This article will cover adding opening balances for Clients/Matter when migrating data from the previous accounting system within Unity® Accounting

Prerequisites

Before entering the below Opening Balances, it is important that the codes are setup correctly:

Trust
Accounts Receivable
Unbilled Time
Unbilled Disbursements

Preparation Steps - Setting Up Codes

Lawyers and Timekeepers
Clients/Matters
Chart of Accounts
Disbursement Codes

Lawyers and Timekeepers

Ensure that the required Lawyers and Timekeepers are added who record time for the firm. Review and add in “Lists – Lawyers & Timekeepers” feature to enter the lawyers and timekeepers. Enter the firm’s lawyers before entering clients and matters.

Refer to article “Adding or Editing Lawyers & Timekeepers”.

Clients/Matters

Using “New Client/Matter” feature in “Clients & Matters” menu, add existing Clients/Matters.

Refer to article “Adding a New Client/Matter”. To enter a large list of clients and matters, refer to article “Import Process Document”.

Chart of Accounts

Ensure all General Ledger accounts have been created in “Maintenance – Chart of Accounts” or in “Firm & Financial – Chart of Accounts”.

Refer to article “Adding or Editing General Ledger and Bank Accounts”

Disbursement Codes

Ensure all Disbursement codes have been added in “Lists – Disbursement Codes”.

Refer to article “How To Create, Edit and Inactive the Disbursement Codes”.

Process Steps - Take On of Client/Matter Balances

Trust
Accounts Receivable
Unbilled Time
Unbilled Disbursements

1. Trust

Before entering trust balances, ensure that a list of the General Ledger account numbers for the trust banks is noted, and added in preparation step 3 above.

Option 1-

These balances can be entered as “Trust Receipts” to each of the “Clients/Matters”.

NOTE: Refer to article “How to enter a Trust Receipt”.

Option 2 -

The Import & Export Wizard can be used in “File – Import & Export – Import & Export Wizard – Trust Receipts”.

NOTE: Refer to article “Import Process Document”.

Before entering the Client/Matter Trust Balances, refer to the Law Society in the province, as to the requirements

For balances in pooled Trust Accounts, the description for each Client/Matter will read “Regular trust opening balance”.

For balances in term or interest-bearing accounts, the descriptions will read “Term trust opening balance”.

NOTE: No trust transactional history will be available.

2. Accounts Receivable

Option 1 -

Account Receivable unpaid bills can be entered using the “Transactions – Create Flat Bills”.

NOTE: Refer to article “How to enter a Flat Bill”.

Option 2 -

Account Receivable unpaid bills can be entered using the “Transactions – Create Pre-bills & Bills” or “Billings & Payments – Create Pre-bills & Bills”.

NOTE: Refer to article “How to create a Bill”.