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. With a request created, you can approve it, send it, and record payment as the client pays.
Note: Create a trust account in Clio Manage before completing this procedure. See Create and Manage Bank Accounts to set one up.
Understand trust requests and trust transactions
Trust requests and trust transactions are different tools. A request asks for funds and does not move any money until the client pays. A transaction records money that has already moved.
To record money that has already moved, see Record Trust Transactions.
- Trust request
An ask for the client to deposit funds into trust, such as a retainer. Your firm will not receive payment until the client pays.
- Trust transaction
A recorded movement of money in the trust ledger, such as a deposit, transfer, or disbursement. A transaction directly changes the trust balance.
Create a trust request
Trust requests collect initial trust deposits or retainers, or add funds to a matter when the trust balance reaches a minimum. Trust requests do not include time or expense activities. You can create a trust request from the contact or matter Dashboard, the main Billing tab, or the global Create new menu.
Note: You store trust funds at the client or matter level, and you choose where and when you create the request. The request currency is determined by the billing preferences for the matter or the client.
- Go to the contact and select the Dashboard subtab.
- Or click the global Create new + in the top right and select Trust request. Select a contact and matter.
- Click New trust request in the upper right.
- Complete the trust request details.
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Optional: Select Skip the trust approval process to send the request directly to the client 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 the trust request amount
For matters with a set trust threshold, Clio can calculate the trust request amount for you. In the Amount field, select Autofill, then choose an option. You can override the amount before you send the request.
- 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.