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Protected Client Funds

  • 14/01/2026
  • Knowledge

How To
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Protected Client Funds in LEAP allows you to lock in specific client fund amounts for future use, safeguarding funds for disbursements or invoices. Funds can be protected once client monies have been receipted for a matter and banked. Learn how to protect client funds and manage these allocations.

  • Desktop
  • Web

Create a Protected Client Fund from Client Funds

 
 
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The Protected Client Funds Ledger can be popped out and maximised to fill the entire screen by clicking User-added image in the top right of the ledger.

  1. Open the matter.

  2. Click LEAP Accounting. 

    LEAP Accounting will open in a new window.

  3. Click the Client Funds > Protected Client Funds tabs.

  4. Click Protect Funds on the toolbar to open the New Protected Client Fund window.

  5. Select the Account and change the Date if required.

  6. By default, the Matter field is automatically filled with the matter number of the matter you opened.

  7. Select the reason the money is being Protected For. If you select the Invoice No. option, click Select List to choose the invoice from the list, then click Select.

    Once you've selected the invoice, you can double-check if it's the correct one by clicking User-added image.

 
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You can protect client funds for:

  • Matter Debtors - Can be released for any transactions for the matter.
  • Invoice No. - Can only be released for the selected invoice.
  • Other/Third Party Payments - Can only be released by removing this protected client funds first.

  1. Enter the Amount to be protected and the Reason for protecting the funds.

  2. Click Save & Close.

    The protected amount displays on the matter's Client Funds Ledger as Protected Funds.

    If you have protected the funds for an invoice, you will have the ability to display this on an already generated invoice to show the total of the invoice less the amount held in protected funds. Once you have protected the funds for the invoice, re-open the invoice and re-print it. 

    Protected funds can also be modified and deleted. To modify protected funds, open the transaction from the Protected Client Funds tab of the matter and make the necessary changes.

Create a Protected Client Fund for an Invoice

 

  1. Open the invoice.

    The invoice must have a status of Final - Printed/Sent.

  2. Click Save & Protect Client Funds.

  3. Check the details displayed in the New Protected Client Fund window.

  4. Click Save & Close.

    A new protected client fund item is created and the funds are held for the payment of the invoice.

    When the invoice is printed, the protected amount is displayed.

    Protected funds can also be modified and deleted. To modify protected funds, open the transaction from the Protected Client Funds tab of the matter and make the necessary changes.

Release Protected Client Funds

 

  1. Open the matter.

  2. Click LEAP Accounting. 

    LEAP Accounting will open in a new window.

  3. Click the Client Funds > Protected Client Funds tabs.

  4. Select the Account from the drop-down list.

  5. Right-click the protected client fund entry and select New Payment & Release Protected Funds. 

 
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  • If the funds were protected for Matter Debtors or Invoice, then the Client to Office Transfer window will open for you to complete the transaction. See Client to Office Transfer for more info.
  • If the funds were protected for Other/Third Party Payments, the New Client Funds Payment window will open for you to complete the transaction. See Creating a Client Funds Payment for more info.

Delete Protected Client Funds

 

  1. Open the matter.

  2. Click LEAP Accounting. 

    LEAP Accounting will open in a new window.

  3. Click the Client Funds > Protected Client Funds tabs.

  4. Select the Account from the drop-down list.

  5. Right-click the protected client fund entry and select Delete.

  6. Confirm the deletion.

 
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Only protected client fund entries can be deleted. All other client fund transactions must be reversed; they cannot be deleted. 

Create a Protected Client Fund from Client Funds

 

  1. Open the matter.

  2. Hover over the Client Funds tab and click Protected Client Funds.

  3. Click New Transaction.

  4. Select the Client Account and change the Date if required.

  5. By default, the Matter field is automatically filled with the matter number of the matter you opened.

  6. Select the reason the money is being Protected For. If you select the Invoice No. option, click User-added image to choose the invoice from the list.

 
Click to edit heading

You can protect client funds for:

  • Matter Debtors - Can be released for any transactions for the matter.
  • Invoice No. - Can only be released for the selected invoice.
  • Other/Third Party Payments - Can only be released by removing this protected client funds first.

  1. Enter the Amount to be protected and the Reason for protecting the funds.

  2. Click Save.

    The protected amount displays on the matter's Client Funds Ledger as Protected Funds.

    If you have protected the funds for an invoice, you will have the ability to display this on an already generated invoice to show the total of the invoice less the amount held in protected funds. Once you have protected the funds for the invoice, re-open the invoice and re-print it.

    Protected funds can also be modified and deleted. To modify protected funds, open the transaction from the Protected Client Funds tab of the matter and make the necessary changes.

Create a Protected Client Fund for an Invoice

 

  1. Open the invoice.

    The invoice must have a status of Final - Printed/Sent.

  2. Click Save & Protect Client Funds.

  3. Check the details displayed in the New Protected Client Fund window.

  4. Click Save.

    A new protected client fund item is created and the funds are held for the payment of the invoice.

    When the invoice is printed, the protected amount is displayed.

    Protected funds can also be modified and deleted. To modify protected funds, open the transaction from the Protected Client Funds tab of the matter and make the necessary changes.

Release Protected Client Funds

 

  1. Open the matter.

  2. Hover over the Client Funds tab and click Protected Client Funds.

  3. Select the Account from the drop-down list.

  4. Right-click the protected client fund entry and select New Payment & Release Protected Fund. 

 
Click to edit heading
  • If the funds were protected for Matter Debtors or Invoice, then the Client to Office Transfer window will open for you to complete the transaction. See Client to Office Transfer for more info.
  • If the funds were protected for Other/Third Party Payments, the New Client Funds Payment window will open for you to complete the transaction. See Creating a Client Funds Payment for more info.

Delete Protected Client Funds

 

  1. Open the matter.

  2. Hover over the Client Funds tab and click Protected Client Funds.

  3. Select the Account from the drop-down list.

  4. Right-click the protected client fund entry and select Delete.

  5. Confirm the deletion.

Last Modified Date
14/01/2026 6:21 am
Title
Protected Client Funds
URL Name
Protected-Client-Funds

Resolution
Client Accounting
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Protected Client Funds