Managing multiple trust accounts

Use Smokeball to easily manage all of your trust accounts. 

This is helpful if your firm is switching to a new trust account or manages multiple trust accounts across different states.

Add a new trust account

1. Select the Settings icon in the Smokeball Web App, then select Firm Settings.
   
   
2. Select Accounts from the left menu and remain on the Trust & CMA Settings tab.
3. Select Add Trust Account.
   
4. Enter the bank account information of the new trust account, then select Save.
   
   

• Make sure to select the correct state. You cannot amend this later.
• The Display name is shown internally and helps to differentiate between trust accounts when adding payments to an invoice.
• Receipts and other client-facing documents display the full name of the trust account.

Edit existing trust accounts

1. Open Firm Settings, then select Accounts from the left menu.
2. In the Trust & CMA Settings tab, click on the existing trust account in the Trust Account list.
   
3. Make any required amendments to bank account details and/or the Display name.
   • You cannot change the State.
4. Click Save.

Set default trust payment account

The default payment account feeds through to draft invoices, so you can pay the amount from Trust. 

If you do not set up a default payment account, you cannot pay funds from the trust account when creating an invoice.

To set up default payment accounts per state:

1. Open Firm Settings, then select Accounts from the left menu.
2. In the Trust & CMA Settings tab, Select the Default Payment Account in the dropdown menu, for each state if relevant.
3. Click Save.

You can also set up the default trust account on a matter-by-matter basis.

1. Open the matter in the Smokeball Web App and select Edit Matter.
   
   
2. Go to the Trust Settings section.
3. Select the required account in the Default Account for Trust Payments drop-down menu.
   
4. Click Save Matter.

Note: You can only pay from the Default trust account when creating an invoice.

Configure trust transaction numbering

Each trust account has a different cheque numbering system. Set up the numbering for each Trust account:

1. Open Firm Settings, then select Accounts from the left menu.
2. Select the Trust Transaction Numbering tab.
3. Select the trust account to configure in the dropdown menu.
   
4. Enter the numbering you wish to start with.
5. Click Save.

Learn more about Trust Transaction Numbering.

Close a trust account

1. Open Firm Settings, then select Accounts from the left menu. Remain on the Trust & CMA Settings heading.
2. Double-click the trust account you wish to close from the Trust Account Settings list.
3. Select Close Account.
   

View closed accounts

You can view transaction histories for trust accounts closed in Smokeball.

1. Open Firm Settings, then select Accounts from the left menu.
2. Select Show closed accounts above the Trust Account Settings list.
3. The old trust accounts have a Closed tag.