What rule governs attorney trust accounts in Pennsylvania?

Attorney trust accounts in Pennsylvania are governed by Pa.R.P.C. 1.15 (204 Pa. Code Rule 1.15, Safekeeping Property); overdraft notification at Pa.R.D.E. 221. It requires attorneys to hold client funds separate from firm funds, maintain complete records, and account for client property.

How often must Pennsylvania attorneys reconcile their trust accounts?

Pennsylvania requires monthly reconciliation of attorney trust accounts. Reconciliation compares the adjusted bank balance, the trust register balance, and the total of all individual client ledgers — all three must agree.

How long must Pennsylvania attorneys keep trust account records?

Pennsylvania requires trust account records to be retained for 5 years. Records include bank statements, cancelled checks, deposit slips, client ledgers, journals, and reconciliation worksheets.

Who regulates attorney trust accounts in Pennsylvania?

Trust account compliance in Pennsylvania is overseen by the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania · Trust Accounting

Pennsylvania IOLTA Trust Account Rules

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

Pennsylvania Trust Account Requirements at a Glance

Governing rule

Pa.R.P.C. 1.15 (204 Pa. Code Rule 1.15, Safekeeping Property); overdraft notification at Pa.R.D.E. 221

Reconciliation required

Monthly

Record retention

5 years

Regulator

Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

IOLTA program

Pennsylvania Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) Board

Bank overdraft reporting

Required — banks must notify the regulator

Source: Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania . Rules change — always confirm against the current text before relying on it.

Three-Way Reconciliation in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania requires attorneys to reconcile trust accounts 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.

Adjusted bank balance

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

Trust register balance

Your internal trust account register as of the same date.

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 Pennsylvania Attorneys Must Keep, and for 5 Years

Pennsylvania requires trust account records to be retained for 5 years. In practice that means keeping:

Individual ledgers for each client and matter, showing every receipt and disbursement
A transaction journal listing all deposits and withdrawals by date
Bank statements, cancelled checks, and deposit slips
Completed and signed reconciliation worksheets
Outstanding check lists, reconciled each period

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

Stay Compliant with Pennsylvania Trust Account Rules

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

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