Using Realti's PCLaw® Integration
Step 1: Create a New Matter in PCLaw®
Create a new matter in PCLaw® to obtain the matter number for Realti. To do this, use New Matter and enter the matter based on the last matter number.
Enter the Type of Law. For Real Estate, choose REM-Real Estate Mortgage, RES-Real Estate Sale, or REP-Real Estate Purchase. This can be revised if it is not correct at the time of opening. Enter the client name fields, then use tab to complete any other required fields. Each firm may set up specific field requirements.
Mandatory fields include:
- Matter
- Opened
- Responsible Lawyer
- Firm Name
- Category
- Add Name
- Client
Step 2: Launch Realti
If Realti is not already running, start it as normal. Use your Realti login credentials to log in.
It is crucial for the export/import process that the PCLaw Matter number is exactly reflected in your Realti File Number.
Step 3: Complete Realti Account to Client Screen in the Realti File
Go to the Account to Client screen. As long as the Enable PCLaw Export is activated at the Firm level (Settings > Account to Client), you will see the PCLaw codes on the Account to Client screen under the headings: PCLaw, Expl., and G/L # (as they were set up in Account to Client settings).
You can change any of the PCLaw information in your individual file before exporting them, including the ability to uncheck the PCLaw indicator on any items so they don’t export from the file.
Note: Provinces vary as to the types of fees/disbursements in their accounts. In accordance with provincial regulations, there would be Other Fees and/or Other Disbursements and/or Other Charges.
To Insert Other Disbursements in the Realti Account
You can insert any number of additional disbursements into the Account to Client as usual. If you would like to export them to PCLaw, they will also need to be enabled for export and the explanation codes and G/L #s must be added.
Do Not Provide PCLaw Information for the following Account Items
Costs associated with compliance letters will appear on the Account to Client automatically. Do not assign an explanation code or G/L # to these expenses as it is assumed that you have already written cheques for these disbursements from PCLaw. Doing this would create duplicate entries in PCLaw.
You do not have to enter PCLaw codes for any fees or disbursements that were paid using general cheques or for transactions within the trust ledger, such as the BC Trust Administration Fee or the Ontario Transaction Levy Surcharge. Such transactions will already exist in PCLaw. Duplicate transactions would result if you enter codes for them.
If PCLaw Information is Missing
If no G/L # is entered, the default G/L # specified in the Firm Settings will be used. If there is no Explanation Code, the item will export with the code information left blank.
Step 4: Exporting Account to Client Entries from Realti
When all the information on the Account to Client screen has been completed, click on the Export to PCLaw button located at the top of the screen.
- The first time you do this on a computer (or after clearing your cookies), you will receive a prompt from your browser asking you to select the folder you wish to save the file.
- Navigate to your C:\Realti folder (or the Export folder specified in Account to Client settings), then click Select Folder.
- You will then receive a prompt from your browser asking you to confirm that you wish to allow www.lawyerdonedeal.com to edit files in the Realti folder you have selected. This is a security feature to confirm the writing of information to your computer.
- Click Allow to give permission for Realti to save the information to that file folder specifically any time you wish to use the PCLaw export. Clicking Don't Allow will not allow the feature to place the information in the specified folder. In order to continue, you must click Allow.
Note: If the C:\Realti folder (or the Export folder specified in Account to Client settings) does not exist, you will get an error message. Make sure that you have completed all steps in the Setup the Computer section of this guide: Setup for Realti/PCLaw Integration Click OK and you will receive a confirmation message. Click OK again to save.
If you’ve indicated in the Firm Settings to Enable Append in PCLaw Export, you can continue to export files to the same fee and disbursement files. If you have already exported a particular file to these files, the system will prevent you with a warning message from sending the same file twice to avoid problems in PCLaw with duplicate information. If you were to look in your C:\Realti folder, your files should be dated the same as the export.
Note: If you are creating bills after the date of data entry, all new bills will have to be dated or billed to “Today’s date”.Note: Once you have imported your Account to Client into PCLaw, all amendments or changes must be made in PCLaw. Do not click on the Export to PCLaw button in Realti again as this will cause duplicate entries on your PCLaw client ledger. If you have additional entries, however, you can deactivate the PCLaw codes in the Account to Client within Realti for entries you do not wish to export again, and then export. Only the selected entries will export.Step 5: Importing Your Account to Client Information to PCLaw
Open PCLaw. From the PCLaw Favourites desktop, click on the Cost Recovery button (if you have one), otherwise, click on File > Cost Recovery.
The Cost Recovery window opens. You will see entries for the Disbursement and Fee files. The following process will need to be done twice, once for each file.
Select Realti Disbursements and then click the Process button. To complete the import, you will see the Select Data File screen. It is important to ensure that the Delete after Processing indicator at the bottom of the Layout screen is checked so the file will be deleted after import with no chance for re-import into this file. Click OK.
A new screen will show you whether your Realti disbursements were accepted into PCLaw.
Note: that if any records were skipped or rejected, confirm that all PCLaw information in the Account to Client has been completed in full, including the explanation and G/L codes where applicable.
Click Yes to confirm the deletion of the export file.
Now repeat the process with the Realti Fee entries, and make sure to click the Process button, checking how many records were accepted, and confirm the deletion of the fees file. In PCLaw, all fees and disbursements will be entered into the appropriate matters (the Client Ledger Register window shows all fees and disbursements imported for the matter).
It is always a good idea to run a pre-bill to confirm the account matches the Realti account. Then, you just need to process the final bill in PCLaw.
Step 6: PCLaw Prepare Trust Cheques
Prepare a Pre-Bill to verify amounts reconciled to the Account to Client. Prepare all trust cheques on behalf of the client to:
- Transit: for Land Transfers and other fees
- To other parties and/or to client
You can now proceed to Bill the file in PCLaw and compare the accuracy between the Realti Account to Client and your PCLaw bill. If you wish, you may transfer the total amount of the bill from trust.
Step 7: Pre-Bill and Final Bill
Prepare the Pre-Bill to screen and verify amounts, then create the bill in PCLaw and transfer the remaining trust.
Note: The final bill will generate a trust summary statement as well. Ensure all trust activity has been undertaken as billing is the final step.Still can't find what you're looking for?
Related Categories
Billing, Accounting Integrations, Admin Functions & Reports
File Creation, Document Creation, and other general topics
Province-specific information for AB clients
Province-specific information for BC clients
Province-specific information for MB clients
Province-specific information for ON clients
Province-specific information for NS clients
Province-specific information for SK clients
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