Transfer Operating Retainer Funds to Trust Account

Under certain circumstances, you may move client funds from your operating account to your trust account. To track this transfer for accounting purposes, you must record it in CosmoLex. 

Step 1. Create Credit Memo for Operating Funds Transfer

Create a credit memo to record your operating retainer funds transfer to your trust account.

To create the credit memo:

1. From the left navigation panel, click Matters.
2. On the Matters screen, either double-click the matter, or single-click the matter to highlight it, then in the toolbar, click Details.
3. From the Matters left navigation, click Banking.
4. From the tabs atop the Banking screen, click Transactions.
5. From the toolbar atop the Transactions screen, click Action > Credit Memo.
6. On the Credit Memo screen, from the Date field’s drop-down, click the credit memo date. 
7. In the Amount field, enter the amount.
8. The Type field will default to Withdrawal, but can change if needed.
9. In the Method field, use the drop-down to choose the payment method.
10. In the Pay To field, enter your firm’s name. This will record the credit to your trust account.
11. From the Bank field’s drop-down, click the operating bank or business account where the funds are held now.
12. In the Memo field, we recommend you enter a memo describing the transaction’s purpose. For example, Transfer to [Client’s Name] trust account.
13. In the lower right corner, click Save.
    The system updates the operating retainer balance. 

Step 2: Deposit Retainer Funds into Trust

After recording the removal of your client’s funds from the operating retainer, you need to record the deposit to your matter’s trust ledger.

To deposit the retainer funds into trust:

1. Take one of these actions:
   • Matter Details screen
     1.  From the toolbar, click Trust Transactions > Deposit.
   • Matters screen
     1. Single-click the matter to highlight it.
     2. Near the bottom of the black right navigation, click the bank icon with the down arrow (Trust Transaction Deposit).

The Matter’s Trust Deposit screen opens.

2. From the Date field’s drop-down, click the credit memo date. 
3. In the Amount field, enter the credit memo amount.
4. The Type field will default to Deposit, but can change if needed.
5. In the Method field, use the drop-down to choose the payment method.
6. In the Pay To field, enter your firm’s name. 
7. From the Bank field’s drop-down, click the appropriate bank.
8. In the Memo field, we recommend you enter a memo describing the transaction’s purpose. For example, Transfer from [Client’s Name] operating account.
9. In the lower right corner, click Save.
   The system updates the trust retainer balance.