Free three-way trust reconciliation template
Type the firm or account name, the date, and how many rows each list needs, and optionally the client or matter names. The page builds an Excel workbook laid out for a monthly three-way trust reconciliation: a reconciliation sheet, an outstanding checks sheet, a deposits in transit sheet, a client ledgers sheet, and an instructions sheet.
The workbook is built in your browser. Nothing you type is uploaded.
Each name gets its own numbered row on the Client ledgers sheet. The names go only into the workbook you download.
What the workbook will hold
The workbook is a layout to fill in. It holds values only and has no formulas, so it does not calculate. The three-way reconciliation report opens the filled-in workbook, compares the three balances to the cent, and shows the checks it ran.
What gets checked
- Before the download starts, the finished workbook is read back in your browser: its five sheet names, every line on the Reconciliation sheet, and each list sheet's header row and number of rows are compared with what was asked for.
- The firm or account name, the as-of date, and each client or matter name read back exactly as typed, in order.
- Every amount on the Reconciliation sheet is blank, the rows on each list sheet are numbered from 1, and no cell holds a formula.
How it works
- Answer the questions. Type the firm or account name, the as-of date, and the number of rows for client ledgers, outstanding checks, and deposits in transit. Client or matter names are optional; one per line puts each on its own numbered row.
- Build the workbook. The Excel file is put together in the browser, read back to confirm its sheets, lines, and rows, and downloaded.
- Fill it in. Enter the bank statement ending balance and the trust journal balance on the Reconciliation sheet, list the outstanding checks and the deposits in transit, and enter each client ledger balance. The instructions sheet explains each sheet.
- Calculate with the tool. The template does not calculate. The three-way reconciliation report opens the filled-in workbook, compares the three balances to the cent, compares any totals written in by hand with its own, and shows its checks.
Worked example
For Example Law Office trust account as of 2026-03-31, with four client names, 6 client ledger rows, 5 outstanding check rows, and 3 deposit in transit rows, the workbook has these sheets.
| Sheet | Columns | Rows to fill in |
|---|---|---|
| Reconciliation | Item, Value | 14 |
| Outstanding checks | Line, Date, Check number, Payee, Amount | 5 |
| Deposits in transit | Line, Date, Description, Amount | 3 |
| Client ledgers | Line, Client or matter, Balance | 6 |
| Instructions | How this workbook is laid out | 10 |
The Reconciliation sheet arrives with Example Law Office trust account and 2026-03-31 filled in and every amount blank. The Client ledgers sheet lists Alder matter, Birch estate, Cedar closing, and Firm funds on rows 1 to 4, with rows 5 and 6 numbered and empty.
The example uses made-up names and numbers.
Questions
Does the template add up the reconciliation?
No. It is a layout with values only and no formulas. The three-way reconciliation report on this site does the calculating: it opens the filled-in workbook, works out the adjusted bank balance and the client ledger total, compares the three figures to the cent, and shows each difference.
Is it really free?
Yes. There is no sign-up and no limit on how many templates are built.
What happens to numbered rows left empty?
Nothing. A numbered row with nothing else typed in it is skipped when the workbook is opened in the three-way reconciliation report. A row with a client name and no balance, or a check with no amount, is listed there as a row that could not be read.
Can rows be added later?
Yes. Add rows under the last one on any of the three list sheets. The row counts asked for here only set how many numbered rows the workbook starts with.
Is this an official form?
No. It is our own layout in generic terms: bank statement ending balance, outstanding checks, deposits in transit, trust journal balance, and client ledger balances. It makes no statement about what any rule, regulation, or agreement requires.
Are the client names I type uploaded?
No. The workbook is built in this browser tab, and the names go only into the file you download. Nothing typed here is kept after the page is closed.
This tool calculates and checks numbers. It is not legal, tax, or medical advice.