Trust deposits and legal bills in Ontario

A trust deposit is money held for a client under the applicable professional rules. It should not be confused with an invoice showing fees already earned. The retainer and billing records should explain the purpose of the deposit and how funds will be applied.

Ask for payment instructions through a verified channel and keep receipts. Understand any request to replenish funds and which work or disbursements the amount is intended to cover. A payment into trust does not by itself mean every future stage is included for a fixed fee. If the file ends, ask for a final accounting and the treatment of any remaining balance. Clear scope, invoices, and transaction records help prevent misunderstandings about legal costs.

Read the payment request alongside the retainer. Identify whether the amount is a trust deposit, payment of an issued account, or reimbursement of a disbursement. Ask how invoices will show funds applied and what happens if the deposit becomes insufficient. Verify any changed banking instructions through a known contact method before transferring money. Fraudulent payment messages can imitate a real file, so a familiar name or email thread should not replace an independent check when payment details change.

Keep your own account of deposits, bills, payments, and questions raised. If the scope changes or the file ends, request the relevant accounting and explanation of any remaining work or balance. A client should understand the distinction between money held for future authorized work and fees already billed. Do not assume a deposit creates a fixed-fee promise covering every later stage. Clear billing records support informed decisions about whether to continue, settle, or obtain a referral, and make any genuine question about charges easier to address promptly.

Sources

• Law Society of Ontario Paralegal Rule 5 fees and retainers
• Law Society of Ontario By Law 9 trust and accounting rules

Read next: Making civil mediation useful in Ontario

General Ontario legal information, not legal advice for your matter, and reading it does not create a retainer. Sources checked 15 October 2026: check the current law, forms and dates before you act.

Photos from Pexels: Working on documents and a laptop · Colleagues shaking hands in an office.

This article is general information for people in Ontario, not legal advice. Rules, forms and deadlines change, and every situation is different. Check the current rule or speak to a licensed legal professional before you act.