Understanding the Settlement Statement PDF
Learn what’s included in the Settlement Statement PDF, how it’s structured, and how to share it with your client.
What is the Settlement Statement?
The Settlement Statement is a client-facing PDF document that shows exactly how the settlement proceeds are distributed — including deposits received, attorney fees, expenses, third-party liens, and the client’s net proceeds. It satisfies ABA Model Rule 1.5(c), which requires a written statement showing “the remittance to the client and the method of its determination.”
PDF Layout
The statement has three main sections:
1. Settlement Deposits Lists all deposits received into the client’s trust account for this matter. Shows date, received from, description, and amount.
2. Expenses Broken into three subsections:
- Attorney Fees — The contingency fee (shows the percentage and calculated amount)
- Expenses Advanced on Behalf of Client — All case costs (filing fees, medical records, expert witnesses, etc.)
- Third-Party Liens / Payments — Medical liens, insurance subrogation, government liens, etc.
3. Settlement Proceeds to Client Shows total deposits minus total expenses, arriving at the Net Proceeds to Client.
The PDF includes signature lines for both the client and the attorney.
Important Details
- The statement is a frozen snapshot — once generated, it does not change even if underlying data is modified later
- To regenerate with updated data, you must Unlock & Reset and re-run the wizard
- The header mirrors your firm’s invoice PDF layout (firm info on right, client info on left)
- The filename is:
settlement-statement.pdf