In IOLTA accounting , a disbursement refers to the purpose of a payment, funds paid on behalf of a client, while a check is simply the instrument used to make that payment. Understanding this distinction helps law firms maintain compliant, transparent, and audit-ready trust account records. Why the Distinction Matters At first glance, a check may seem like a simple payment method and a disbursement just an expense. In IOLTA accounting , however, these terms have specific mean
