These summaries were prepared by McGuireWoods LLP lawyer Thomas E. Spahn. They are based on the letter opinions issued by the Virginia State Bar. Any editorial comments reflect Mr. Spahn's current personal views, and not the opinions of the Virginia State Bar, McGuireWoods or its clients. 
 
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8-Bills and Fees

40-Trust Accounts

Having received an opinion from Virginia's Attorney General, the Bar approves Virginia lawyers passing along to their client the transactional costs/merchant fees charged by a credit card company when the client uses a credit card -- as long as the lawyer explains the process to the client before the client uses the credit card. Such transactional/service fees may be deducted from the lawyers' trust account, but lawyers using best practices should arrange for the fees to be deducted from the lawyers' operating account. Lawyers must "monitor and personally replace any escrow funds that are subject to a charge back" by a credit card company -- and lawyers using best practices should arrange for any charge backs to come from the lawyers' operating account rather than trust account.

Copyright 2000, Thomas E. Spahn