Protect Client Trust Funds

In Clio Manage, you can protect client trust funds to set aside a specific amount for a future purpose, such as counsel fees, expenses, or future invoices. Protected funds sit apart from the available matter trust balance and stay reserved for the purpose you set, which supports firms that work under strict trust accounting regulations. Your firm keeps clear control over how client money is used.

Enable the protected funds setting

A user with the Billing settings permission turns on the protected funds setting before anyone at the firm protects client funds.

1. Open the user menu and select Manage settings.
2. Go to Invoicing > Protected funds.
3. On the Protected funds card, turn on the toggle.
   • All users at the firm will need to refresh their browser to apply the change.

Manage protected funds

Users with Accounts permissions add, edit, and delete protected funds from the matter Dashboard subtab. They apply protected funds to an invoice from the main Invoices tab or the Invoices subtab in a contact or matter. The matter Timeline records each change with the user, date, and time.

Add protected funds to a matter

1. Go to a matter.
2. In the Dashboard subtab, open the Financial section.
3. In the Matter trust funds box, click Add next to Protected funds. If the matter already has protected funds, click the protected funds total, and then click Add funds.
4. If applicable: If your firm holds trust funds in more than one trust account, select the relevant trust account in the Bank account field.
5. Enter the amount to protect.
6. Enter a protected fund name for future reference.
7. Click Add.

The protected amount comes off the available trust funds on the matter. To review the protected funds, click the protected funds total in the Matter trust funds box.

Edit protected funds

1. Go to a matter.
2. In the Dashboard subtab, open the Financial section.
3. In the Matter trust funds box, click the protected funds total next to Protected funds.
4. Click Edit (pencil icon) next to the protected fund.
5. Change the amount, fund name, or reason.
6. Click Save changes.

Delete protected funds

1. Go to a matter.
2. In the Dashboard subtab, open the Financial section.
3. In the Matter trust funds box, click the protected funds total next to Protected funds.
4. Click Delete (trash can icon) next to the protected fund.
5. Click Delete to confirm.

Apply protected funds to invoices

1. Go to the main Invoices tab or the Invoices subtab in a contact or matter.
2. Find the invoice to pay. To narrow the list, use the quick filters or the keyword search box.
3. Click the down arrow next to Send, and then select Apply protected funds.
4. Select the account that receives the protected funds.
5. Select the protected fund to pay the invoice. A client with one protected fund has it preselected.
6. Click Apply funds.

Work with protected funds

Users without Accounts permissions can view all protected funds for a matter, edit the reason for a protected fund, and increase its amount. The matter Timeline records each change with the user, date, and time. To release protected funds back to the client or to pay an invoice, send a request to users with Accounts permissions. Each of those users receives an email notification for the request.

View protected funds

1. Go to a matter.
2. In the Dashboard subtab, open the Financial section.
3. In the Matter trust funds box, click the protected funds total next to Protected funds to open all protected funds for the matter.

Edit the protected amount and reason

1. Go to a matter.
2. In the Dashboard subtab, open the Financial section.
3. In the Matter trust funds box, click the protected funds total next to Protected funds.
4. Click Edit (pencil icon) next to the protected fund.
5. Increase the amount or change the reason.
6. Click Save changes.

Send request to release protected funds

1. Go to a matter.
2. In the Dashboard subtab, open the Financial section.
3. In the Matter trust funds box, click the protected funds total next to Protected funds.
4. Click Request fund release.
5. Select the protected fund.
6. Under Reason, select Release back to the client or Pay an invoice. For Pay an invoice, also select the invoice to pay.
7. Optional: Enter a memo with more details about the release request.
8. Click Request fund release.

Up next

• Approve and Send Trust Requests: Approve a trust request and send it to your client.
• Manage Trust Requests: Sort, filter, edit, delete, or void trust requests.