Entering Balance Forwards on Matters

This covers steps for adding balance forwards on matters. If you would like to add beginning balances on your General Ledger accounts, see this article: Entering Beginning Balances in Abacus Accounting.

If you are opening a matter that has a billing balance or trust balance carrying over from another matter, database, or a different Accounting software, read below for steps on how to log this in Abacus Accounting.

Entering a Balance Forward when Linking a BillTo

After linking a BillTo on a matter in AbacusLaw for the first time, the Accounting Data for Matter window appears. On this window, you are able to enter a Prior Balance (for billing) and Trust Balance.

This will be added to the matter's Matter Billing Activity and Matter Trust Activity in Abacus Accounting when it is saved.

Entering a Balance Forward after the Matter Has Been Linked

If you have already linked the matter to Abacus Accounting, you can do the following to add balance forwards:

For Billing

1. Navigate to Billing > Costs & Adjustments.
2. Click Add.
3. Set the Matter Number, Date to the date of the last billing, Client Exp. Code to FEE, and enter the Amount.
4. Click Save. Highlight the cost & adjustment, and click Post.

The posted item will be automatically marked as Billed. It will appear on the next bill as a prior balance, but NOT as a new billed item.

For Trust

Simply enter a trust deposit (Trust > Trust Deposit) on the matter for the amount of the trust balance carrying over.