Clio Payments enables firms to accept client bill payments using several payment methods. Clients can pay by credit or debit card (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover, Diners Club, JCB, UnionPay), digital wallet (Apple Pay or Google Pay), eCheck (digital check), or ACH bank transfer, where the client initiates the transfer from their own bank. Offering several methods gives clients flexibility, and each method routes funds to your firm's account.
Important: Transactions initiated on bank holidays, weekends, or after business hours begin processing on the next business day. Settlement timelines are based on business days only.
Credit and debit cards
Accepted cards depend on your client's location. Card payments process within two business days, though in rare cases they take longer.
| Location | Accepted cards |
|---|---|
| United States | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover |
| Canada | Visa, Mastercard, American Express |
| International | Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Diners Club, JCB, UnionPay |
The following card limitations may apply:
- Some debit cards restrict online or subscription payments. Advise clients to confirm eligibility with their bank or card provider.
- Prepaid cards are accepted for one-time payments only.
- Cards other than Visa or Mastercard may carry location-specific limitations.
eChecks
Available in the US, eCheck payments authorize your firm to pull funds from a client's bank account into your firm's account. Clients enter their banking details through Clio Payments, which processes the eCheck automatically. Payments are processed quickly, though some take five to seven business days to fully process and deposit.
- Your firm can accept unlimited eChecks daily.
- Each client can make up to four eCheck payments per day.
- Each eCheck transaction has a limit of $25,000.
Direct ACH
Direct ACH transfers funds straight from a client's bank account to your firm's account.
Important: Your firm qualifies for Direct ACH once it has a record of successful Clio Payments transactions and a low dispute rate.
Available in the US, Direct ACH lets clients send funds directly from their bank account to your firm's account. Once you receive a transfer, link it to the appropriate invoice or trust request to allocate the funds. Learn more in Record and Manage Online Bill Payments.
Pay Later
Pay Later, provided by Affirm, is a payment option your clients can see and choose when they pay a bill or submit a trust request online. It pays your firm in full upfront, while clients pay in smaller monthly installments. Clients can use Pay Later for both legal fees and trust requests, which supports predictable cash flow and reduces the risk of carrying client debt.
Note: Pay Later applies to transactions from $50 to $30,000 USD and from $50 to $20,000 CAD. A 4.95% per-transaction fee applies, paid by your firm and never passed to the client. For a trust request, this fee is debited from the operating account, never the trust account.
Tip: Track and reconcile Pay Later transactions in Reporting, the Online transactions table, and the bill preview. See how clients complete a Pay Later payment in Client Payment Actions.
Client loan options
Note: Clients who are natural persons qualify for Pay Later. Legal entities and business organizations are not eligible.
Four loan options are available based on the invoice amount and client eligibility:
| Invoice amount | Loan options |
|---|---|
| Up to $100 | 3 months |
| $100 to $700 | 3, 6, and 12 months |
| $700 to $1,700 | 6, 12, and 18 months |
| $1,700 to $30,000 | 6, 12, and 36 months |
Control Pay Later for your clients
For US accounts created on or after April 13, 2026, Pay Later is on by default. US accounts created before that date have it off by default. Every Canadian account has Pay Later on by default, auto-enabled July 7, 2026. Administrators control whether Pay Later appears as a payment option for clients. Learn how to turn it on or off in Manage Clio Payments Settings.
Note: Pay Later payments are included in standard Clio Payments deposits.
Pay Later refunds and disputes
- Refunds
Affirm supports full or partial refunds for up to 120 days after the original purchase date.
- Disputes
Affirm handles all Pay Later disputes, not Clio. You receive notice of any dispute, and the disputed amount is held for up to 30 days while the evidence is reviewed.
- Fees
Standard processing fees apply when a Pay Later payment completes, and processing fees are typically not refunded.
Digital wallets
Clio Payments also allows clients to pay by digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Up next
- Request and Store Payment Methods: Save client card and eCheck details for payment plans and future bills.
- Set Transaction Fee Schedule: Review how transaction fees are calculated and deducted.