Trust requests let your firm collect an initial retainer or top up a matter when trust funds reach a minimum, so the funds are in place before you bill against them. Creating a trust request records the amount you are asking the client to deposit and where to store it, at the client or matter level.
Note: Create a trust account in Clio Manage before completing this procedure.
Understand trust requests and trust transactions
Trust requests and trust transactions are different tools. A request asks for funds and whereas the trust transaction can be recorded when the client pays.
- Trust request
An ask for the client to deposit funds into your trust account, such as a retainer. Your firm will not receive payment until the client pays.
- Trust transaction
A transaction recorded for accounting purposes showing funds were received and deposited in the trust account ledger, transferred into or our of a trust account, or that funds were disbursed.
Create a trust request
Trust requests aim to collect initial trust deposits or retainers or to request to the client that additional funds are added to a matter when the trust balance reaches a minimum. You can create a trust request from the contact or matter Dashboard, the main Billing tab, or the global Create new menu.
Note: You can store trust funds at the client or matter level and the trust request can reflect that. The trust request currency is determined by the billing preferences for the matter or the client.
- Go to a contact and click New trust request. Alternatively, click the global Create new + in the top right and select Trust request.
- Complete the trust request details.
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Optional: Select Skip the trust approval process if you want to be able to ready the trust request for sending without approval from another firm member.
Important: Skipping the approval process locks the trust request from being edited after you generate it. To keep a request editable, leave the approval process in place.
- Click Save trust request.
Autofill trust request amounts
If you set up evergreen trust, autofill calculates the amount you need to request to reach the minimum trust balance required. Above the Amount field, select Autofill, then choose an option. You can override the amount before you send the request.
Note: Autofill options change only the request amount. A trust request shows a single total and does not itemize outstanding bills or work in progress. To explain the amount to your client, use Add a note.
- Replenish to minimum
Tops up the trust balance to the matter threshold.
- Replenish and outstanding balance
The matter threshold plus any unpaid bills.
- Replenish, outstanding balance, and work in progress
The matter threshold plus unpaid bills plus unbilled work in progress.
Up next
- Approve and Send Trust Requests: Approve a trust request and send it to your client.
- Record Payments on Trust Requests: Record a payment on a trust request when your client pays.