An alternative to reconciling your trust account in Excel
State bars publish free reconciliation forms and Excel templates are everywhere. Tiesheet fills them in for you: matching, outstanding items, client totals and checks.
A paper form or spreadsheet template is free and gives you the right layout — the California bar publishes a free reconciliation form, for example. The time goes into the matching: ticking every check and deposit, listing what hasn't cleared and adding up each client.
| Tiesheet | A spreadsheet template | |
|---|---|---|
| Matching bank to ledger | Automatic: check number, amount and date, batched deposits. | By hand. |
| Outstanding items | Listed with age; Pro carries them to next month. | Typed in each month. |
| Client ledger totals | Grouped from the ledger, negatives flagged. | Kept and summed by hand. |
| Price | Free to reconcile and check any account and print with up to 10 client ledgers. Pro: $12 for 7 days, $24/month or $199/year. | Free. |
Stick with the template if your account has a handful of transactions a month. Use Tiesheet when matching takes more than a few minutes, or you want negative balances and unrecorded bank items caught automatically. The free plan is enough to try it on a real month.
Competitor details checked on 2026-10-27 from their public pages: State Bar of California reconciliation form. Prices change — check their site for the current offer. Product names are trademarks of their owners; we are not affiliated with them.
FAQ
Can I still get a spreadsheet out?
Yes. The CSV report is free; Pro adds an Excel workbook with formulas for the three-way summary and totals.
What is a three-way reconciliation?
It shows that three balances agree on the same date: the bank statement balance adjusted for outstanding checks and deposits in transit, the trust account ledger (checkbook) balance, and the total of all individual client ledger balances. Lawyers with client trust (IOLTA) accounts and real estate brokers holding escrow funds are generally required to do it regularly; how often depends on your state.
Is my data uploaded?
No. Your files are read by JavaScript in your browser tab and never sent to us or anyone else. Transactions aren't stored at all. With Pro you can choose to keep this month's outstanding items in this browser for next month.
Which files can I use?
CSV, tab-separated or Excel exports. The bank file needs a date and an amount (or deposit and withdrawal columns); a check number and running balance help. The ledger needs a date, an amount and a client, matter, owner or tenant column on each line. QuickBooks-style reports grouped under client headings work. Download the templates to see the layout.
What's free?
Matching, the three-way summary, outstanding items and every check, for any number of transactions. The printed report and CSV list up to 10 client ledgers with a small footer. Pro lists every client ledger and adds the Excel workbook, ledger cards and month-to-month carry-forward.
Does it replace my trust accounting software?
No. Tiesheet reconciles the records you already keep; it doesn't record transactions, write checks or connect to your bank. It also doesn't know your state's rules — check them, and have the report reviewed by the responsible lawyer or broker.
Why doesn't the bank balance agree with my ledger?
Usually bank fees or interest that were never recorded, a deposit or check recorded for the wrong amount, or an item outstanding from last month. Tiesheet lists bank transactions missing from the ledger and says when they explain the whole difference.