Missouri · Trust Accounting

Missouri IOLTA Trust Account Rules

What Missouri attorneys must do to keep client trust funds compliant — the governing rule, how often you must reconcile, and how long records must be kept.

Missouri Trust Account Requirements at a Glance

Governing rule

Missouri Supreme Court Rule 4-1.15 (Trust Accounts and Property of Others)

Reconciliation required

Each time a financial-institution statement is available (effectively monthly)

Record retention

6 years

Regulator

Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel

IOLTA program

Missouri Lawyer Trust Account Foundation

Bank overdraft reporting

Required — banks must notify the regulator

Source: Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel . Rules change — always confirm against the current text before relying on it.

Three-Way Reconciliation in Missouri

Missouri's stated reconciliation requirement is: Each time a financial-institution statement is available (effectively monthly). A three-way reconciliation compares three totals that must all agree. If they do not, the difference has to be found and resolved before the reconciliation is complete.

1

Adjusted bank balance

Bank statement balance, adjusted for outstanding checks and deposits in transit.

2

Trust register balance

Your internal trust account register as of the same date.

3

Sum of client ledgers

The total of every individual client ledger balance on that date.

For a full walkthrough of the procedure, common violations, and what examiners look for, see our IOLTA compliance guide.

What Missouri Attorneys Must Keep, and for 6 Years

Missouri requires trust account records to be retained for 6 years. In practice that means keeping:

This page is a summary, not legal advice. IOLTA Guard is not a law firm. Confirm current requirements with the Missouri Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel — rules change, and your obligations as the attorney of record are yours alone.

Trust Account Rules in Other States

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Stay Compliant with Missouri Trust Account Rules

IOLTA Guard automates three-way reconciliation, blocks negative client ledgers, and keeps the audit trail Missouri attorneys are expected to maintain.

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