quick-add.tsx
index a486a1e..d4bb8ce 100644
--- a/src/components/quick-add/quick-add.tsx
+++ b/src/components/quick-add/quick-add.tsx
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ interface CaseOpt {
   id: string;
   case_number: string;
   title: string;
-  client_id: string;
+  client_id: string | null;
   default_hourly_rate: number | null;
 }
 interface FeeItem {
diff --git a/src/components/timer/header-timer.tsx b/src/components/timer/header-timer.tsx
index 4da0e13..6e8e2ca 100644
--- a/src/components/timer/header-timer.tsx
+++ b/src/components/timer/header-timer.tsx
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ interface CaseOption {
   id: string;
   case_number: string;
   title: string;
-  client_id: string;
+  client_id: string | null;
   default_hourly_rate: number | null;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts b/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts
index c106623..5c939ec 100644
--- a/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts
+++ b/src/integrations/supabase/types.ts
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ export type Database = {
           case_number: string
           case_summary: string | null
           claim_amount: number | null
-          client_id: string
+          client_id: string | null
           closed_at: string | null
           court: string | null
           court_case_number: string | null
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ export type Database = {
           case_number: string
           case_summary?: string | null
           claim_amount?: number | null
-          client_id: string
+          client_id?: string | null
           closed_at?: string | null
           court?: string | null
           court_case_number?: string | null
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ export type Database = {
           case_number?: string
           case_summary?: string | null
           claim_amount?: number | null
-          client_id?: string
+          client_id?: string | null
           closed_at?: string | null
           court?: string | null
           court_case_number?: string | null
diff --git a/src/routes/cases.new.tsx b/src/routes/cases.new.tsx
index 4e7c735..d685840 100644
--- a/src/routes/cases.new.tsx
+++ b/src/routes/cases.new.tsx
@@ -72,13 +72,13 @@ function NewCase() {
 
   const onSubmit = async (e: React.FormEvent) => {
     e.preventDefault();
-    if (!form.client_id || !form.title.trim() || !form.case_number.trim()) {
-      toast.error("Please fill in client, title, and case number.");
+    if (!form.title.trim() || !form.case_number.trim()) {
+      toast.error("Please fill in title and case number.");
       return;
     }
     setSubmitting(true);
     const payload = {
-      client_id: form.client_id,
+      client_id: form.client_id || null,
       case_number: form.case_number.trim(),
       title: form.title.trim(),
       practice_area: form.practice_area.trim() || null,
@@ -110,10 +110,11 @@ function NewCase() {
           <form onSubmit={onSubmit} className="space-y-4">
             <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-3">
               <div className="space-y-2">
-                <Label>Client</Label>
-                <Select value={form.client_id} onValueChange={(v) => setForm({ ...form, client_id: v })}>
-                  <SelectTrigger><SelectValue placeholder="Select client" /></SelectTrigger>
+                <Label>Client <span className="text-muted-foreground font-normal">(optional)</span></Label>
+                <Select value={form.client_id || "__none"} onValueChange={(v) => setForm({ ...form, client_id: v === "__none" ? "" : v })}>
+                  <SelectTrigger><SelectValue placeholder="No client" /></SelectTrigger>
                   <SelectContent>
+                    <SelectItem value="__none">No client (attach later)</SelectItem>
                     {clients.map((c) => <SelectItem key={c.id} value={c.id}>{c.name}</SelectItem>)}
                   </SelectContent>
                 </Select>
diff --git a/supabase/migrations/20260418024845_69e69b36-e6a5-4642-a74a-689c32e4f012.sql b/supabase/migrations/20260418024845_69e69b36-e6a5-4642-a74a-689c32e4f012.sql
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39418d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/supabase/migrations/20260418024845_69e69b36-e6a5-4642-a74a-689c32e4f012.sql
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ALTER TABLE public.cases ALTER COLUMN client_id DROP NOT NULL;
\ No newline at end of file