Controlled Trust Accounts and Transactions

14/12/2025
Knowledge

How To

Learn how to manage Controlled Trust Accounts Accounts in LEAP including account creation, closures, reopening closed account, recording transactions and reconciliation within the Client Funds tab.

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Open a New Controlled Trust Account

Open the matter.
Click LEAP Accounting.

LEAP Accounting will open in a new window.
Click the Client Funds > Controlled Trust tabs.
Click New Account on the toolbar.
The Matter number defaults to that of the matter you opened. To change to a different matter, click to choose a matter from the list, then click Select.

Click to open the associated matter and view its details.
Enter an Account Name.
The Account Type will be a Designated Client Account.
Enter the Institution, Sort Code and Account No.
Enter the Opening Balance of the account.

Click to edit heading

You cannot open a Controlled Trust Accounts with a balance of $0. The opening balance for your Controlled Trust Accounts should equal the amount of your first receipt into that account.
By default, the Account Opened date is the current calendar date which can be changed, if required.
By default, the Payment Received date is the current calendar date which can be changed, if required.
Select a Payment Type, by clicking to choose an option from the list, then click Select.
Once you've chosen the Payment Type and depending on your selection, you may want to enter the Payment Type Details which may automatically display for you to complete. If not, click (ellipsis icon) and complete the bank account details, then click OK.
Enter or select who the initial funds were Received From. You can click to choose the person from the Card List, then click Select.
Enter a Reason.
Click Save & Close.

The account and transaction will be recorded in the matter under the Client Funds > Separate Client Accounts tabs.

Close a Controlled Trust Account

Ensure you record any Controlled Trust transactions to reflect the funds withdrawn from the account prior to closing and that you do not have any outstanding balances before you close the account.
If funds from the Controlled Trust account have been transferred to your Client Account, make sure you record the corresponding New Client Funds Receipt to reflect the movement of the funds.

These are the steps to Close a Controlled Trust Account.

Open the matter.
Click LEAP Accounting.

LEAP Accounting will open in a new window.
Click the Client Funds > Controlled Trust tabs.
Select the account you want to close with the drop-down at the top of the ledger, then click the ellipsis icon.
Click the ellipsis icon next to the account to view the account details, such as the account beneficiaries.

Controlled Trust Account window will open.
Next, click the ellipsis icon in the top right corner of the window and select Close account.
Confirm the action.

Reopen a Controlled Trust Account

Open the matter.
Click LEAP Accounting.

LEAP Accounting will open in a new window.
Click the Client Funds > Controlled Trust Accounts tabs.
Select the Closed account you want to reopen with the drop-down at the top of the ledger, then click the icon.
Click ellipsis icon on the toolbar and select Reopen account.
Confirm the action.

Enter a Controlled Trust Transaction

Open the matter.
Click LEAP Accounting.

LEAP Accounting will open in a new window.
Click the Client Funds > Controlled Trust Accounts tabs.
Select the appropriate account from the Accounts drop-down list.
Click New Transaction on the toolbar.
By default, the Matter and Account fields are automatically filled.
Enter or select the Payee/Payor of the transaction. Type directly into the textbox or click to choose the person the Card List, then click Select.
Select the Transaction Type from the drop-down list.
Choose a Payment Type by clicking and choosing an option from the list, then click Select.

Once you have chosen the Payment Type and depending on your selection, you may want to enter the Payment Type Details which may automatically display for you to complete. If not, click (ellipsis icon)and complete the bank account details fields. Click OK.
Enter the Amount and the Reason for the transaction.
Enter a Transaction No. if you are not using automatic sequential numbering.
By default, the Transaction Date is today's date. Click to select a date that is different to the current date.
The Entry Date is always today's date and can't be changed.
Click Save & Close.

The transaction will be recorded in the matter under the Client Funds > Separate Client Accounts tabs.

Click to edit heading

Ensure you are recording Controlled Trust transactions to reflect any funds deposited or withdrawn from the account.

Reverse a Controlled Trust Transaction

Open the matter.
Click LEAP Accounting.

LEAP Accounting will open in a new window.
Click the Client Funds > Controlled Trust Accounts tabs.
Select the appropriate account from the Accounts drop-down list.
Open the transaction.
Click .
Edit the Reason, if required.
Click Save & Close.

Reconcile a Controlled Trust Transaction

Open the matter.
Click LEAP Accounting.

LEAP Accounting will open in a new window.
Click the Client Funds > Controlled Trust Accounts tabs.
Select the appropriate account from the Accounts drop-down list.
Open the transaction.
Click ellipsis icon on the toolbar and select Reconciled.
Click Save & Close.

Open a New Controlled Trust Account

Open the matter.
Hover over the Client Funds tab and click Controlled Trust Accounts.
Click New Account under Actions to open the New Account window.
By default, the new account is created for the current matter you opened. Click to change the matter from the window.
Enter an Account Name.
Select the Account Type from the drop-down list.
Enter a Bank.
Select the Country from the drop-down list.
Enter a Sort Code and Account Number.
Enter the Opening Balance of the account.
By default, today's date is entered in the Account Opened field. Click to select a different date, if required.
By default, today's date is entered in the Payment Received field. Click to select a different date, if required.
Select a Payment Type from the drop-down list. Once a payment type is selected, the Payment Type Details window displays. Complete the relevant information in the window and click Add. If you need to change any of the payment type details at any stage, click .
By default, the Received From field is blank. Click to select a card from the window. You can also directly type a name and address into the Received From textbox.
Enter a Reason for opening the account.
Toggle the Print option On to print the account detail once it's been saved.
Click Save.

The account and transaction will be recorded in the matter under the Client Funds > Controlled Trust Accounts tabs.

Close a Controlled Trust Account

Make sure that any outstanding balances on the account are finalised before you close the account.

Open the matter.
Hover over the Client Funds tab and click Controlled Trust Accounts.
Click on the filterto display the list of accounts.
Under Active, click next to the account.
Click Close Bank Account in the bottom left-hand corner of the window.
Click Confirm.

Reopen a Controlled Trust Account

Open the matter.
Hover over the Client Funds tab and click Controlled Trust Accounts.
Click on the filterto display the list of accounts.
Under Inactive, click next to the account.
Click Reopen Bank Account in the bottom left-hand corner of the window.

Enter a Controlled Client Transaction

Open the matter.
Hover over the Client Funds tab and click Controlled Trust Accounts.
If you have multiple accounts, click on the filterto display the list of accounts and select the account.
Click New Transaction under Actions to open the New Transaction window.
The Matter and Account fields can't be changed.
By default, the Payee/Payor field is blank. Click to select a card from the window. You can also directly type a name and address into the Payee/Payor textbox.
Select the Transaction Type from the drop-down list. Depending on the transaction type selected, the Payment Type field will appear.
Select a Payment Type from the drop-down list. Once a payment type is selected, the Payment Type Details window displays. Complete the relevant information in the window and click Add. If you need to change any of the payment type details at any stage, click .
Enter a Reason for the trust receipt and the Amount.
Enter a Transaction No. if you are not using automatic sequential numbering.
By default, today's date is entered in the Transaction Date field. Click to select a different date, if required.
The Entry Date is always today's date and can't be changed.
Toggle the Print option On to print the transaction once it's been saved.
Click Save.

The transaction will be recorded in the matter under the Client Funds > Controlled Trust Accounts tabs.

Reverse a Controled Client Transaction

Open the matter.
Hover over the Client Funds tab and click Controlled Trust Accounts.
If you have multiple accounts, click on the filterto display the list of accounts and select the account.
Open the transaction.
Click Reverse at the bottom of the Transaction window.
Edit the Reason, if required.
Toggle the Print option On to print the reversal once it's been saved.
Click Save.

Reconcile a Controlled Client Transaction

Open the matter.
Hover over the Client Funds tab and click Controlled Trust Accounts.
If you have multiple accounts, click on the filterto display the list of accounts and select the account.
Open the transaction.
Toggle the Reconciled option On.
Click Save.

Last Modified Date

14/12/2025 10:26 pm

Title

Controlled Trust Accounts and Transactions

URL Name

Setting-Up-a-New-Controlled-Trust-Account-IE

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