Question 1

What is CTAPP and does my Irvine law firm need CTAPP compliance bookkeeping?

Accepted Answer

CTAPP stands for Client Trust Account Protection Program — the California State Bar's annual self-reporting requirement for every California attorney who handles client funds. Each year, you must self-report on your IOLTA trust account compliance, 3-way reconciliations, and recordkeeping practices. CTAPP noncompliance can result in admin inactive status — meaning you can't practice law. Our CTAPP compliance service prepares the trust account records and 3-way reconciliations CTAPP annual reporting requires. If you're not sure what CTAPP noncompliance means for your firm, book a free consultation.

Question 2

What is IOLTA 3-way reconciliation and why does my Irvine law firm need it?

Accepted Answer

IOLTA 3-way reconciliation matches three records every month: your trust account bank statement, your trust ledger total, and the sum of your individual client ledgers. California State Bar Rule 1.15 requires this monthly, and CTAPP annual reporting requires you to self-attest you've done it. Most Irvine attorneys don't do 3-way reconciliation correctly — that's why State Bar inquiries are increasing. Our IOLTA bookkeeping services include 3-way reconciliation every single month.

Question 3

Are you familiar with California State Bar Rule 1.15 and CTAPP reporting?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Rule 1.15 governs how California attorneys must handle client trust funds, and CTAPP is the annual reporting program that verifies compliance. Every Irvine law firm bookkeeping engagement is built around both — separate client ledgers, no commingling, monthly 3-way reconciliation, CTAPP-ready records, and audit-ready trust account documentation. We know exactly what the State Bar looks for.

Question 4

My trust account is a mess. Can you fix it?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Cleanup bookkeeping for attorneys is one of our most common engagements for Irvine law firms. We rebuild client ledgers, untangle commingled funds, restore Rule 1.15 compliance, and bring your IOLTA trust account current — including the catch up law firm bookkeeping needed before your next CTAPP annual report. Most cleanups take 2 to 3 weeks.

Question 5

What practice management software do you work with?

Accepted Answer

We integrate with Clio, MyCase, PracticePanther, LawPay, Filevine, Casepeer, Smokeball, and Lawmatics. Your practice management system handles billing and matter management — we handle the bookkeeping side, IOLTA account bookkeeping, and CTAPP compliance reporting.

Question 6

How much does Irvine law firm bookkeeping cost?

Accepted Answer

Flat-rate monthly pricing based on your firm's case volume and trust account complexity. Most Irvine solo and small law firms pay between $500 and $1,500 per month for monthly bookkeeping with full IOLTA 3-way reconciliation and CTAPP compliance support. No hourly billing. Bookkeeping Irvine CA attorneys can budget for. Book a free consultation for a custom quote.

Question 7

What if I get a State Bar inquiry, audit, or CTAPP follow-up?

Accepted Answer

We help you prepare. We pull together your trust account documentation, monthly 3-way reconciliations, and client ledgers in the format the State Bar requires. If your books are already current with us, an inquiry becomes a paperwork exercise instead of a license-threatening event. Our attorneys bookkeeping clients walk into State Bar reviews with confidence.

Question 8

Do you only serve law firms in Irvine?

Accepted Answer

We serve law firms throughout Irvine and Orange County — including Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Tustin, Mission Viejo, and beyond. Because we work fully remote through QuickBooks Online and our secure client portal, we also serve California law firms in Los Angeles, San Diego, and statewide. Bookkeeping Irvine CA-based, statewide reach.

Question 9

Why should we choose IB over other Irvine bookkeepers?

Accepted Answer

16+ years of California law firm bookkeeping experience. Tammy Hoang CFMA-certified leadership. Specialized IOLTA bookkeeping services including monthly 3-way reconciliation. CTAPP compliance support built into every law firm engagement. One dedicated law firm bookkeeper per client — not a call center. Flat-rate pricing. State Bar Rule 1.15 compliance built into every engagement. We do attorneys bookkeeping deep, not generic bookkeeping with a 'law firm' label.

Question 10

Do you work with agencies outside Orange County?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We serve marketing agencies across Orange County and Los Angeles County. Because we work fully remote via QuickBooks Online and our client portal, we also serve agencies throughout California including San Diego, San Francisco, and Sacramento.

Question 11

How much does it cost?

Accepted Answer

Flat monthly rate based on your agency's transaction volume and number of clients tracked. Most agencies at $1M–$3M annual revenue pay $800–$2,000 per month. Schedule a call and we'll give you an exact quote within 24 hours.

Question 12

We're already on QuickBooks. Do we need to change anything?

Accepted Answer

No. We work in QuickBooks Online. If your file exists, we review and clean it up. If you need a fresh start, we build your agency's chart of accounts structure — including class tracking by client and deferred revenue accounts — in 2–3 weeks.

Question 13

Our books are a mess. Can you still help?

Accepted Answer

That's exactly why agencies call us. We handle catch-up bookkeeping first — getting your books current and accurate — before moving to ongoing monthly service. Most catch-ups are complete within 3 weeks.

Question 14

Do you handle payroll?

Accepted Answer

We coordinate with your payroll provider (Gusto, ADP, Rippling) and ensure all payroll entries are correctly recorded in QuickBooks. Your books and payroll always match every pay cycle.

Question 15

What makes you different from other bookkeepers for marketing agencies?

Accepted Answer

We go beyond bank reconciliation and a basic P&L. We build client profitability reports, track deferred retainer revenue, separate media pass-throughs correctly, and deliver agency-specific performance metrics every month. We serve marketing agencies generating $1M+ in OC and LA — this is not a side specialty, it's a core focus.

IRVINE LAW FIRM BOOKKEEPING

IOLTA Trust Account Bookkeeping Built for California Attorneys

16+ Years

Flat-Rate Monthly Pricing

Serving California Law Firms

Why Irvine Law Firms Get in Trouble With Their Books

State Bar Compliance & CTAPP Risk

Trust Account Errors

Hours Lost to Compliance Worry

Stop Losing Sleep Over IOLTA Compliance. Get Irvine's Specialized Law Firm Bookkeeping Team.

Complete Bookkeeping & Compliance Services for Irvine Law Firms

IOLTA 3-Way Reconciliation & IOLTA Bookkeeping Services

Catch Up Law Firm Bookkeeping & Cleanup Bookkeeping for Attorneys

CTAPP Compliance & Annual Reporting Support

Trust Account Cleanup & Setup

Monthly Law Firm Bookkeeping

Tax Preparation & State Bar Audit Support