diff --git a/api/reviewer_api/services/documentservice.py b/api/reviewer_api/services/documentservice.py
index f494c205..f03c1c72 100644
--- a/api/reviewer_api/services/documentservice.py
+++ b/api/reviewer_api/services/documentservice.py
@@ -459,6 +459,8 @@ def updatedocumentpersonalattributes(self, payload, userid):
                 if(len(payload["documentmasterids"]) > 1):
                     for attribute in payload["personalattributes"]:
                         if(payload["personalattributes"][attribute] is not None and len(payload["personalattributes"][attribute]) > 0):
+                            if 'personalattributes' not in newdocattributes:
+                                newdocattributes['personalattributes'] = {}
                             newdocattributes["personalattributes"][attribute]=payload["personalattributes"][attribute]
                 #apply change to individual
                 else: