Overpayment and Refund to Client

Problem

If the client pays over the required funds for an invoice it is classed as an overpayment. Once an overpayment happens, you need to refund the extra amount to the client. 

To see the steps for keeping the overpayment as a credit for any future services, see the Overpayment of Invoices page for the procedure to record the amount in LawMaster. 

Solution 

The process to refund an overpayment to the client has been explained in in the steps below: 

1. Enter the Cash Receipts as usual in the system. 
   1. You can enter the Cash Receipts from Enquiries > Receipt Enquiry. 
   2. On the Receipt Enquiry screen, right-click and select the Add Receipt option. 
   3. Enter/select the Receipting Office and Bank. 
   4. Select the Amount and the payment Media. 
   5. Click OK. 
2. This opens the Cash Receipt Allocation screen. 
3. Select the Matter number and fund type in the Details field. 
4. Click Allocate. 
5. The system displays a message as below:
   
   
   
6. Click Yes. 
7. The system prompts another message as below:
   
   
   
8. Click Yes. LawMaster will create a (dummy) invoice as displayed in the screenshot below.
   
   
   
9. To refund the amount back to the client, go to Matter Menu > Debtors > Transaction History. Right-click and select the Refund option.
   
   
   
10. This will then bring the Payment Voucher screen to allow you to enter the payment back to the client.
    
    
    This will then reduce the negative debtor balance on the matter and show the refund in the Debtor Transaction History.