Create a Personal Buffer Matter for Your Trust Account

Attorneys commonly maintain a small sum of personal funds in their trust account, known as a personal buffer, to address bank fees and other associated incidentals.

Important: It’s crucial to verify the regulations in your jurisdiction, as the allowable total funds in trust for this purpose may vary.

Create a Personal Buffer Matter

To create a personal buffer in your trust account:

1. From the left navigation panel, click Matters.
2. On the Matters screen, add a matter within which to record your personal buffer transactions.
   • We recommend naming your personal buffer matter something like Personal Buffer (Trust) for easy reference.
3. After the matter is created, single-click your personal buffer matter to highlight it and scroll down.
4. Click on the Banking Tab.
5. Click on the Trust Transactions icon, and select deposit from the drop down menu.
6. The Matter’s Trust Deposit screen opens.
7. From the Date field’s drop-down, click the deposit date.
8. In the Amount field, enter the deposit amount.
9. From the Type field’s drop-down, click the Deposit.
10. From the Method field’s drop-down, select the payment method.
11. In the Payor field, enter your or your firm’s name.
12. In the Memo field, enter a memo if desired.
13. In the top right corner, click Save.
    • The system updates the balance on your personal buffer matter.
    • Going forward, you can use this matter to record your personal buffer transactions.