Overview
You can electronically request initial or additional trust funds from your client by clicking on any of the "Request Funds" buttons which can be found on the Main Billing Dashboard, under the "Requested Funds" billing sub-tab or in the Contact Details Billing section.
Requesting a Retainer or Trust Funds
Navigate to the Billing tab in the left navigation pane.
Then, click the Requested Funds tab.
From here, click the Request funds button in the right corner.
Next, you will choose the contact from whom you'd like to request funds.
You will have the option to create a New Contact or an Existing Contact.
Enter in the fund request details.
Click the Send button.
Pro Tip: In order to give your clients the ability to pay a retainer through their portal at any time, you can create a Request for Funds that is large enough to allow them to make repeated payments. It's important to keep the due date field blank. If your client doesn't have a portal set up, the requested funds will be sent to their email address, as long as it's on file. If the email address isn't valid, the client will be prompted to enter the correct one. Please note that this process does not activate the client portal.
Here is an example of what the email to your client looks like. If you're interested in learning more about your client's experience, you can review the Requesting Funds- What will my client see? help article.
When your client clicks the Deposit Funds button in their email, and are also logged into their Client Portal, a new tab will open in their web browser, and they will be taken directly to a form to pay via credit card or eCheck (see below).
If the client is enabled but not logged into their Client Portal, when they click the Deposit Funds button in their email, a new tab will open in their web browser.
They will be able to pay the request via credit card, or they can pay via eCheck, if they click the 'Pay with eCheck' hyperlink and log in to their Client Portal.
If the Client Portal has not been enabled for your client, when they click the email link, they will be taken to a payment page where they may pay by credit card.
You can also send reminders on all your outstanding Requests for Funds outside the Client Portal. You can view the sent request by clicking on "View Requested Funds for [client name]." To review an article on how to manage your requests, visit the How do I Manage Requested Funds article.
Pro Tip: If a client receives a trust request, the outstanding balance will be displayed on the contact page. To set a default message for requesting funds, go to Settings > Firm > Client Billing & Invoicing > Billing & Invoice Preferences > Request Funds Preferences. It's important to note that only users with Administrative permissions can modify this setting.
Companies are not supported for this feature.