Overview
Payment Plans allow you to split a total amount into monthly instalments that are automatically debited from your client’s card. They are useful when clients need flexible payment terms while your firm benefits from automated scheduling, reminders, retries on failed payments, and reporting.
Payment Plans are created via a Pay Request and work with any card payment.
How to create a Payment Plan
Go to Pay and click Create Pay Request.
Enter your client’s first name, last name, and email address, then click Continue.
Under Payment Type, select Payment Plan.
Enter the Payment total (the full amount due).
Enter the Monthly instalment amount agreed with your client.
Select the Start date for the plan (this can be today or a future date).
Review the Plan breakdown section.
Complete any remaining payment details (account selection, references, attachments, internal comments).
Click Create Pay Request, then send the request to your client.
Understanding the Plan breakdown
The Plan breakdown automatically calculates how the total will be split.
For example, if the total is £800 and the monthly instalment is £150:
5 monthly instalments of £150
1 final instalment of £50
If the total can be divided evenly by the monthly amount, there will be no final one-off instalment.
Instalment dates
The Start Date is the date the first payment is due and taken.
Subsequent instalments are automatically debited on the same day each month.
If the instalment date falls on the 29th, 30th, or 31st, payments in shorter months will be taken on the last day of the month.
If a payment becomes overdue, future instalment dates remain unchanged.
After the first instalment is successfully paid, all remaining instalments are debited automatically.
What happens next
The client enters their card details once when paying the first instalment.
Instalments are automatically debited each month.
Both your firm and the client receive email notifications for scheduled, successful, and failed payments.
All Payment Plans and instalments are visible in the Pay dashboard, alongside other payment methods.
Funds are transferred to your nominated bank account in line with Legl’s standard transfer schedule.
How to view a Payment Plan
Go to Pay → Payments.
Locate the Pay Request associated with the Payment Plan.
Click View to open the Pay Request drawer.
Select View Payment Plan details.
You will see:
Full Plan details
The Plan schedule
Individual instalments marked as Paid or Due
To see individual instalment details, click View next to the relevant instalment.
How to filter Payment Plans
You can filter Payment Plans in two ways:
Option 1: Payment Plans tab
Go to Pay → Payment Plans.
View all Payment Plans in one place.
Option 2: Payments filters
Go to Pay → Payments.
Use the Payment Source filter.
Select Payment Plan.
This displays all individual payments linked to Payment Plans (alongside any other applied filters).
How to cancel a Payment Plan
Navigate to the client’s Payment Plan.
Click the three-dot menu in the top right.
Select Cancel Plan.
Confirm the cancellation and select a reason.
Note: Cancelling a Payment Plan cannot be undone.
If you need to change instalment amounts, dates, or payment details, you must cancel the existing plan and create a new one.
Payment Plan email notifications
Client notifications
Payment Plan schedule – Sent after the first instalment is paid.
Advanced warning – Sent 3 days before each scheduled payment.
Payment confirmation – Sent after each successful payment.
Unsuccessful payment – Sent if a payment fails (including the reason).
Law firm notifications
Successful payment – Sent to the creator after each instalment is paid.
Advanced warning – Sent if a plan has not started within 14 days (client has not entered card details).
Unsuccessful payment – Sent if a payment fails, including the reason.
Managing overdue instalments
Instalments may become overdue if:
The first instalment is not paid on the start date.
A payment is declined.
An instalment is paid outside of the plan.
If the first instalment is not paid
The client must complete the first instalment before the second instalment date. If not, the system cannot debit the second payment.
If a payment is declined
The client receives an email explaining the reason.
If declined due to insufficient funds, Legl retries the payment for four days.
If declined due to card expiry, the plan must be cancelled and recreated.
If an instalment is paid outside the plan
If paid through Legl (e.g. Phone Payment, Checkout, separate Pay Request):
Cancel the entire Payment Plan and create a new one.
Leave a note referencing the successful payment.
If paid outside Legl (e.g. BACS):
Mark the overdue instalment as Paid for record-keeping.
Cancel the plan and create a new one if required.
In all cases where an instalment is paid outside the plan, the plan must be cancelled and recreated.
Important information
Payment Plans cannot be paused and restarted. To make changes, you must cancel and create a new plan.
Cancelling a Payment Plan is irreversible.
If the first instalment is not completed, future instalments cannot be taken.
Client payment details are encrypted and securely stored with Legl’s FCA-regulated processing partner, Adyen (PCI Compliant Level 1).
ℹ️ Troubleshooting
Issue: Can I pause an existing Payment Plan?
Solution: No. Cancel the existing plan and create a new one.
Issue: Can I refund part of a Payment Plan?
Solution: Yes. Follow the standard refund process.
Issue: How do I change instalment dates or amounts?
Solution: Cancel the existing plan and create a new one with the updated details.