LegalmasterLegalmaster

Split FeeSplit Fee

TutorialTutorial

Definition IDefinition I

Split fee matterSplit fee matter

A matter (or case) whose billings areA matter (or case) whose billings are

to be shared by more than one clientto be shared by more than one client

ConditionsConditions

Each client is responsible for his Each client is responsible for his share only.share only.

You wish to keep track of each You wish to keep track of each client’s receivables separately.client’s receivables separately.

Each client wants to see on his bill Each client wants to see on his bill the total value of the fees and costs the total value of the fees and costs as well as a calculation of his share.as well as a calculation of his share.

You would like to enter the shared You would like to enter the shared fee and cost transactions just once.fee and cost transactions just once.

Defined Term IDefined Term I

ReceptorReceptor

If a matter is to be split, for example, If a matter is to be split, for example, among four clients, then you must among four clients, then you must create four matters.create four matters.

We call those matters We call those matters receptorsreceptors..

More on ReceptorsMore on Receptors

Each Each receptorreceptor matter must be assigned matter must be assigned to a client (just as any matter in to a client (just as any matter in Legalmaster must be assigned to a Legalmaster must be assigned to a client).client).

You may assign each You may assign each receptorreceptor to a to a different client (recommended) or to the different client (recommended) or to the same client or any variation.same client or any variation.

If you assign each If you assign each receptorreceptor to a different to a different client, we suggest that you assign the client, we suggest that you assign the same matter suffix to all of the same matter suffix to all of the receptors.receptors.

Defined Term IIDefined Term II

DummyDummy

In addition to your receptors, you In addition to your receptors, you must create one additional matter.must create one additional matter.

We call that matter the We call that matter the dummydummy..

More on the DummyMore on the Dummy

The dummy is just another The dummy is just another Legalmaster matter.Legalmaster matter.

It may be assigned to any client.It may be assigned to any client.The dummy does not receive a bill; The dummy does not receive a bill;

it’s not a real matter. It’s merely a it’s not a real matter. It’s merely a place holder to make it easy for you place holder to make it easy for you to enter your split fees and costs.to enter your split fees and costs.

How to Do ItHow to Do It

It’s easiest if you create all of your It’s easiest if you create all of your receptor matters before you create receptor matters before you create your dummy matter.your dummy matter.

Once the receptors exist, as you Once the receptors exist, as you create your dummy, type a create your dummy, type a DD as case as case billing status #2.billing status #2.

As soon as you enter the D a window As soon as you enter the D a window appears asking you to list your appears asking you to list your receptors along with each’s share of receptors along with each’s share of fees and costs.fees and costs.

This is the window you use to assign receptors to a dummy.

Billing RatesBilling Rates

If you assign a billing rate code to the If you assign a billing rate code to the dummy matter, Legalmaster honors dummy matter, Legalmaster honors that rate for all receptors.that rate for all receptors.

If you omit the dummy’s billing rate If you omit the dummy’s billing rate code, Legalmaster honors the rate code, Legalmaster honors the rate codes assigned to the individual codes assigned to the individual receptors. receptors. As a result, the receptors As a result, the receptors may be billed at different rates from may be billed at different rates from one another.one another.

You’ve Finished the Hard PartYou’ve Finished the Hard Part

From this point on, most everything From this point on, most everything takes care of itself.takes care of itself.

If a fee or cost transaction is to be If a fee or cost transaction is to be shared, enter it on the dummy matter. shared, enter it on the dummy matter. It is then automatically and It is then automatically and instantaneously split among the instantaneously split among the receptors.receptors.

This appears whenever you enter a transaction on a dummy matter.

Since dummy transactions are not actually billed, the “billable” amount is always zero.

Even though we entered only one fee transaction, Legalmaster automatically split it and assigned the appropriate amount to each receptor.

BillingBilling

You may bill the receptors at You may bill the receptors at different times if you wish.different times if you wish.

At some point you should also “bill” At some point you should also “bill” the dummy matter so that it’s the dummy matter so that it’s transactions are assigned an invoice transactions are assigned an invoice number and are thus eligible to be number and are thus eligible to be posted to history.posted to history.

The Billing StatementThe Billing Statement

You may control the appearance of You may control the appearance of your bill with Legalmaster’s Table of your bill with Legalmaster’s Table of Statement Characteristics.Statement Characteristics.

A typical split bill shows the detailed A typical split bill shows the detailed activity at pre-split values, a total of activity at pre-split values, a total of the pre-split amount and a second the pre-split amount and a second total indicating the receptor’s share.total indicating the receptor’s share.

Here you see the total fees, both pre-split and post-split.

Yet another Legalmaster option

PaymentsPayments

You enter payments received not on You enter payments received not on the dummy, but on the appropriate the dummy, but on the appropriate receptor. As a result, each party to receptor. As a result, each party to the matter has his own receivable the matter has his own receivable account.account.

Thanks for Your TimeThanks for Your Time

We’ve covered the basics. You may We’ve covered the basics. You may learn more about split billing learn more about split billing

on our website, on our website, www.legalmaster.comwww.legalmaster.com, , on Legalmaster’s help screens on Legalmaster’s help screens or by calling us at (510) 547-8085.or by calling us at (510) 547-8085.

We also welcome your suggestions We also welcome your suggestions regarding how we might improve this regarding how we might improve this tutorial.tutorial.