IOLTA-aware processing under ABA Formal Opinion 478.
Practice-management-integrated card processing that respects state bar trust-account rules and surcharge limits.
Law firm payments are governed by state bar rules layered on top of card-brand rules. IOLTA trust accounts can't comingle with operating funds, processing fees and chargebacks have ethical implications, and surcharging follows ABA Formal Opinion 478 plus state-specific limits (47 states allow surcharging at up to 4%, while Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine prohibit it outright). We integrate with Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther, and Smokeball, and configure trust vs operating routing so every dollar lands in the right account.
No. Most state bars explicitly prohibit comingling processing fees or chargeback debits with IOLTA trust funds. We configure your account so processing fees and chargebacks pull only from your operating account, never trust. This is the foundational requirement for compliant law firm processing.
ABA Formal Opinion 478 allows it with proper disclosure. State law varies: 47 states allow surcharging credit transactions (debit cards can never be surcharged) up to a 4% cap, while Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine prohibit it outright. We configure the surcharge percentage and disclosure language based on your jurisdiction.
Yes. Tokenized recurring billing can auto-replenish a retainer when it drops below a threshold, with notification to both attorney and client. Heavily used in family law, criminal defense, and other practice areas with ongoing retainer work. Trust-account rules apply: replenishments still route to IOLTA, processing fees still pull from operating.