Lynda ArtesaniLegal Accountant and Data Migration Specialist at The Proper Trust

The 48 Hour Rule That Can Put You Out of Compliance #lawfirms #legalaccounting #trustaccounting

5 Aug 2026 · 0 min

Watch on YouTube

0:26

When a trust-accounting mistake is found, you have 48 hours to move the misallocated funds or you're in violation. The deadline is tight because it doesn't account for normal banking cycles. Rules vary by state and bar association, so you need to know your jurisdiction's specific requirements.

When that mistake is discovered, it's only 48 hours and then they have to move that money over. When they know it happened, there's not a lot of time. You can't go, I'll do it Friday because that's when I make my deposits or when I do my banking. You can't do that. Then you're out of compliance. So there's a lot of little nuances, different states, different bar rules. And I think you really have to know them, especially as a bookkeeping firm. You need to know them down pat that— or your attorneys practicing law, you need to know them. You need to know the rules.