Cover Summary
One-page overview of matter name, client, reporting period, opening and closing balances, and the report purpose.
A complete Legal Accounting Report creates a single, auditable record of fund flows tied to a matter, clarifying obligations and protecting fiduciaries against disputes or regulatory challenge.
Legal Accounting Reports are produced by law firm finance teams, trust administrators, and billing specialists; they are reviewed by attorneys, clients, and sometimes courts or regulators.
Reports should be distributed to the client and retained in the matter file; some matters require sharing with external auditors or opposing counsel.
One-page overview of matter name, client, reporting period, opening and closing balances, and the report purpose.
Chronological list of receipts and disbursements with dates, amounts, payees/payers, reference numbers, and brief descriptions.
Reconciles bank or trust account balances to ledger totals, showing outstanding holds, uncleared items, and adjustments.
Itemizes fees charged, timekeeper rates or contingency splits, and third‑party expenses with invoice cross‑references.
Lists attached documents such as invoices, settlement statements, deposit slips, and court orders referenced by transaction line.
Signature block for preparer and authorized reviewer with date and contact for follow-up questions.
| Field | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Preparer Role | Assign edit permission to accounting staff |
| Reviewer Role | Assign read-and-sign permission to supervising attorney |
| Client View | Optional view-only or sign access |
| Retention Setting | Enable automatic archiving after approval |
Choose a platform that preserves an audit trail, supports secure file formats, and integrates with your case or accounting systems.
Platforms that support API-based integration, role-based access, and long-term archival simplify compliance with recordkeeping rules and reduce manual reconciliation effort.
Deliver within 30 days of period end unless engagement requires sooner.
Allow 7 business days for supervisory review and corrections.
Related 1099-NEC forms must be issued by Jan 31 (IRS).
Follow the court’s schedule if report is attached to a motion or petition.
Retention begins on creation or last effective date of the document.
| signNow | DocuSign | Adobe Sign | PandaDoc | HelloSign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $8/user/mo | $15/user/mo | $14/user/mo | $19/user/mo | $15/user/mo |
| Free Trial | 7-day free trial | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Bulk Send | Available on higher tiers | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |
| Audit Trail | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Envelope Cap | No cap | 100 envelopes/user/year | Varies by plan | Varies by plan | Varies by plan |